CNH battery ROCKS!!

[Danica]

Ok boys, get this: my little tc40da new holland tractor has been in storage in Wisconsin for more than two years. I put diesel stabilizer in her but no charger or anything on battery. I bought a new battery at napa per advice on this site. Got to the storage facility ready to take out old CNH battery but figured maybe i should see how dead the battery really was. Just turned he switch all the way--didnt even wait for the glowplug to heat up...julike i would start a car. It started IMMEDIATELY!! no sputtering, no black smoke, just ran like a top. I am thrilled. The tractor is now 5 years old with 800 hours.

Now off to napa to see if i can get my battery back....

Danica

 

[SandburRanch]

Sometimes it just doesn't "pay" to think ahead. Glad you have a good battery and an easy starter.

Maybe if you return the new battery with tears streaming down both cheeks they'll feel sorry for you. OH, I forgot "cowgirls don't cry":laughing:

 

[jinman]

Awesome! If NAPA can see that the battery was never installed, I'd bet they will take it back. You did the right thing by having a "plan B" if your battery didn't work. You might consider that money you spent on the battery could be spent on one of those jumper batteries with an air compressor. They are strong enough to start our tractors. I've used them to start my tractor several times and the air compressor is a great feature.

 

[SPYDERLK]

A good lead acid battery self discharges a little less than 1% per week in storage. Hope you gave it a good long charge after it started the tractor.
larry

 

[farmall40]

My old 2002 tc35d that my brother-in-law now owns, still has the origanal battery. Started every time he needed it to plow snow. sits in an unheated barn.

 

[Hematite]

That is an impressive performance for any battery. I wonder who makes the OEM battery? Whoever it is they're doing some job!

 

[Fastdraw]

Wow thats unusual for the stock battery. Normally they only last 3 years at the most. The battery is manufactured by the Exide corporation, and it is a entry level battery, not a real heavy duty unit. Sometimes you just get lucky! Hope you get your money back on the Napa unit!

 

[tawilson]

I bought my 1996 2120 in 2003 and it had a NH battery in it. I don't know if it was original but I finally had to replace it this winter.

 

[Danica]

Ha ha, exactly! One of my movers suggested I take it back saying i thought it would fit a motorcycle or something. They probably won't take it back especially since I bought it in wisc and am now in NY... oh well, it was worth a good nite sleep for $100 i guess

 

[Danica]

Cool idea. i will check on that. thanks

 

[RobertN]

I would still consider changing it. How old is you tractor now? If more than 4-5 years old, the original battery aint going to last too much longer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I would still consider changing it. How old is you tractor now? If more than 4-5 years old, the original battery aint going to last too much longer.

Its acting like its fine. It just started the tractor with only about 40% of full charge. Just check the electrolyte. Usually a battery gives warning signs.
larry

 

[jwstewar]

I bought my New Holland TC-24D in June of 2003. I still have the original battery in it. It stays in the pole barn all of the time, but even this winter after sitting for several weeks, I went out at 10 degrees hit the glow plugs and it started the same as always. I figure I'll run it until it absolutely dies. When it does, I figure I can either go get a battery for it or jump it to get it started. It isn't like a car that when it fails I would be stranded somewhere.

 

[RobertN]

I have had to change the battery in the field on my previous tractor. If I knew my battery was old, and I just had a new one sitting there, then I would probably change it. But, maybe I saw the signs, and pushed it as far as a I could. Actually, no. Second battery change, it just died...

Its acting like its fine. It just started the tractor with only about 40% of full charge. Just check the electrolyte. Usually a battery gives warning signs.
larry

 

[Mickey_Fx]

As another poster mentioned, self discharge on LA batteries is very low. As long as there is no drain when not in service they can go a long time between charges. One thing, they do not like being left in a partial or full discharge state. They will dystroy them fairly quick. A desulfator may be able to restore a sulfated battery and add a fair amount of life to the battery.

My Cub is now 8 yrs old, original battery and is working great. Same for the battery in my Yanmar and it is 6 yrs old. treat LA batteries right and they can last a long time.

 

[Danica]

Cool, then i will keep the battery i bought at napa!

I would still consider changing it. How old is you tractor now? If more than 4-5 years old, the original battery aint going to last too much longer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Its important that you charge it a few hrs every month or so with a small charger [~ 3 Amp] to preserve its life while idle. Check electrolyte occasionally. Dont do a continuous trickle charge. That will destroy the battery within a year.
larry

 

[Hematite]

Its important that you charge it a few hrs every month or so with a small charger [~ 3 Amp] to preserve its life while idle. Check electrolyte occasionally. Dont do a continuous trickle charge. That will destroy the battery within a year.
larry

Hmm, I thought that a continuous trickle charge was good for a battery. Isn't that what a battery maintainer does?

 

[tawilson]

A maintainer will cut the juice when charged. I have heard that leaving a trickle charger on may rejuvenate a weak battery, but continuous is a killer.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Its important that you charge it a few hrs every month or so with a small charger [~ 3 Amp] to preserve its life while idle. Check electrolyte occasionally. Dont do a continuous trickle charge. That will destroy the battery within a year.
larry

I respectfully disagree with both points. The batteries I mentioned in my previous post, 6 & 8 yrs old, never see a charger during the winter months.

LA batteries love to be on a charger full time IF the charger is at the correct voltage for float charging. LA batteries are charged with a constant voltage source and as such the charger can only push current into the battery IF the charger source voltage is higher than the battery. When battery and charger are at equilibrium, i.e. same voltage NO current flows into the battery. The best chargers used in RV's are multi stage and final stage is for float charge and desired voltage is ~13.25V. LA batteries can rise to ~13.9V without damage. I get yrs of service in my motorhome and it's plugged in to shore power all the time it is not on the road.

Example on the constant voltage charging method but in a form more people can understand. Take 2 containers, one empty, the other full of water. Empty bucket is small compared to the one with the water. Both containers are same height. Place a siphon hose in the buckets and start water flowing. Water flows fastest when the difference in water level is the greatest. As water level starts getting closer to being level, the flow rate has decreased. When they reach same level the water ceases to flow. You will not see the smaller container overflow just because it holds less water than the larger container. No magic on controlling current flow and shutting off when battery is fully charged. Voltage is pressure and equal voltage but opposing one another will result in no current flow or water flow in this example.