battery terminals reversed?

[Roots]

The old battery is gone. exchanged for new at Wallyworld. When it was in tractor, it was clearly connected red lead to neg battery post. Red lead on tractor is way too short to go to alt, is on opposite side of alt, and is clearly grounded to tractor frame. I can only surmise that the red tractor lead is meant to be connected to neg post on battery, in order to make system negative ground.

 

[tmajor]

That probably explains the situation. They were just too cheap to buy the correct cables, so used what they had. You could paint them, the appropriate colors.

 

[JerryK]

You can actually install a battery backwards and get it to take a little charge, enough to register on a digital voltmeter....but it won't put out any current. I know this because I was asked to trouble shoot a '69 Corvette once [ housed in a carpeted garage ] that had a brand new Diehard installed. Rich is now down in Texas working as an electrician. But I will withhold his last name, 'cuz him and his wife were real good people.... [ even if he screwed up once ] Heaven knows I am not entitiled to throw any first stones...

 

[Roots]

Update: battery installed in same orientation as original (red lead to battery neg). Tractor fired up after 5-6 tries with new battery. seems to be running ok.

 

[Reg]

New to me JD750. Bought over summer and used a couple of times to mow.

Tractor had been sitting in garage for a couple of months since last use. I've been trying to get it ready for winter, starting with lights (none worked when I bought it). Now have panel indicator lights, tail lamp and rear flood, but no headlights or warning lamps (more on this in a later post).

When I got done playing with lights, I decided to start the tractor. Tractor would not start. Had been starting on first or second try up to this point. Checked all fluids. All appear ok. Weather has gotten colder, barely freezing on a few nights, but 50-60's during day. Added anti-gel to fule tank (I know, if it's gelled in lines, too late now, but better than none). Decided battery was too weak to turn starter (starting circuit buzzed, but starter did not crank on key, battery voltage 11.4V).

When I decided to try to boost, got a surprise; battery appeared to be in reverse orientation (neg (-) post of battery connected to red pos (+) terminal lead, pos (+) post of battery connected to black neg terminal lead)?!

I looked through owner's manual and service manual, but could find no apparent reason to switch battery leads...

Bought tractor from reseller, who bought it at auction in upstate NY. Little history on past owner.

Bought a replacement group 24 850CCA battery at Wal-Mart, but have yet to connect it.

Some questions following this "discovery";

1. Is it possible that previous owner decided to switch terminals to reverse the ground from (-) ground to (+) ground? For what reason?

2. If so, is it possible that additional modifications were performed for electrical system to operate on (+) ground, and that I might do damage by connecting new battery in "correct" position / (-) ground?

3. What damage can arise from connecting battery in reverse, as done above?

4. Is it possible that remaining nonfunctional lights are from connecting battery in reverse orientation?

Thanks, Eric.

Most likely that "any old battery to sell it that will fill the gap" was put in there for nothing but show.
I think positive grounds went out about the same time as 6 volt systems BICBW.
I seriously doubt that anyone has tried to "do the retro thang" on it, but Ya never know.
As I see it anything/everything you do from here on in can only bring it back.
I doubt that the non functioning lights are a consequence of battery reversal, a switch is a switch, a circuit is a circuit and there almost certainly not any "one way streets" (diodes) in the light circuits.

I find it more than a bit ODD that you were able to mow with it a couple of times.
It is POSSIBLE that a same form factor opposite polarity battery had been installed, completely discharged (perhaps as a result of being wrong polarity ?), then recharged in reverse. They CAN be used that way - not recommended, but for a quick sale - Hey, look-it, it starts and runs.
That battery may well NOW be correct(ed) polarity (-:

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with others that the battery cables were likely a patchup job to sell the tractor. I would either change the leads to the proper color wire, paint them the correct color or tape them the correct color. I would look over the entire tractor for other "patch jobs" too.

I would check things like the air fillter too as it is a relatively expensive item that most sellers wouldn't invest in.

 

[Roots]

All good points. I'll probably mark the leads somehow and post up separately about the lighting issues. BTW, checked air filter before firing up for first time. All was as should be, but canister had about a pound of dirt at the bottom. Cleaned it out and installed a new filter. Thanks everybody for your help. Eric.

 

[ultrarunner]

I would run into it all the time...

Model A Fords are positive ground and it would never fail that someone would hook up the charge wrong...

Often the cars would sit and the battery would be flat... know more than a couple running around with the terminals putting out the opposite.