4310 battery spew warrant fix

[docdezl]

Have 1 1/2 year old 4310 serviced "by the book". Had a note stay in my mind about the battery acid level??? Keeping it BELOW the fill ring and above the plates???? So I kept and eye on this.

Well I have acid all over the oil cooler,the base plate, batteryhold downs are eaten alive,radiator bottom tank is eaten??

Dealer says JD has a kit to fix this problem on the 4000 series. I remind him its a 4300! Ugh woops? Small silence on his end. "No problem we will make you happy" (good dealer). I reminhd him I'm old mechanic and never happy. I hate battery acid ! You wash and clean and spray and paint and baking soada and 2 years from now its hanging by it cables!!

SO I got these questions:

1) What is the battery doing in front of the radiator?
(radiant heat and hydrogen gas and engeniering didn't
have a problem)
2) Have plastic compposit all over,hood,fenders,floor and
the battery is surounded by steel,copper and aluminum?
3) Fixing a problem by reducing the electrolite level in a
battery that needs all it can get? And that didn't help!

Smoke,rattle and,stink........docdezl

 

[_RaT_]

Battery acid = cancer, your never sure if you'll get it back or if it will reoccur. It is not a happy situation and not easily eradicated. I watch mine and have yet to see even the slightest amount of white powder.

 

[nello]

go out and buy a optima group 51 yellow top battery. very happy no more acid.with the old jd had 12hr. and it just spit acid all over.the jd guy said the new jr 2003 battery would not do this???? you just have to take care of the problem your self. for me just replace the metric u-nuts with a 3/8 u-nuts. l use two 10" long bolts and over the top of battery a 1" x 11" piece of plastice matching the two holes on the bottom plate where the battery sit. good luck . battery $80.00 from tna sports. jd4210 2003

 

[picard335]

I just made a similar post in this forum, if you can post a photo of that Optima Fix I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
John

 

[ducati996]

If using the optima their base sizes are a strange shape which gives a tighter compartment fit. In my case with my 4100 it wouldnt fit (red top) so I'm looking for a competly sealed alternative to JD's leaker ! I'm watching it closely and it knows I'm watching it !! I hate acid damage as well !! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[picard335]

Has anyone thought about taking a plastic battery box, and screwing it down to the bottom, then place in battery, then fill the sides with that spray foam? Would the optima work then?

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> battery $80.00 from tna sports. </font>
The 51 battery is $89.95 plus $20 shipping.

 

[Trev]

I'm replying here to a fairly old post I found doing a search..

Anyway, the issue is the batteries JD used to supply, and problems with corrosion, spillage, leakage, boiling over, ruining the radiator, oil cooler, and sometimes the other parts.

I just got off the phone with my JD dealer, and he said they don't even sell JD batteries.. they use Interstate instead.. get a lot better price on them. They weren't even aware of the service bulletin or the problems that other's have mentioned here.. but I've always heard that Interstate is one of the best brands...?

The dealer will double check that he can get me one for my 4300 and call me back.

The tractor is a model year 2000, so I figure I'm due for a battery anyway.. don't want to be caught in the middle of the winter with a tractor that won't start.

I've also ordered a small "Battery Tender Plus" charger for only $47 from BatteryStuff.com, and will rig it up so when I plug in my block and hydraulic heaters, I can just plug in the battery charger at the same time. It's a 3-stage unit which takes into account ambient temperature and which can just be left hooked up continuously if desired.

The dealer just called back and says they have some in stock for the 4100.. they aren't completely certain it will fit my 4300, but if I bring in my old one tomorrow we can compare them and it's $50 for the new Interstate.

I guess this post is mostly informational, if anyone is interested. But I'm certainly open to feedback if anyone has any thoughts on any of this. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tks, and happy holidays to all you great folks!

Bob

 

[jinman]

Bob, this may not be a fair evaluation, but the only battery I've ever had that exploded was a 3-year old Interstate. I think the electrolyte level may have been a little low since the other battery in my Dodge diesel was a little low, but the battery went off like a bomb and I was lucky to be at home and have a garden hose handy.

The batteries I have the most luck with are the Duralast brand from Autozone. I had one in my Ford Jubilee for over 6 years before replacing it after it was inadvertenly discharged completely. I also replaced the Interstate batteries in my truck with the Duralast Gold batteries from Autozone which have a 3 year full replacement warranty and decreases after that out to 8 years.

I have no reason at all to suggest why the Autozone batteries are so good. I've just had darn good luck with them and bad luck with Interstate. If I was going to replace my tractor battery with another lead-acid, I just might go for Autozone. Probably, I'll choose a sealed battery instead when it comes time to replace my present battery. ...okay I'll stop rambling. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[AndyMA]

The battery Ford supplied with my 2120 lasted 11 years and started the tractor many times in the dead of winter with no block heater and the tractor outside. When it finally died the new battery was about $140 I think. Much larger than a car battery (and very heavy) I never had a bit of trouble with corrossion. And by the way it's mounted in front of the radiator in a place that's a real pain to lift it out of.

Andy