Another Kubota Battery Thread

Willl · Nov 8, 2011

kmassing said:
Put a digital VM on the battery and saw that the voltage dropped to 0 when the switch was put to Start.

Taken directly on the post or on the clamp ?

5030 · Nov 9, 2011

In a perfect enviroment a battery should last forever, problem is, flooded cell batteries are continually loosing capacity through sulfation of the plates (white coating that collects on the bottom of the case) which eventually shorts the plates, low water and vibration.

As soon as a battery is put in service it begins degrading so obviously buying a tractor (or anything with a battery in service) is counting down to a dead battery or a battery that can no longer store an electrical charge.

kmassing · Nov 9, 2011

Wlll,
Posts, pushed the tips of the leads down into the lead.

Grateful11 · Nov 9, 2011

OT: but my wife and her Dad worked full time side by side for since '89 until he passed
away in '08 and I asked her not long ago when she was having charging problems
with the IH 686 if the batteries have ever been changed in the 5140 and she
said not to her knowledge. I might have to take a peek and see what's in those
battery boxes just out of curiosity, I can't believe a set batteries would last 20
years. She knows her equipment inside and out.

ultrarunner · Nov 9, 2011

5030 said:
In a perfect enviroment a battery should last forever, problem is, flooded cell batteries are continually loosing capacity through sulfation of the plates (white coating that collects on the bottom of the case) which eventually shorts the plates, low water and vibration.

As soon as a battery is put in service it begins degrading so obviously buying a tractor (or anything with a battery in service) is counting down to a dead battery or a battery that can no longer store an electrical charge.

Years ago I would walk past a little block building that housed a battery re-builder...

One day I came in and asked the owner how it's down...

He said most batteries go bad from one of two things... the plates keep getting thinner to the point they can't function and/or the plates short out from accumulation of lead in the bottom of the case...

He showed me a battery with good plates that he had just removed more than a pound of lead from the bottom of the case... he said it will be good for years once it is cleaned out...

I've bought old equipment that had batteries that probably had been dead for many years...

I would take the battery outside and put it on a fast charger over night... sometimes cooking the battery would rejuvenate it.

Most of the new chargers need some battery current to charge.... they will not turn on without...

I've found taking a good battery and hooking it up in parallel or in series with 6 volts to a bad battery will often be enough to get the charging process going...

5030 · Nov 9, 2011

Giving my age away....

In the old days you could take a battery apart easily and clean the lead sulfate from the bottom of the case but nowdays with sealed plastic cases, I don't see how.

I have one of those desulfation chargers that appears to work, sometimes.

I always try to buy a dry charged battery and add acid myself to insure the longest possible life.

2458n · Nov 9, 2011

Thank you for the tip on the exide battery- Cat relationship. Found a Deeka (sp)? battery supplier that can supply me with a rebuild 65 group battery for 40.00. For 80.00 dollars I am willing to try them in the 7.3 diesel. That is with a core and no tax farm use. If this does not work out I have good jumper cables!

ultrarunner · Nov 10, 2011

5030 said:
Giving my age away....

In the old days you could take a battery apart easily and clean the lead sulfate from the bottom of the case but nowdays with sealed plastic cases, I don't see how.

I have one of those desulfation chargers that appears to work, sometimes.

I always try to buy a dry charged battery and add acid myself to insure the longest possible life.

I still have a few tar top batteries... they are required for find point judging by the Model A Ford Club.

One is a New Old Stock Ford Script that has never had acid in it... I've often wondered if dry charged is forever?

Some of the guys with the overhead conversions run 8 volt batteries....

When Dad first started selling the Interstate line I would always have to add acid to the batteries... it's been years since I had to do that and never thought about it...

Sorry for digressing...

timster2 · Nov 13, 2011

Just a thought for those who live in the North East. BJ's wholesale sells batteries at most of their locations and they have a great return/warranty policy. They refund the full purchase price of the battery if it fails while under warranty, NO prorating! Just make sure that when you purchase the battery put the battery on its own receipt to make it easier to find when needed. I have returned five year warranty batteries after four years and gotten a full refund twice. Return the old battery, get full refund, purchase new battery at the current price, you only pay the increase in cost if any between the two. Best deal around for batteries, car, truck, mower, tractor, etc.

cal1 · Nov 13, 2011

I've not even looked at my battery. Are these things standard wet cells like a car battery or are they like motorcycle batteries? Are we suppose to add water periodically or are they supposed to be maintenance free? Is there a post listing suitable subs for kubota?