Rhino lining for battery area?

[dcyrilc]

The battery area in the used tractor I bought is nearly rusted through. I'm going to have a shop I know refabricate the bottom for it since John Deere wants $1210.00 for a new one. I'm considering having the bottom where the batteries sit Rhino lined after the refab is complete.

Anyone have any pros/cons about this idea?

 

[o2batsea]

Make sure there's a drain hole after it's shot.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That will work or you could simply buy a $10 marine batter box.

Chris

 

[dcyrilc]

That will work or you could simply buy a $10 marine batter box.

Chris

That might work as long as they will fit within the tight space requirements of the compartment.

 

[sixdogs]

That might work as long as they will fit within the tight space requirements of the compartment.

I have a JD 790 and their crap battery leaked/boiled and did the same thing to mine @ 120 hours. I caught it before it got too bad. I scrubbed my battery area and soaked it with a mix of oil and diesel fuel and then put an Optima battery in it. No more leaks, period. The battery box is also a great idea but not sure it will fit.
The Rhino will likely just trap moisture and acid underneath and make the problem worse.
Most guys I know with a 790 or similar tractor have had this problem. Deere should be ashamed of itself for a crap battery that leaks and boils over. But that's just my opinion.

 

[jlrsn]

A properly serviced lead acid battery should not boil over. Usually the incorrect Electrolyte for the battery type is used when the battery is new or too much Electrolyte is initially put in. When putting a new battery in service make sure that the Electrolyte has the Specific Gravity that the battery was designed for. Commonly available premixed automotive Electrolyte has a specific gravity of 1.265 but many lead acid batteries of today use an Electrolyte of 1.280 or 1.285. Prior to being used it should be properly charged and not just put into the tractor. Try to only use distilled water to service the battery during your maintenance checks.

After the battery has boiled over and the damaged area has been properly neutralized there are many types of Acid Proof Battery Box Paints available. An affordable, easily applied, and readily available product of the type that I've used for over 50+ years in the Aviation Industry is Randolph Acid Proof Battery Box Paint. It takes a while to harden but it works. See:
Randolph Acid Proof Battery Box Black Paint #345

Good luck,
Jim

 

[sixdogs]

I know the info from the above post but the battery JD used in those tractors was crap. I have talked with many owners and read many posts and I cannot recall one tht did not have a problem with excess battery corrosion spiling over the the compartment.
There are no coincidences, especially of that magnitude and the problem was likely an unintended consequence of a cheaply made battery. No, I'm not bitter.

 

[Kays Supply]

I have used the spray can bed liner on several battery boxes and areas around the box. It has worked well.

 

[dcyrilc]

Here are pix of what's left of the dash/battery box/firewall assembly.

I'll be dropping it off at a shop tomorrow to see about having the bottom rebuilt.

 

[dcyrilc]

I got the rebuilt cowl back yesterday. The shop did an excellent job. I'll have a little work to do before I'm ready to reinstall it. I want to sandblast it (need to buy a glass bead machine for this) and repaint it, then get the bottom Rhino lined.

The shop missed a small detail where the steering housing sets into the front of the cowl and I'll have to do a little grinding for fit. I'll post pix this weekend as I go along.

 

[2ndgenguy]

POR 15 works great for battery areas.

 

[dcyrilc]

POR 15 works great for battery areas.

I'm not familiar with that product... What is it?

 

[TBDonnelly]

Battery Mat

Acid Neutralizing Mat: BatteryMart.com

Don

 

[dcyrilc]

Battery Mat

Acid Neutralizing Mat: BatteryMart.com

Don

Thank you, I'll keep these in mind when I get to that point.

 

[2ndgenguy]

I'm not familiar with that product... What is it?

POR15, Inc. - Stop Rust Permanently - Repair Gas & Fuel Tanks is the website. I have used it for floor, trunk and battery firewall purposes on cars with excellent results. Adds strength to thin metal and prevents rust. Can also be used right over existing rust and seals it up and stops it.

 

[dcyrilc]

Here are some pix of the refabricated bottom for the cowl. The third one shows the fit being checked. I still have a little bit of fabrication left to do, then it will be time to finish cleaning it up and repainting.

 

[JerryK]

You can also try starting your tractor with only one battery. I put in a good side terminal battery mounted sideways, reworked the battery tray for a GM style battery hold down, and ran the ground cable down to one of the bolts on the starter. Still crowded in there, but one battery gives you a LITTLE extra room under there. My tractor has never failed to start with the one battery. But it is kept inside, hood covered with a sheet, and rocked to sleep each night. Like all good old JD's deserve..... Put a good 'sealed' side terminal in there, and you will not have the acid problems you have with old 'add water' batteries... I also 'lost' the rods that swing out and prop the cowl door open. Just as easy to unhook the cowl half and take it off if you need access in there. Again, more room....

PS: What is that yeller knob for....???? No yeller knob on my 2240....

 

[dcyrilc]

What is that yeller knob for....???? No yeller knob on my 2240....

Independent PTO.

 

[dfkrug]

You can also try starting your tractor with only one battery.

So, there are normally TWO 12V batteries in there?

It looks good, Cyril. Did you take it to an auto body shop? What did they
charge for the fabrication?

 

[JerryK]

Cyril.. Wow, yeller independent PTO....I have the old foot operated two step pop the clutch and break the shear pin PTO. Since you have your cowl apart, you could loose the ether can port below the light switch. I am going to part with mine this afternoon. Never ever have used ether to start my tractor, but I have bumped my knee on it many, many times. Ether is tricky stuff in a diesel, real easy to blow your motor to smitheenies with too much. Most manufacturers don't recommend you getting ether anywhere near a diesel. Just an idea....since you are bored and are NOT WORKING on anything else on your tractor....

[ 3/4" wrench, just crimped the little brass line untill I pull my hood this spring...]