Having issues with the brand new mule I bought. Had 3 hours on it and ran a northern tool sprayer off the battery as directed, and the battery was dead in less than two hours even with the Mule running the entire time. Tried to jump it from the zero turn, and no dice, so I charged the battery long enough to get a start and get it in the garage. Charged the battery up to full, and then I used it yesterday for 10hrs by itself towing a trailer full of dirt turning the Mule on and off throughout the day (since it is an air cooled engine I did not let the engine run while I was stopped) and the battery is dead again...if it tells you anything, I maybe put 1hr on the machine over those 10 hours. Cannot imagine the starter would kill the battery when I was running the mule back and forth to the dirt pile. Thoughts?
Battery issues on new 2020 Kawasaki Mule SX 4x4
- Thread starter rhatfiel
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Tinhack
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Not enough charge time. My BIL killed the battery in his diesel truck simply by starting and driving down to the mail box and back (about 1/2 mile). He killed the battery in about 2 weeks. The engine never got much above idle. Starting an engine takes a huge amount of energy. You didn't say how much current the sprayer uses. I'm guessing about 5-10A. Most small engines only put out that much when running full throttle. At the same time, you need to be charging your battery. If you're going to use it for a sprayer, I would install an ammeter so you can see when you're over using your battery/charging system. If the needle drops to the negative side, you're killing your battery.
Got it. So thinking it’s not any big deal? I bought a second battery to have as back up and to connect the sprayer to when I use it. Will plan to just charge the battery after slow work like yesterday.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
My 2012 mule has liquid cooled engine. Why is yours air cooled. Why would kawasaki go backwards?i love the liquid cooked unit, its the main reason i got my 4010 version. Can leave it idling without worry. Starting is a huge draw down of battery reserve.
dusty3030
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I thought the same, but he is right. This is a smaller model with an air cooled 400 cc engine.
2 21 MULE SX™ MULE™ Side X Side by Kawasaki
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Yes, i just got thru looking it up. I never knew they made an air cooled version.
Zebrafive
Super Member
I have 1996 Mule 2510 that is liquid cooled. At some point in the past, they had air cooled engines, but I am not sure how far back (years) in time.
I think the 4010 is a step up from the SX series, so they probably didn’t go backward.
crazyal
Super Member
The stock battery in my Honda SxS never held a charge. Honda sold a kit to add a second battery in case you added an electric wench. I just made my own battery box and now have a full size car battery. Never had a problem since. The alternator on these is pretty small. So whenever you do anything more than just using the headlights you are draining the battery even if the engine is running. It's possible your alternator has died but more likely the battery is going bad. What I've found works well is to charge the battery at the lowest charging rate and let it go for a week or more. Is your battery sealed? If not the acid level may have dropped.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
my 4010 has a full sized car battery come to think about it.