At wits end with battery?

[lagunagrande]

For the past few days I have had to jump start my tractor because overnight it would lose its charge and only turn over once then click. I went to start it and nothing happens, the gauges turn on but it doesn't crank over. I go get the four wheeler to jump it. After it sits for a few minutes I try to start the tractor again, it turns over once and then just clicks repeatedly. I go and get the truck and again let it sit for a few minutes. Same thing, cranks once and clicks. I decide to go get the charger and let it sit overnight. So today I try and start it, cranks once and clicks! The battery is showing 12.59 volts! Could it be there is not enough amps? Maybe the battery is dead? Please post your ideas.

P.S.: I only jump start because as a rancher you really have no time to sit and wait for it to charge.

 

[grsthegreat]

yup..you hit the nail on the head probibly. If you check the voltage while trying to start it youll be surprised. I had the same thing happen to my van. showed 12.x volts when sitting there, but below 8 v while trying to start.

I replaced the battery, problem solved. Its the starting amps.

Also CHECK the ground wires to make sure it end bolted to tractor frame is clean and secure

 

[fuseboxer]

Try removing the battery and replacing it with a fresh charged battery that you know is good. I have had the experience where the battery was so low it sucked current and could not be jumped. Always started with a good jump battery.

 

[kebo]

How old is the battery?? Were it mine, I would take the battery to NAPA or somewhere and get it tested. Be sure to put a good charge on it before you carry it in. If the tester hints at it being weak or bad, I would just go ahead and buy a new one while I was there. That way, if you still have weird problems cranking your tractor with a new battery, you will KNOW FOR CERTAIN that it's NOT the battery and you should look elsewhere for the problem. Sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and spend a little money trying to diagnose weird cranking problems rather than pulling all your hair out.

 

[lagunagrande]

All my jump batteries are, well, dead. It is really frustrating, especially since the front end loader is all the way down and trying to get to that battery is near impossible! I will head to Ace tomorrow and pick up a new battery. Hopefully that fixes my problem. $100 goodbye . Will post results later, thanks guys!

Try removing the battery and replacing it with a fresh charged battery that you know is good. I have had the experience where the battery was so low it sucked current and could not be jumped. Always started with a good jump battery.

 

[lagunagrande]

Sounds about write :laughing:. Thanks man I'll take it in before I get a new one, hopefully I can get a discount for bringing in the old one if I do need to purchase a new one.

Sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and spend a little money trying to diagnose weird cranking problems rather than pulling all your hair out.

 

[grsthegreat]

just make sure you get a heavy duty one... one rated for tractors. I made the mistake of putting a car battery in my old tractor and the case cracked from the vibrations. Warranty voided . ate the $$$$

 

[colinc]

The battery is showing 12.59 volts!

That's its no-load voltage, I assume. Unless one of the cells is damaged, that voltage would be expected under no load. The voltage across the terminals will drop when a current is drawn from the battery owing to its internal resistance. As batteries age, their internal resistance tends to increase, resulting in a greater voltage drop for a given current draw in accordance with Ohm's law. The internal resistance also goes up when a battery is cold, which results in similar frustration.

 

[lagunagrande]

Well after a few choice words and a couple of bloody knuckles I finally got the battery out. Two things, the battery has a date of Aug 2007 and the vent hose was not hooked up so dust has gotten in it. Don't know whether the age got to it or the dust but either or I am going to have to replace it.

 

[sunnyside360]

Battery life of 4 years is not so bad. Some will go longer and some not as long as yours. In fact, it seems the original equipment batteries have a relatively short life as reported by others on tbn. I feel the original JD battery in my 2007 3720 will go anytime as it is now 4.5 yrs old.

Good luck with your new battery.