Battery/electrical Questions.....Was: Re: [AT] desulphating batterychargers

[Bigdog]

Mike,
    The battery is gone.  I'd just replace it.  Now, as to the charging
system, it should be positive ground.  It's pretty obvious that it's not
working or the tractor would stay running and the battery would not go dead.
Start by checking all the cables and connections.  Especially the grounds.
Once that's done, re-polarize the generator (after installing the new
battery)  If the ammeter is not working at all, you can check for charging
by measuring the voltage across the battery terminals.  The nominal voltage
will be just over 6 volts not running.  With the engine running about
half-throttle, measure the voltage again.  If it is charging, it should read
about 7 to 7 1/2 volts.  If it is not charging, ground the field terminal on
the generator.  This will bypass the regulator.  If it charges now, you have
a regulator problem.  If not, it is a generator problem.
    Battery cables are always suspect.  Especially on neglected systems.  If
they have the replaceable ends, remove and clean them.  If the strands of
the cable are corroded all the way to the insulation, I'd change them

Bigdog


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Miller" <sweetcorn70 at hotmail.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 8:37 AM
Subject: Battery/electrical Questions.....Was: Re: [AT] desulphating
batterychargers


> At the farm I work at, there is an H.  It is still on 6 volt.  The battery
> seems to take a charge, but it'll only run for 10-15 minutes after you
> charge it and then the battery is dead(not even enough juice to make it
> fire).  The battery also goes dead if you charge it up then leave it set
for
> an hour or so.  Is that battery junk?   Would it help it to dump the acid
> and refill it, according to what you do below?  It hisses and bubbles when
> you leave it charging.  One thing, when I first started this project the
> electrolyte level in the battery was low in all cells, and the boss just
had
> me fill it up with tap water(I know, big no no, but he's a lot older than
I
> am).  Could that be the problem?
>
> Now, I would say that the tractor isn't charging, and the boss says it
never
> has charged right.  Any places to start on that one(IE, how do I test to
see
> if it is charging??)?  I am not sure if they polarized the generator after
> they had it rebuilt or not.  It is set up on Positive ground, is that
right?
>   All my farmalls are negative ground, but the one has been converted to
12
> volt and the other is a lot newer(the other has an armstrong starter).  It
> could probably use new cables, the ones on it are pretty old.  The ammeter
> read "0" all the time.
>
> Sorry for all the stupid questions, but my boss's dad bought this thing
new
> and his son restored it so I'd like to get it running at least good enough
> to pull wagons with it.  I don't know a lot about electrical
> systems(maintanance batteries in particular) and I'd rather ask stupid
> questions that blow/burn something up.
>
> Mike
>
>
> >From: "Jerry Rhodes" <jlrhod at paulding-net.com>
> >Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> ><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >Subject: Re: [AT] desulphating battery chargers
> >Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 23:22:51 -0400
> >
> >When I get them, they are "old" per the cart dealer, set out all winter,
> >etc... I top them off with straight acid, charge them and load test if
the
> >hidramer(?) reading is above 1220, if not, and the load test is no good I
> >dump them to a tank that I use for cleaning parts, I refill with straight
> >acid  and adjust with water to 1250, re charge and load test again.
> >
> >Then reinstall in the machine, normally they are out of here in about a
> >week, i.e.. bought, sold, traded or owner picks up and I normally do not
> >see
> >then again. I get my acid from NAPA.
> >
> >The ones I have in my EZ-GOcart, the Cushman cart and the ones ready for
my
> >Cushman Truckster are about 7 yrs old, I rework them (18) about two
months
> >ago, the Cushman cart has been in 2 parades and 2 fairs and 1 feamarket
(1
> >day) and I just recharged them today (12 hrs) so they hold up well, hope
> >this answers your ?, thanks
> >Jerry NW Ohio
> >
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