YM 1700 hard starting

[clemsonfor]

12.6 v is bare minimum. Charge to 13.2 and let sit, disconnected. Should remain above 12.75 v, virtually forever, or bad battery.

Not forever!! Lead acid batteries are known to discharge at the rate of 1 to 2% a month at least when perfectly healthy. This is why cars or anything with a battery should be on a maintainer or cranked and ran (one of a few reasons) every month.

We talk about this all the time on golf cart forums where people are like they were good when I parked it a year and a half ago.

 

[careyo63]

That's right! And the reason I was out starting mine. I've seen mine go down to 12.35 before and the reason I put it on the charger. My theory and has been a good one is that what does a battery in is Draining all the power out. Esp. when it's been sitting old weak and the volts are low. I could jump it off and have before "But" my Charge light would come on and stay on until I removed the J.cables ..... That's why I'll let it charge up................

 

[normde2001]

Not forever!! Lead acid batteries are known to discharge at the rate of 1 to 2% a month at least when perfectly healthy. This is why cars or anything with a battery should be on a maintainer or cranked and ran (one of a few reasons) every month.

We talk about this all the time on golf cart forums where people are like they were good when I parked it a year and a half ago.

My battery ALWAYS maintained 12.6 v for 6 months, sometimes a full year at a time between starts. Battery was old when I got it, did this for 18 years before it would not, and had to be replaced.. New one the same, so far.

 

[careyo63]

I'm going to lose mine. It won't make it through the winter. It seemed like my cold start was slow at the end of Fall. We hit a cold spell with a lot of rain so I had to get the Yanmar out. Fueled the Thermostart up and checked the Battery. 12.42. ugh!! Got the charger out before I done anything. Just needed to finish digging and clearing a few small gullys. This time of Yr. when the leaves are down is the time to do it. Esp. were they are located. Also with the rain my rear scoop and my Org. Rice patty tires works like a champ!! I had to get the hose out. Even the front wheels had so much mud you would think I was 4WD..

 

[clemsonfor]

an 18 year old battery??? Unless its one of those AGM batteries I find this very hard to believe. 8 years is about max I have gotten out of them.

 

[California]

My battery ALWAYS maintained 12.6 v for 6 months, sometimes a full year at a time between starts. Battery was old when I got it, did this for 18 years before it would not

Was that a quality battery that came with the tractor from Japan? It sounds like better quality than we see here.

 

[careyo63]

Was that a quality battery that came with the tractor from Japan? It sounds like better quality than we see here.

Lets hear it. I'm going to be buying a new one and I want one like that......................

 

[normde2001]

Just a standard open cell, about 800cca INTERSTATE battery, well-worn on the tractor when I got it in early 2000, ran until fall of 2017. I did use "desulfation" (google it) technique once or twice over the years to extend life. No special eq. needed, just "super-charge" to all it will handle, usually 13.2 v or higher. It cleans the plates, some way or other.:confused3: It goes without saying, use only distilled water.
WOW!!! Interstate distributors are few and far between. Did not know that.

 

[careyo63]

Mine may make spring but doubtful. The 800cca. is what I was wanting to know actually. I'm only 550cca and I can get a 700cca. with it only being an inch taller. So I'll be going that route. The 550 that I have and owned will be 11 yrs. next month so it should last me some time.

 

[Jtullis13]

I know back in the late 1990's and early 2000's Interstate made great batteries! Then they were made to last many years, where now many companies make them to last 3-5 years so you have to buy a new one. The best I have had is a german battery that came in my VW Jetta TDI, that battery lasted me 16 years!! I was really disappointed when it finally came to rest.