Boosting question.

[corey9212]

Hello I have a question about boosting that no one in my area can’t seem to have an answer about. My tractor is dead and it’s really cold outside so it needs a boost.

I have several high end booster backs that can start a dead semi and I have my ram 3500 to boost from, but no matter that I hook up to either my tractors boosting post or straight to battery the tractor won’t start, it’s like the tractor wasn’t even hooked up to anything. The weird thing is I had a dead battery on my truck once and it too acted like I never had a booster hooked up to it.

Logic says that what I hook up to the tractor is now the new starting battery so it should fire right up (especially using the truck to boost it) but it still won’t boost.

Can anyone please explain this to me and why that logic isn’t working and what I can do to get it boosted. Thank you.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

First are you sure the battery is flat? Is the ground good?

Are you sure you haven’t killed a fusible link or fuse?

Can you get to the starter to hook up directly to the solenoid?

 

[MossRoad]

If the booster pack is charged, and you clamp it to the battery terminals, and nothing happens when you try and start it, there is another problem.

Is it in gear?
Is the PTO on?
Is there a safety switch somewhere that's malfunctioning?

Stuff like that, first.

 

[mjw357]

If the battery in the tractor is bad (dead cells or shorted) it will just act like a big resistor. Also check cables and connections as mentioned.

 

[CobyRupert]

Probably not a battery issue if jumpering from a good battery, battery pack, or other vehicle does nothing.

Test to see if voltage is getting to the starter solenoid.

 

[Snobdds]

If the battery is too dead, the new chargers will not charge it. Smart charges are actually dumb chargers. There needs to be some life in the battery. Sometimes I hook a second battery charger up to it as well just to trick the charger into charging it. This only needs to be there for a few minutes to get the charger thinking there is some current there.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve also seen batteries that are so dead they won’t jumpstart. Sometimes if you leave the jumpers hooked up several minutes it will start. I’d say it’s new battery time.

 

[corey9212]

First are you sure the battery is flat? Is the ground good?

Are you sure you haven’t killed a fusible link or fuse?

Can you get to the starter to hook up directly to the solenoid?

Yes, I turned it over and it cranked then slowed down as the battery lost its charge. The ground did have corrosion but I got it all cleaned up.

I checked all the fuses and fusible links and relays and all are good.

Removing 2 bolts and I can get access to my starter, I’ve never boosted off of a starter so I’m not sure how it works and what the connections are. The John Deere mechanic managed to boost it via the starter but I wasn’t around when he did it so I couldn’t see what he did.

 

[dodge man]

Do you have to move it now? If not go get a new battery. Load test it to make sure it’s shot.

 

[corey9212]

If the booster pack is charged, and you clamp it to the battery terminals, and nothing happens when you try and start it, there is another problem.

Is it in gear?
Is the PTO on?
Is there a safety switch somewhere that's malfunctioning?

Stuff like that, first.

Question is what’s the problem that even John Deere Mechanics aren’t finding?

It’s a IVT so as long as it’s in park it’s ok and all the safety switches are working. It starts just fine on warm days and when the battery is charged, it’s just when the battery dies and needs a boost that it acts like there’s no booster attached.

If the battery in the tractor is bad (dead cells or shorted) it will just act like a big resistor. Also check cables and connections as mentioned.

That makes sense but if I connect to the cable ends that connect to the battery then shouldn’t my booster pack or truck basically become the new battery while connected?

The mechanic said I do need a new battery and that’s a $1400cdn installed.

But with this cold snap -45c (-49f) and I don’t have shelter for the mechanic to do the replacement so they want to do it when it warms up and I need to keep boosting it when the battery acts up (but not easy when I have this issue)

Probably not a battery issue if jumpering from a good battery, battery pack, or other vehicle does nothing.

Test to see if voltage is getting to the starter solenoid.

I will grab my multimeter and see what voltage is going to the starter solenoid, is it a live wire or do I need someone cranking the ignition to test it?

If the battery is too dead, the new chargers will not charge it. Smart charges are actually dumb chargers. There needs to be some life in the battery. Sometimes I hook a second battery charger up to it as well just to trick the charger into charging it. This only needs to be there for a few minutes to get the charger thinking there is some current there.

I definitely agree, they have gone backwards when it comes to “smart” and detecting voltage, the dual chargers is a really good idea to get it started.

I’ve also seen batteries that are so dead they won’t jumpstart. Sometimes if you leave the jumpers hooked up several minutes it will start. I’d say it’s new battery time.

I have a tech coming on Friday to install a new battery but I need to boost it in the meantime and trying to figure out why it won’t even take a boost.

 

[corey9212]

Do you have to move it now? If not go get a new battery. Load test it to make sure it’s shot.

I won’t have to move it until tomorrow to feed the horses so I may do a quick load test and put it on a charger to top up the charge and pray to the diesel gods, lol.

 

[dodge man]

You own two tractors? Can you take the battery out of something else and put it in your tractor? I’m guessing the battery is just completely shot. $1400? Surely you can buy and swap the battery for a lot less.

 

[grsthegreat]

A battery is like $200.

 

[4570Man]

$1400 for a battery and labor to change it is insane. I just priced a AGM battery yesterday which was a little rich for my taste and I’ll go with a lead acid instead but it was $280.

 

[corey9212]

You own two tractors? Can you take the battery out of something else and put it in your tractor? I’m guessing the battery is just completely shot. $1400? Surely you can buy and swap the battery for a lot less.

I only have 1 tractor and the 6130R has a huge battery that I can’t swap with anything, it is definitely a steep price, it’s $900 for the battery and the rest is labour to install cause I have to remove the entire right step to get to it and then try and lift it out of the compartment it sits in which is tight for such a huge battery, even the tech says the placement wasn’t John Deere’s brightest ideas. Cause you have a very tiny hatch just to get to it to test it otherwise you have to use the boosting post.

 

[corey9212]

A battery is like $200.

It’s cause of how big this battery is, it’s quite a large battery with 2000 cca

$1400 for a battery and labor to change it is insane. I just priced a AGM battery yesterday which was a little rich for my taste and I’ll go with a lead acid instead but it was $280.

If I didn’t have back issues from an accident I would definitely do it myself but the battery is on the frame under the cab and you need to remove the right step to get access to it and then pull it out of a tight space it’s sitting in.

 

[4570Man]

It’s cause of how big this battery is, it’s quite a large battery with 2000 cca

If I didn’t have back issues from an accident I would definitely do it myself but the battery is on the frame under the cab and you need to remove the right step to get access to it and then pull it out of a tight space it’s sitting in.

What 2000 cca battery cost $900? If it truly is that expensive I’m sure you could use 2 1000 cca batteries instead. That tractor engine is 4.5 liters. Does it actually have a 2000 cca battery?

 

[Richard]

he has a ram 3500... can a tractor like this be bump-started? we've started our old international 444 a couple times like that. lashed it up behind my JCB, put tractor into 4th gear and got it going.

 

[4570Man]

he has a ram 3500... can a tractor like this be bump-started? we've started our old international 444 a couple times like that. lashed it up behind my JCB, put tractor into 4th gear and got it going.

I’ve pull started my dump truck a couple times because it has a habit of going dead if I forgot to plug up the trickle charger and I have to take spare battery and hook on it with jumper cables even to roll start it. It won’t fire the injectors without voltage.

 

[JPRambo]

I found that tractor has batteries rated 154Ah x 7.25 = ~1100CCA.
I have a couple of these on my solar system in my garage and they are ~100 lbs each.