Looking for 2305 Help....Frustration Rant

[outinthetalgrass]

I have a 2 year old 2305. Last fall wouldn't start (even with a jump) Dealer came out and replaced the battery ( told me it was shorted out) lasted for 3 weeks. After the 3 weeks any time I wanted to use it I had to put the charger on it to get it to start. Called dealer, came out picked it up, kept it for 3 days only problem they could find was dead battery... " Charged it up and its all fine" brought it back to me. Charged me 200.00 for service call and pick up. ( repeat 2 more times this winter) best they can tell me is " must be a real small draw the doesnt register on our meter" Yesterday needed it to plow snow at 3am, needless to say had to put the charger on it to get it started. Ran it for 3 hours parked it in the garage at 7am. came back at 5pm to finish snow removal, you guessed it Dead battery again.
Called the dealer and they said they would come and get it again on the 2nd of April. Which means another 200.00.

anyone got any idead what might be killing the battery that fast ? I am getting tired of charging the battery to use it, and the Dealer telling me nothing is wrong with it.

Should i just buy a die hard battery myself and try that? or wire a disconnect to the battery to try and keep it from discharging ?

ok rant done Thanks

 

[jsb2b]

Why would you buy another battery if you obviously have a "small draw" on the existing battery??? Your dealer is a moron. He should honor his work and all subsequent repairs should be on his dime not yours. Get the area's JD factory rep involved. In the mean time, you could disconnect the battery after each use so it won't draw down. You will probably see a very small spark when you barely touch the terminal to the battery post. Put an ammeter in series with the post and terminal. This will prove you have a draw down. You shouldn't have to go through the process of isolating the component that is causing the problem. You don't have the wiring schematics for the tractor. The dealer does.

 

[Cub 7274]

I would be complaining to someone also about your Dealer that is bad

 

[kevin37b]

Is it one of the Strongbox batteries , aka junk . You tell that dealer to recover his head from the darkside ,and call JD HQ . If no response , make it very public . There is a simple problem here that needs to be addressed . I am on a bit of a fit today after 12 " of snow .

 

[Tx Jim]

outinthetalgrass
With battery charged to 12+ volts disconnect ground cable from battery and insert a test light in between ground & battery. If there's a drain test light will light up. Start disconnecting things one at a time until test light goes out. When test light goes out you've found the drain. Exception is if this is a cab tractor with a radio/clock memory wire. I'd start by disconnecting the alternater

 

[Gator6x4]

outinthetalgrass
With battery charged to 12+ volts disconnect ground cable from battery and insert a test light in between ground & battery. If there's a drain test light will light up. Start disconnecting things one at a time until test light goes out. When test light goes out you've found the drain. Exception is if this is a cab tractor with a radio/clock memory wire. I'd start by disconnecting the alternater

To add to the good information Tx Jim provided instead of disconnecting item locate the fuse and relay panels and remove the fuses one at a time doing the same with the relays. You will probably have to disconnect the alternator be careful doing this. A test light can be purchased for less than $15.00. Much cheaper than a $200.00 service call. Another thing to consider is the alternator charging? Connect a volt ohm meter to the positive and negative terminals on the battery with the engine running and ascertain if the reading received is 14 plus volts.

 

[CliffordK]

While you're trying to figure out what is going on, get a battery disconnect and put it on the negative pole of your battery. Deep discharges are very hard on battery life. Obviously the appropriate type depending on your posts, access, and clearance.

You might also consider a 1A or 2A trickle charger.

Battery disconnects and trickle chargers will end up costing a lot less than your $200 service charge (for each visit).

I might look at your key. Also how you are driving the tractor. Do you leave the key in the ignition?

I've got a Ford with a key and a kill switch. It is easy to forget & leave the ignitiion in the "run" position after pulling the kill knob. But, it is also possible you are getting some kind of a power leak with the ignition switch.

Cars have an on-all-the-time accessory circuit to power things like the radio programming memory. But, your tractor SHOULD be 100% dead once you turn off the key.

 

[cobracnvt]

It could be a problem with the tractor's charging system and the battery is getting run down as you are using the tractor. I assume you are using your headlights, plowing that early in the morning, which would draw down the battery.

 

[moojamboo]

My recommendations,

1. Got to get a meter and start checking the electronics.
2. On my ford I used to star her, and then take they key out and put back around my neck so I would not forget to turn her fully off. Learned the hard way that doing this prevents charging of the battery. Leave the key in your on position while using it.
3. I also had a bad regulator which wasn't charging the battery, power from my alternator wasn't getting to the battery due to a bad regulator. Got a new battery, would work once or twice with the charge it had, them die as it was never getting power due to the faulty regulator. Fixed the regulator, problem solved.

You should pay for one of those service trips, not over and over if they don't fix it. Don't tell your dealer it's has a new problem, tell them you didnt fix it the first time and to make it right.

If I buy a big Mac and the box is empty I don't have to pay for a second to get the first.

Good luck!

 

[outinthetalgrass]

Just an update, heard from the dealer today, Found that the Battery is junk (like I didn’t know that already) they are going to replace it again, and bring the tractor back "no Charge” hooray :cool2:
so I hope this battery last more than 3 months, If not then i will just buy a Diehard and replace it myself and be done with it.