[AT] Having battery problems--cold wind--Charlie

[John Wilkens]

I've lost count of the number of tractor starters I've had rebuilt as a 
result of hard starting with even a new battery.  The old ones (like mine) 
occasionally do need attention.  Sometimes with the 6 volt systems all you 
need are some good HEAVY gauge battery cables with clean connections.  My 
old 6 volt Farmall H has never failed to start in the coldest weather (NE 
Oregon) when the electrical stuff was in top shape.  I'll have to admit the 
Case VAC I'm working on right now barely turns over--even after a new 
battery and cables and a generator rebuild.  Just not enough live left in 
the old generator I guess.  I changed it to a one-wire alternator, 12 volt 
battery and 12 volt bulbs and used the old 6 volt starter.  Works fine 
now.    John W.



At 01:49 PM 03/26/2006, you wrote:
>The wind really does make a difference.  A few years ago I really needed 
>to start my D-14 bad on a cold winter day.  Cold here is +25 F and I think 
>it was warmer than that.  Probably even above freezing but the tractor was 
>sitting directly in the path of a N/E wind of about 15 mph blowing 
>straight off the water.  No matter what I tried, battery charger on the 
>fully charged battery or whatever, I couldn't get it to turn over fast 
>enough to start.  I finally put a 500 watt halogen light next to the block 
>and hung a tarp over the top.  After a few hours of that she spun right up 
>and started with no problem.
>
>Charlie
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
>To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 4:13 PM
>Subject: Re: [AT] Having battery problems--so how to fix?
>
>
>>Hi John, most of the big diesel stuff is not used in the winter. But the
>>2090 Case diesel that I do occasionally use to push snow will start just
>>fine after 3 or 4 hours of the block heater plugged in. If its really cold I
>>will also direct the space heater on the oil pan and underside to thin out
>>the oil. Usually change to #10 oil for winter but I got away with #30 this
>>winter. Of course all these tractors are kept parked indoors, non-heated but
>>it makes a world of difference if the machine is out of the wind.
>>The old Cockshutt gas tractors were always great starters for winter after
>>we installed huge six volt batteries on them. I did convert the Cockshtt 50
>>to 12 volt a few years back so never fear the cold with that one.
>>Of course if its really severe cold I usually have the option of leaving
>>them in the shed and waiting for a nicer day.
>>But then we dont' get cold winters  like they did in "the old days" :-)
>>
>>Ralph in Sask.
>>http://lgoff.sasktelwebsite.net/
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: John Hall <jthall at worldnet.att.net>
>>To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>>Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 2:34 PM
>>Subject: Re: [AT] Having battery problems--so how to fix?
>>
>>
>>>Ralph,
>>>Just out of curiosity, how often do you guys crank up stuff during the
>>>winter?
>>>
>>>John
>>
>>
>>
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>>Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
>>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
>>
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>
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                    In the wide-open spaces of NE Oregon