Battery problems

[K man]

Hi all, I have a 2014 CK 30 HST ( 58 hrs) and it is more parked then used lol. I mostly use it in the winter for blowing snow other than that it sits idle. The other day I started it and moved near the garage no problems. Today went out to move it again and guess what battery could not turn engine over just made clicking noises. So I figured it is dead and checked to see maybe I left some lights on or something and no everything is off.
Now I am wondering if I should put the charger on the battery or just say the heck with it and by an new one. I want to make sure my tractor starts in the winter so I can't take a chance with a bad battery.
Thanks for your help and if I do change the battery what kind would you suggest that does not drain over time.
Thanks
Gilles

 

[North Texas Mike]

If you don't use it very much of trickle works wonders, I used to keep one on my bike all winter it would always crank right up in the spring

 

[frugalangler]

Solar maintainer works great these days, don't need power where the unit is stored

 

[K man]

Thanks, so do you think the battery could be saved or is it too late.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Thanks, so do you think the battery could be saved or is it too late.

Take it and have it load tested. Not much is worse than counting on something to start and it won't. Insult to injury is knowing it's weak in the summer and not addressing the issue

Brett

 

[K man]

Thanks Brett,
I will do that. Like you say if is that bad in the summer then there is no way it will perform in the cold Canadian months of Winter.

 

[K man]

I thought I would charge her up first. It is on slow charge now will leave it on for at least 4 hours. I also figured if I bring the battery dead they will not be able to load test.
Thanks

 

[dfkrug]

Also check the ground wire to the frame. It (and the battery terminals) get
corroded and fail to pass the current needed to start.

 

[K man]

Well I had it on the charger for 4 hours and she started good. I will try and start her again in a few days and if the battery drops down again then I will replace her for sure.

 

[LD1]

Nothing worse than wasting money by guessing. Use a little troubleshooting. Get a volt meter. Have battery tested. Etc.

 

[K man]

Thanks I do have a voltmeter but have no idea how to use it. Not to mechanically inclined worked as a bricklayer for 30 some years lol. I am retired and bought this little toy to play around on the estate. Getting hard on me to change the front blower to the FEL so I leave the blower on year round.

 

[k0ua]

Here we go again with this voltmeter class I have threatened to have. And why isn't this taught in 8th or 9th grade?.. Of all the crap we were taught in school, we can't afford to teach something practical in life, that would serve so many people so well.... I give up.:confused3:

 

[k0ua]

LD1, where or when did you learn to use a multimeter? I will tell my story first. I bought one when I was 12 years old and started to take an active interest in all things radio. I still have it by the way. And I am now 62. I taught myself how to use it and care for it. It still works well today.

I bought it the same day I bought a simple aviation receiver kit. I think between the two, they cleaned out my piggy bank. The aviation receiver kit was pretty much a bust as it was a simple diode detector and a tuned circuit with one stage of audio amplification to drive an earphone. You had to be within sight of a airplane to hear anything.

But the little RCA voltohmmeter was with me always for the last 50 years.

 

[k0ua]

While I have a few nits to pick with this video, they are small ones. And it may be enough to get you going:

 

[k0ua]

Likewise I don't agree with everything she said, and she glosses over a couple of concepts, overall it is still good information for a beginner.
Analog meters have their place, as do digital meters. If I am battery troubleshooting, I nearly always pick the digital.

 

[LD1]

I honestly don't know where I learned to use one at. Probably dad, as he (now retired) worked a lifetime of multi-craft.

I agree, it should be taught in school. What do people do if an outlet in their house stops working and it's not a breaker? Or needing to change a light switch...how do you confirm no power? Or tinkering with 12v stuff such as this, ATVs, mowers, etc.

Knowing how to check voltage and continuity is something everyone should be taught IMO

 

[k0ua]

Battery tutorial:

 

[k0ua]

Alternator tutorial and some load testing:

 

[k0ua]

I honestly don't know where I learned to use one at. Probably dad, as he (now retired) worked a lifetime of multi-craft.

I agree, it should be taught in school. What do people do if an outlet in their house stops working and it's not a breaker? Or needing to change a light switch...how do you confirm no power? Or tinkering with 12v stuff such as this, ATVs, mowers, etc.

Knowing how to check voltage and continuity is something everyone should be taught IMO

I don't know what they do. I have been fixing things for over 50 years. Testing all the common things like you mention and more.

I think most people break out the wrench and start unbolting things from the vehicle and start dragging them into the auto parts store. The first thing to break out is your brain and your multimeter.

 

[LD1]

The first thing to break out is your brain and your multimeter.

Agreed.

I'm not too terribly far removed from govt education. 15-20 years ago I was in highschool.

3 years of a foreign language that I haven't used. (Rural Ohio lol)
How about we focus on getting out language right.
Senior year English was nothing but Greek and Norse mythology. Why should that be forced on anyone? If someone wants to get further education on that....more power to them. But it didn't mean squat to me.

And about 2 years into highschool, they did away with shop class and home ec.

And we wonder why this generation isn't independent. Let's stop teaching stuff that matters in the real world in favor of the BS that's being forced now