Battery charging questions

[sarti]

My B2630 seemed to be very low on power when starting. Figured had a bad battery, I had it tested and was told it was okay just low on charge.
I tested my dynamo and had 14vac at idle and 40 vac at full rpm so I changed my regulator.. At the battery when idling I get about 12.5 volts and at full rpm approx 14 volts is this normal for a dyno sytem or should I get 14 volts at idle also? I can't seem to find any other problem. when tractor not warmed up still hard to crank over, could the battery actually be bad? thanks

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Not sure what a dyno is maybe an alt. if idle is low maybe not charging fully so yes this is normal A battery can test ok and still be bad I suggest that you put a slow charge on it a least 8 hrs. and see how it performs.

 

[V1Rotate]

The voltages that you see are normal, 12.5 and 14.
Check your battery terminals and cables for signs of corrosion, also remove and check your ground cable for corrosion at the end where it connects to the engine or tractor frame.

 

[DennisArrow]

My B7610, similar engine and all to yours, with a new battery that is fully charged ALWAYS turns over sounding like it has a weak battery. Must be high compression, weak starter, or whatever. Been this way for the last 400 hours since I got it..........God bless.....Dennis

 

[Soundguy]

speifically, a dynamo is a n electric generator making DC current thru the use of a comutator..


many people refer to a permanent field generator or ac source ) as a dynamo as well.

 

[crazyal]

Start off with the basics. Clean terminals on the battery and the starter (solenoid if it's not part of the starter). If that doesn't help then, if you have a multi meter there are some tests you can do. If you have a Harbor Freight close by you can buy a good cheap meter, for that matter they even sell a battery tester.

 

[Coyote machine]

See how low the voltage drops when cranking the engine over. If it goes real low, say 10 volts or lower then charge it up fully OFF the tractor and then get it load tested. If it fails the load test or specific gravity is below specs on any or several cells, replace it. Also clean ALL connections to/from each battery terminal to chassis ground and at starter solenoid with battery disconnected, regardless of the batteries condition, as suggested already. Report back results.

 

[skyhook]

My B2630 seemed to be very low on power when starting. Figured had a bad battery, I had it tested and was told it was okay just low on charge.
I tested my dynamo and had 14vac at idle and 40 vac at full rpm so I changed my regulator.. At the battery when idling I get about 12.5 volts and at full rpm approx 14 volts is this normal for a dyno sytem or should I get 14 volts at idle also? I can't seem to find any other problem. when tractor not warmed up still hard to crank over, could the battery actually be bad? thanks

It will be hard to get 14 volts at 'idle' with a dynamo,
it's hard to get that with any "alternator" thats under a 40 amp rating.
Convert your system to "alternator' and get a "high" amp alt, 90 amps and up,
then and only then will you see 14 volts on the battery,,..."at idle".

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you are referring to the starter sounding weak on start up, my B26 also sounds like the battery is weak and turning the starter slow. It has been that way since I got it and 2 years later it is still working the same way but cranks up every time. I just have to use the glow plugs if it is below 85 degrees, coldest natured engine I have ever saw.

 

[sarti]

Everything checks out okay, everything cleaned and no corrosion.
I guess it's just the nature of the beast slow cranking unless preheat
for a good bit unless tractor warmed up. I'll check specific gravity with
tester from work and see how that looks Thanks

 

[AStanton]

I would also check the tension of the alternator belt.

 

[C4Ranch]

When you had the bat checked, what were the load readings?

When I took mine to Sams Club last, they gave me a print out with all the #s. CCA were half what they should be.

 

[Scrambler82]

Something that might help.
Make sure the wire going to the starter is at least 4 gauge, I would use 2 ga.
Add an additional wire, the same ga used as the power feed wire, from the battery negative terminal to one of the starter mounting bolts.
This added wire I'll give the starter a clean path for the return current., straight to the battery.

A quick check would be to take at least a 4 ga jumper cable and connect it from the starter mounting bolt (get to bare metal) to the negative post of the battery. Start the tractor and see if it helps, if it does then do a permanent job.