Starting and Running w/o battery installed

[MapleLeafFarmer]

So is it damaging to a new tractor to jump start and run w/o a battery?

I went out to my hunt camp where I keep a B2620 (fel, bh, snowblower, chipper-shredder) and found I left the battery back at home 2 hours away.
Thought maybe I would just use the jump start feature of my battery charger to start and run w/o the battery.
Then sober second thought kicked in and thought maybe this would damage the alternator or other electronics.

ideas / thoughts / opinions?

 

[KubotainNH]

I'd only do it in an emergency. The battery helps keep the alternator from over voltage. You may be ok but then again I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[mrmikey]

I wouldn't, think of the battery as a shock absorber....Mike

 

[Rock knocker]

I fried the circuit board on a PU once doing that. I think the electrical system needs the mass of the battery

 

[JOHNINMA]

Maybe a local auto store or garage would sell a used marginal battery for cheap $$ that would be good enough to complete the electrical circuit.

 

[I802Cool]

Not an expert but I'm with "need a battery" contingent. Your tractor switched "run" circuit has a fuel pump and fuel solenoid always on, plus a few other sensors. The regulator DC output is routed (usually a red wire) to the main (non-switched, always hot) 12V battery circuit. There is a separate regulator connection to the "run" circuit but this appears to be input only. The output from the regulator is relative to engine speed, 12.7 to 14.5 volts. The battery smoothes out regulator ripple, if applicable, at a minimum. W/O the battery reserve you may be able to run (I don't know this) but you could burn up the regulator or other components and end up worse off. No fun playing with wiring on these tractors.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Can't answer your question, but if you do, make sure you tape the heck out of the positive battery cable end. On 2nd thought, my 14hp 10kw generator came with battery start as optional. For years I would start and run with only pull start. My Mother-in-law needed generator for big ice storm they had. Being the nice guy I am, I took battery out of JD rider and installed in generator so she could start it. No issues there, but that may not be apples to apples. Philip.

 

[94BULLITT]

I'd only do it in an emergency. The battery helps keep the alternator from over voltage. You may be ok but then again I wouldn't take the chance.

Right, without the battery you can have a voltage spike and burn something up. People often pull the cables off on their car while it is running and burn the computer up. On a old gas tractor it is hard on the points.

 

[crazyal]

When in college we had a question on a quiz. Which is harder on a generator, a fully drained battery or no battery at all. When all the math was done it turned out that no battery is very bad. I think newer electronics in alternators can handle it but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[RaydaKub]

As others have said, I wouldn't try it. The other consideration is that w/o the battery, that positive cable is hanging loose and could flop around and short out all over. Could have some nice fireworks going on in a rough field, but probably not good for anything you wanted to keep.