Battery Cable Connection Broke!

[rmonio]

I had a strange thing happen today with my 4600. I was getting ready to move some class 5 gravel and went to restart the unit and it wouldn't start. It clicked - which is consistent with a bad battery or poor connection (which is odd as the battery is new). So I opened it up, found corrosion on the + cable and it was also loose (that was also odd). I then started to tighten it and it completely broke off.

We were able to jump start the tractor by using a vice-grips on the connector, but as to be expected when the unit was shut off we could not restart.

Has anyone ever seen this with a battery cable connection? I am also not sure how to fix it other than having Deere come out and put a new one on for me.

Thoughts? Thanks!

-Bob

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Probably an easy fix to replace the cable. New cable and a couple wrenches and 10 minutes unless it is different than what you give us to visualize. Picture would clarify if that is the case.

Ron

 

[k0ua]

Hear about the broken/corroded battery cables all the time here on TBN. A very common problem.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

If it is a top terminal battery you can get replacement ends either in the 2 bolt strap style or the sleeve style with the compression nut and it should be about $5 to fix. If the whole cable is bad they can usually be had in various lengths with one that should be close.

David Kb7uns

 

[skyhook]

Disconnect the cable at the battery, you can buy new cable "ends", there not that expensive,
or get a new cable and replace it, ""Make sure you disconnect it at the battery first"",
because you'll have to also disconnect it at the starter.
Not a big deal to do, corrosion "will" separate the connector from the post,,
just like water will expand when frozen.

 

[silvertramp]

I was jump starting a tractor and the positive cable caught fire in the middle. Turns out it was corroded under the insulation. When the ends get bad, I buy new cables after seeing that.

 

[chim]

I smear a corrosion protectant (Penetrox, CU/AL Aid, No/ALOX, other names) used in the trade for electrical connections on the terminals when installing batteries. HD and Lowes even have little tubes that are handy to keep in the tool box.

 

[k0ua]

I have been using No-ox-id for about 35 years on terminals, taking care to make sure any exposed copper wire is covered so that the fumes cannot get into the copper strands and start the corrosion process. I always got if for free as left overs in what was sent with telephone PBX stationary battery installations. I just always saved what was left over in the jars and tubes after I greased up the telephone batteries. If the stationary battery manufactures thought enough of it to send it as part of the installation, I figured it was good enough for my batteries. In 35 years I have not been disappointed.
The below links may not be the best places to buy this product, made by Sanchem, but I have never bought any!

Amazon.com: 8 ounce Tube Cb Ham Radio NO OX ID A-Special Conductive Grease ALL Antenna Metal: Electronics

Amazon.com: 2 ounce Tub Cb Ham Radio NO OX ID A-Special Conductive Grease ALL Antenna Metal: Everything Else

 

[rmonio]

Probably an easy fix to replace the cable. New cable and a couple wrenches and 10 minutes unless it is different than what you give us to visualize. Picture would clarify if that is the case.

Ron

Here is what it looks like. From what I'm reading from everyone else, this does happen and it should be reasonable to fix.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

-Bob

 

[George2615]

Here is what it looks like. From what I'm reading from everyone else, this does happen and it should be reasonable to fix.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

-Bob

Bob,
Yes, that is an easy fix. Just cut the broken end off the cable. Go to auto parts store and get a new battery cable end for a couple bucks, strip back about 3/4" of insulation off cable and bolt the new end on.

 

[jpm1]

this happens yearly with my tractors, but usually its -30 degrees and a strong breeze. This year it happened in the summer. Cheap, easy fix, just the cost of owning equipment . . .John

 

[k0ua]

And if you use N0-Ox-Id. it will never happen again.

 

[boggen]

over tightening can lead to pre-mature failure of the cable ends. along with using a screw driver or like to try and pry open the end clamp to much, when removing cable to fix vehicle or tractor. that metal of the ends is rather "brittle / weak" stuff. it bends a little bit, but if ya over do it. the cracks happen. and the cracks just feed a bunch more corrosion.

i have used pepsi / coca cola in a squeeze (out of town) and corrosion on battery cable not getting good contact, a little soda to fuze off the corrosion and off i went. next day new end, but 2 buck soda vs 100 plus buck towing charge....and not able to get to work... i hate soda due to it leaves sticky mess behind but *shrugs*

on tractors, riding lawn mowers, etc... stuff that may not get used for a couple weeks or longer at a time, "quick disconnect" battery ends are installed. much easier to deal with, vs dealing with a possible dead battery. granted some equipment is a pain in rear. due to no actual space around the battery for quick disconnect ends, and leaves ya hunting for different types of quick disconnect ends. at one time, tractor was in a location were cats and other varmints would be running around area and needed a trickle charger to keep battery up. the regular alligator clips most battery chargers / trickle chargers have, would of fallen off if something looked at them wrong. i just remove the alligator clips for quick disconnects on the charger. and all was good.

i have used nails, screws, little bit of wire before, to place between battery clamp end and battery post. due to not a snug fit (cable was easily sliding off). most of the time i have had to go get new cable end. due to i goofed up and got end out of shape / open the clamp up to far or someone else did. to keep a good connection, and reduce corrosion that would quickly show up.

 

[buckshot721]

Cheap fix is if you have a long enough cable, cut off old clamp remove insulation and put on one of those cheap bolt on clamps. Better way to do it, follow the cable back to the stater and unbolt and remove. Take to the auto parts store and match up a new one. And replace it! Dont expect those $2.00 cheapy clamps to last to long.

 

[Herkypilot]

Here is what it looks like. From what I'm reading from everyone else, this does happen and it should be reasonable to fix.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

-Bob

Bob - that was a "New" battery, meaning you put that corroded terminal back on the new battery lug? You don't need some specialized anti-corrosion grease, I just use a dab of grease used to lube up the zerks. I've never had a problem with corrosion after treating terminals with regular grease. Now that you have a nice shiny new one, it's a good time to put some grease on it to keep it from corroding again.

HP

 

[PILOON]

B4 all specialized lubes the norm was to smear Vasoline on the terminals to prevent corrosion.
Still works just fine and best it's cheap!

 

[skyhook]

B4 all specialized lubes the norm was to smear Vasoline on the terminals to prevent corrosion.
Still works just fine and best it's cheap!

Yep, I remember that too.
Anything that will prevent oxidation on the lead terminals is good as long as it doesn't "seep" between your connections.
I suppose you could also put "liquid electrical tape".

 

[k0ua]

I always put a thin coating of No-ox-Id on the terminals first, then a coating on the insides and outside of the terminals, paying attention that all exposed metal including around where the insulation of the cable meets the terminal, then put the clamp on the battery terminal and tighten. You want a gas tight seal of everything metal covered in the grease.. This is how the application sheets taught me how to do it on the battery banks for the PBX's. Don't worry about insulating the connection with the grease, that will not happen when you tighten the clamp.

 

[jimmysisson]

Vaseline can be put right on the mating surfaces too without problem.
Jim

 

[skyhook]

Vaseline can be put right on the mating surfaces