Replaced the battery on my B2710 last year, checked the fluid yesterday when I changed the oil. Fluid was at correct level, but had a funny color. It's a very opaque looking gray color, so I can't see the plates. One cell had what looks like small greyish colored flakes floating on the surface, kind of like if you poured talcum powder in there but it didn't dissolve, it just clumped into small flakes. Battery works fine, starting voltage is good, any idea what this is?
Funny looking battery fluid
- Thread starter BeezFun
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Sulphation. Charging/discharging cycle causes battery plates to lose lead as sulphate. Collects at bottom, and can build up enough to touch plates and short out cell...this is usually when electrolyte turns "gray."
Since battery is only 1 year old, shouldn't be happening yet. Causes usually: short in system, battery not held down in battery box..."bouncing" around or travelling fast on rough ground. Tractor batteries have rougher life compared to cars. Finally, perhaps poor quality battery or not suited to tractor use...
Since battery is only 1 year old, shouldn't be happening yet. Causes usually: short in system, battery not held down in battery box..."bouncing" around or travelling fast on rough ground. Tractor batteries have rougher life compared to cars. Finally, perhaps poor quality battery or not suited to tractor use...
OK, sounds like I should take this thing back and have it checked before the year's up. Cranking voltage is good, but it's very warm out so not too hard to turn the engine over. I didn't check with hydrometer, will do that tonight.
DieselMonk
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I know this is an older thread, but I thought some of you guys like this answer.
There is a way to actually "desulfate" these batteries. I think Soundguy is doing it by hooking up an electric fence to his battery. I have read that a few guys are doing it with good results. There are other devices that one can homebrew himself, some more that can be bought. I have a few of these devices and resurrected my old NH TC55DA battery with it and quite a few others too. Game is over when there is a shorted cell. I have got rid of all milky looking battery electrolyte and white sulfated plates. When the battery was done, it had no white plates anymore (they were looking brown an black) and the electrolyte was clear. SG read 1275 acoss all 6 cells. Not bad for a battery made in 2003 and revived in late September 2011. Problem is that desulfating takes time. It took a bit more than one week with a strong "spiker".
There is a way to actually "desulfate" these batteries. I think Soundguy is doing it by hooking up an electric fence to his battery. I have read that a few guys are doing it with good results. There are other devices that one can homebrew himself, some more that can be bought. I have a few of these devices and resurrected my old NH TC55DA battery with it and quite a few others too. Game is over when there is a shorted cell. I have got rid of all milky looking battery electrolyte and white sulfated plates. When the battery was done, it had no white plates anymore (they were looking brown an black) and the electrolyte was clear. SG read 1275 acoss all 6 cells. Not bad for a battery made in 2003 and revived in late September 2011. Problem is that desulfating takes time. It took a bit more than one week with a strong "spiker".
