[AT] Batteries — 6 Volt now generators

Sun Sep 17 08:46:54 PDT 2017

Hi all,
 While we are on the subject of batteries, I wanted to bring the
generator into the discussion.
 Last year (2016) when I had a ton of work done on the Oliver, we had
to do some work to the charging system.
 Being the detail person I am, I chose to put a new 12 volt generator
on instead of putting it to an alternator.
 Ever since, I have had no real issues with it.
 But since last weekend, just before we took it to a tractor show, I
went to start it, and, "crap, it's dead!"
 I ran it about 2 miles down the road that morning, but maybe for only
about 9 or so minutes.
 I thought, "Well maybe I didn't run it long enough." So we gave it a
fast charge on the battery charger, loaded it up, and took it there.
 When I unloaded it, I made sure it ran for at least a half hour, as I
drove it around on the grounds.
 Since the parade was longer at the show this year, it ran for quite
sometime there also. Had no problems starting it either day. Brought
it home, and still had no issues.
 Monday night I cleaned the plugs in it, and put it back together. I
started it and let it run for about 3 minutes.
 But here we go again...
 Friday night I took it for quite a drive. It started just fine, and I
ran it for at least 20 minutes, maybe 25.
 Since my dad was unloading a few pieces of machinery, I wanted to
wait and put it away until after he was done with the skidloader. So I
parked it by the shed, and shut it off. At the time, the amp gauge
said 8 amps. Sometimes it does 10 at low idle, but then it seems when
the battery gets full it backs off to 8.
 Anyway, when it was time to put it in the shed, I go to start it,
and, low and behold, it's dead.
 Sometimes, when it doesn't want to go immediately, I turn the
ignition switch off, wait about 10 secconds, turn it back on, hit the
starter button, and away it goes.
 Woops, not that time around. So we put it on the fast charger for
about 2 minutes, and then I tried it again. Fired up right away.
 So when I got to the shed, we put the trickle on it.
 So I'm wondering, what could it be?
 The battery isn't that old. I've driven it on 40 mile trips before,
and have had no problems. I know that it could be the brushes, but
that generator hasn't had maybe 150 hours on it.
 My neighbor has a volt meeter he's going to let me use to put on the
battery. What should the readings be if the generator is charging?
 Will starting it with the volt meeter be a valid test since its been
on the trickle charger?
 Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks much!
Take Care,
 Tyler Juranek
 IA

On 9/16/17, deanvp <deanvp at att.net> wrote:
> Mike,  I own several of the HF battery tenders we high I recall paying less
> than $10 for. I was happy until one of them failed and melted down the
> plastic on the lump.  I became Really leary of using any of the rest because
> of that failure. So I have used the remaining ones very carefully when I can
> watch them daily.  None of the rest have failed. I now use one on my 2003
> F250 7.3L Diesel truck for over 5 months a year unattended while we are in
> AZ. The truck stays out side while we are gone so worst case only the truck
> will burn up. Last fall one of the two batteries in it started getting week.
> I didn't want to buy two new batteries then so the HF tender had to only
> hold the charge but also keep the weaker battery charged as well.  After 5
> months the truck started right up so the HF tender did it's job. So I guess
> I can give them a 3 out of 4 star rating because 1 of 4 failed.
>
>
> -------- Original message --------From: Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com> Date:
> 9/16/17  1:43 PM  (GMT-08:00) To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> Subject: Re: [AT] Batteries - 6 Volt
> LeRoy,
> I bought a battery off Ebay for my 4 wheeler and it's still working
> fine. I believe it came dry. I have battery tenders on all my stuff,
> with the price of batteries and the inconvenience of a dead one, it's
> cheap insurance. I bought mine at Wally World for about $23 a few years
> ago. Harbor freight has one that runs about $10, I have no experience
> with that one, others may.
>
> Mike M
>
>
> On 9/16/2017 8:31 AM, LeRoy wrote:
>> All.
>>
>> I had a few batteries stored in my garage that I have been using for my
>> tractors which are outside under tarps.  I went to charge them in order to
>> start the tractors and 2 of them register check battery on the charger.
>> This seems to me that the batteries are no good and basically can't be
>> charged.  Unfortunately I didn't have tenders on these.  They are about 4
>> or 5 years old which seems a little odd both would be bad.
>>
>> Anyway, wonder what the groups thoughts are with batteries like 1) proper
>> storage, 2) maximum battery life expected, 3) best prices to get
>> replacements,  best places to go to find batteries other than NAPA and 5)
>> will a tender help in this situation?
>>
>> LeRoy.
>>
>>
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>
>
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