5420 Battery blew up on me today

[jonyyuma]

Baking soda, works wonders ,even straight from the box. I posted before about using Cocacola too. It kills acid really well..something i left off before, if it blows or pops the caps off---Don't try to jump it off to start the car too soon, and definitely with a good cover between and you as it can reignite, if the top stayed on...

 

[jonyyuma]

Kyle, we have had it happen with cells just filled with water too..But, the more air space, it make sense, the more gases ready.??Plus it can happen on 24 volt systems.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Starting and stopping the tractor engine would have caused the sulphuric acid in the battery to heat up and give off hydrogen. It would have had to be a spark from above the level of the acid whether it was shorted plates or a loose cable. When I was taking auto mechanics in Jr College (many,MANY years ago) we had a fellow that just could not understand that you hooked up the battery charger to the battery BEFORE you turned it on to boost the car. He exploded 4 batteries before he got it right. Luckily, he was never hurt. And as a 9-10 year old, I was extremely lucky. I was sitting on the ground with an old battery between my legs playing with a battery that was just replaced. When it blew I wasn't hurt but I was covered in acid. I must have gotten in the bath pretty quick because I don't remember being burned. And Mom never knew what happened... but she did wonder why my clothes came out of the next wash in pieces.