4310 battery spew warrant fix

Trev · Dec 13, 2003

( Bob, this may not be a fair evaluation, but the only battery I've ever had that exploded was a 3-year old Interstate.)

You mean explode as in "explode"?? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I've gotten about 3 suggestions so far to stay clear of Interstate. Hmm.

Guess I'll get that charger, and wait until Spring to replace the battery. Easier to do wrench work when your hands aren't frozen. And by then I'll have some consensus on what battery is both good and will fit.

I don't have any battery problem I know of.. I just figure it's due for replacement. Maybe that's faulty thinking. It's never failed me yet.

Thanks,
Bob

Old_Hickory · Dec 13, 2003

Bob,
I had an Interstate battery as well and it was suppose to have been a heavy duty with the most "reserve" cranking amps available. It worked fine until 1 month before the warranty expired then it quit working.I went to Auto Zone and purchased 1 up there.
As far as replacing a battery if you think its life excpectancy is almost over,I would use it until it did fail.You might be suprised how long it lasts.

Trev · Dec 13, 2003

( Bob,
I had an Interstate battery as well and it was suppose to have been a heavy duty with the most "reserve" cranking amps available. It worked fine until 1 month before the warranty expired then it quit working.)

Man, talk about timing! They had that one figured out *almost* perfectly, didn't they? Only off by one month! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

( I went to Auto Zone and purchased 1 up there.
As far as replacing a battery if you think its life excpectancy is almost over,I would use it until it did fail.You might be suprised how long it lasts. )

Okay, that's four strikes against Interstate. Will wait until Spring, and see if I have any of that leakage problem. If so, then Autozone. If not, just keep using it for a while more.

Thanks for the feedback!

Bob

yellowsocks93 · Dec 13, 2003

Bob,
On an unrelated note how do you remove the shield on the 272 mower. I can't seem to get it off.

Old_Hickory · Dec 13, 2003

I did not catch the leakage problem part. If it is leaking acid and causing damage I would replace it soon.

jinman · Dec 13, 2003

( You mean explode as in "explode"?? )

Bob, I mean BOOM! ...pieces flying all over the place and acid splashed all over the inside of my engine compartment. HOLY SMOKE! I grabbed the hose and just started washing everything down to neutralize the acid. I had the hood open (I'd just changed the oil and filter and was starting the engine to check for leaks). Most of the acid blew out onto the ground and on the fender. I got the acid rinsed off so fast I don't even think the wax came off the paint. I do have a few spots on some plastic under the hood, but nothing serious enough to worry about.

All batteries produce explosive gas. Normally most of it stays inside the battery so there is no problem. My theory is that my battery had an internal arc and caused the gas to explode. I just feel darn lucky I wasn't at work or in the parking lot at Walmart. That would have been a disaster. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Trev · Dec 13, 2003

( Bob,
On an unrelated note how do you remove the shield on the 272 mower. I can't seem to get it off. )

I've never had mine apart. I haven't even had to change the blades yet.. each year I keep hitting rocks, and it keeps on cutting just fine.. so I figure I'll change the blades when it stops cutting cleanly. I also figure that this spring will be about the right time for all the routine maintenance.. belt tension, oil change, and so on.

I just read through the manual cover to cover, and there is no reference whatsoever to removing "the shield" on the 272. It talks about removing blades, replacing belts, lubrication, and so on.. but nothing about a "shield." Is there another name they might refer to the shield by? I'd be glad to fax you some of the manual if you need it.. or maybe there's a PDF on the JD site. Let me know if I can help.. but at the moment I'm not sure exactly what we are talking about. Sorry!

Perhaps there is a shield associated with the mulching kit for this mower, which I don't have?

Bob

Trev · Dec 13, 2003

( ( You mean explode as in "explode"?? )

Bob, I mean BOOM! ...pieces flying all over the place and acid splashed all over the inside of my engine compartment. HOLY SMOKE!)

Yow.. not a good time. How come one never hears of car batteries exploding? Or have I just missed it? You had the hood open, which I would think would have helped disperse any gasses that might have built up around the battery. Totally internal?

Anyway, I've ruled out Interstate! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

This Spring I'll give some thought to putting in a real battery and real battery cables.. and in the meantime, since it's running fine, I'll hope that it continues to do so during the winter. It started right up today, when I decided to let 'er run for bit and drive it around to charge it up and lube it a bit.

Thanks for the feedback!

Bob

p.s. Glad you're okay after that experience! That acid could have gone in your eyes!

Bird · Dec 13, 2003

( How come one never hears of car batteries exploding? )

Bob, I think JimI's battery explosion is a rare enough thing that most of us never hear about it. Like he said, they produce an explosive gas, but if it stays in the battery and if there's no ignition source (a spark), it won't explode. However, lots of us have heard of, and known of, batteries exploding when jump starting vehicles. When connecting the cables to jump start one, it's not at all unusual to get a little spark, and once again, if the explosive gas stays in the batteries, no problem, but if some has escaped . . ., well, lots of folks have been injured by them.