I might have screwed up

[gregfender]

So my battery light on my 1070 kept coming on and I got a little worried. I read the trouble shooting guide and it gave three possible culprits. 1) Low rpm speed. Not that, I was running between 1500 and 2600 (pto rated). 2) Bad alternator. Don't think so...it had been going on for a couple of days and I noticed no weakness at all during start-up. 3) Low electrolytes in the battery. Pulled it out this afternoon and sure enough - it's low. I run down to the auto-parts store, pick up some electrolyte and fill the battery. Once I replaced it...nothing but clicks. I hate to think I might have to get a new battery, but should refilling the old (but not THAT old) battery kill it?

 

[gregfender]

and by the way, where is a good place to get a replacement battery?

 

[grsthegreat]

i had a JD870 with the same battery as your 1070. I once made the mistake of putting an automotive battery in mine....wrongo. Not built sturdy enough nor have the proper cold cranking amps.

My JD dealership had me go to NAPA and get the farm grade/heavy equipment battery. Have had it for a few years. going strong.

I was told never to add electrolytes to an older battery, only add distilled water. Not sure why, but thats all Ive ever done.

there is supposedly a way to reverse surge a wet cell battery to reset the plates to keep working, but Ive never actually done it. I have a book describing HOW to do it, but Ive never have actually done it.

 

[gregfender]

this is the first time I've had to deal with the battery...I am afraid I might just have to call it a $100+ mistake and go get a new one. It's a fairly standard battery so I might be ok finding one at TSC...12v, 550cca...lesson learned about adding the electrolyte to the older battery...

 

[grsthegreat]

this is the first time I've had to deal with the battery...I am afraid I might just have to call it a $100+ mistake and go get a new one. It's a fairly standard battery so I might be ok finding one at TSC...12v, 550cca...lesson learned about adding the electrolyte to the older battery...

after you added electrolite, did you put the battery on a charger?

thats what they do for new batteries after you add electrolite (boats, jet skis, etc)???

just an idea

 

[grsthegreat]

this post is just a filler...i want to see me post 800 posts tonight :laughing:

 

[Zebrafive]

Chances are 50/50 the battery could not be saved. So consider it a $50 mistake

 

[greg_g]

.I am afraid I might just have to call it a $100+ mistake and go get a new one. It's a fairly standard battery so I might be ok finding one at TSC...12v, 550cca....

That would be your second mistake. Not enough battery. I can only reinforce what was suggested to you earlier; car batteries simply aren't designed to cope with turning over diesel engines, especially those with indirect injection. If your battery is OEM, I'm surprised JD put one that small in there. Given the age of your tractor I recommend a minimum of 750cca.

//greg//

 

[gregfender]

The OEM is a 550cca...but I was just on the Deere parts website and the replacement is 650-750cca...so you have a point!

 

[JB4310]

I run down to the auto-parts store, pick up some electrolyte and fill the battery. Once I replaced it...nothing but clicks. I hate to think I might have to get a new battery, but should refilling the old (but not THAT old) battery kill it?

If you mean you added sulfuric acid to the battery, then yeah you may of done more harm than good. I was just at a local company that makes their own batteries and the guy told me never add acid, only water. Something about the exact percentage of acid needed to create the desired voltage?

How old is your battery? If it's 5 years old, it's time. I notice now batteries give little warning, they are good one day and need to be replaced the next.

JB.