Battery damage

[homeinwestIL]

I went to start my Ford 3000 this weekend and the battery seemed completely dead and would not jump. I had not run it since December, I believe. I was removing the battery today to take into Napa to try to recharge it and noticed that the casing on one end was cracked and pushed out. I will attach pictures. The last cell next to this area doesn't show any electrolyte -- the other cells look OK. So what has happened here? Is the battery likely finished? Its a new battery bought last summer.

 

[Peter 315]

Froze over the winter.......

 

[Bigfoot62]

Yep, frozen.

A fully charged battery will not freeze, except in extreme conditions. (minus 76 degrees)
So, the lesson here is: Charge the battery, or run the tractor every now and then.

 

[fried1765]

Yep, frozen.

A fully charged battery will not freeze, except in extreme conditions. (minus 76 degrees)
So, the lesson here is: Charge the battery, or run the tractor every now and then.

Battery Minder, or Battery Tender.....much cheaper than new batteries!

 

[homeinwestIL]

Thanks guys. As I suspected from the appearance, a frozen battery. I didn't know batteries could freeze -- hadn't happened before and I've had this tractor 20 years. Expensive lesson learned. Next winter the new battery comes inside perhaps with a Battery Minder attached.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Just an FYI, my brother has two Ford 4000's and a 4600 (all diesel's with the 201ci 3 cylinders, I think 3000's if 3 cylinder are in the 170ci area with lower compression ratios), only one of those has a full size battery like you have, the rest are automotive batteries that are cheaper, starts the engines just fine.

 

[goeduck]

You might want to give the electrical system a good check. I, and others, leave unattended batteries in unused machinery for months and never have a problem. You may very well have a parasitic drain occurring.

That is exactly what I was thinking. Replacement battery or not, you should make sure you do not have a drain or you could go to start your tractor and find out that way.

 

[oosik]

We didn't get enough snow this winter to make a descent snow ball. So the tractor was housed, un-run, in its carport stall from beginning of September, 2019 until I started it last week. Started like a bomb. I have a brand new Odyssey battery with Battery Tender on the tractor.

Years ago I left the little battery out, all winter, in the JD G100 mower. I paid for that mistake. The battery froze and split wide open.

All batteries left outside have one brand or other of charger on them. I use Deltran & CTEK tenders. I also have a product specific tender on my BMW motorcycle.

 

[joecdeere]

Need to be getting a big bag of baking soda or a couple cans of battery cleaner and be washing the acid off everything you can, especially the low points of the top of the engine, area around the injectors and the other low points were places it’s prone to puddle.
I’m sure everything looks dry now, but I’m quite sure the acid is still there. I’d also recommend removing the battery tray so you can clean the bottom of it and get to the engine better. After you get it up and running, look closely for fuel leaks. JMHO

 

[John_Mc]

Thanks guys. As I suspected from the appearance, a frozen battery. I didn't know batteries could freeze -- hadn't happened before and I've had this tractor 20 years. Expensive lesson learned. Next winter the new battery comes inside perhaps with a Battery Minder attached.

No need to bring it inside if you have a BatteryMINDer attached.

 

[Industrial Toys]

AND, for what it's worth, if you try and charge a frozen battery, it sometimes explodes.

I was near my first exploding battery at a friends, a year or so ago. I never would have guessed the violence, noise and destruction.

Wash the area where the broken battery sat, well with baking soda.

 

[oosik]

That is one of the MAJOR reasons I keep a Battery Tender on my outside batteries. I don't have to lug them in the house. They stay put and maintain a full charge. That new Odyssey Group 31 battery in the tractor weighs 78#. AND you have to lift and extend to get it in place. NO - it's "there" and it stays there with a Battery Tender - all winter.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Everytime you disconnect a battery, I think you compromise the connections, especially those stupid lead clamps.

 

[goeduck]

Need to be getting a big bag of baking soda or a couple cans of battery cleaner and be washing the acid off everything you can, especially the low points of the top of the engine, area around the injectors and the other low points were places it’s prone to puddle.
I’m sure everything looks dry now, but I’m quite sure the acid is still there. I’d also recommend removing the battery tray so you can clean the bottom of it and get to the engine better. After you get it up and running, look closely for fuel leaks. JMHO

^^^^ very good point!

 

[Jim Nelson]

The original battery in my wife's '07 toyota solar died at about 6 years and when I changed it out one end was all pooched out like it had been under pressure. This car has never been anywhere near freezing and is kept in garage all the time when not being driven. New battery everything was fine.