Is my Optima battery bad????

[computerboy]

The other day I noticed the battery in my New Holland TC25D leaked acid all over again. The first time it happened my dealer gave me a new battery and parts that rusted. My warranty is up so I decided to go with an optima to eliminate the problem. In doing searches though the previous posts, it looked like the Red Top 75/35 should work. I went looking and found a place that carries the red top 75/35 but they were out of stock until 7/22. The sales person said the red top 35 was the same but without the GM posts. Since I was only going to use the top posts it sounded good - plus they were on sale. I got home removed all the parts, cleaned everything and painted them. It was getting late and I needed to call it a night. The paint was not dry on the parts so I decided to connect the new optima using a piece of plywood as the base so I could back the tractor into the garage. When I went to start the tractor it did not turn over. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I have lights. The dash lights works correctly, including the glow plug light goes out after a few seconds. When turn the key to start the tractor -- nothing -- not even a single crank. I put the old battery that leaked all over back in and it starts right up.

Any ideas? Did I get the wrong battery? Is the red top 35 not the same as the red top 75/35? Is the battery bad? How can I check the battery?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[TractorLegend]

You can only check the battery accurately with a load test which requires some equipment you may not likely own.
A CSK or AutoZone parts type place should be able to test it for you. It may just be discharged. An Optima that is on sale has likely sat around a while prompting a price reduction.
Do you have a charger? If you charge it over night and it still wont crank its time to check the starter. A test light on the small wire to the starter and the test light clip to ground will tell you if juice is getting to the solenoid with the key in crank position.
If you have a fully charged battery and juice to that wire and clean tight batt. connections your starter is bad.
If no juice there when crank position, check any interlocks: clutch safety switch, etc.
The group 35 is like you say---just void of GM side terminals.
They are all in all awesome batteries.
Check polarity too, battery terminals to the correct spot---i've never made that mistake, but have seen it done....lol
Usually theres big sparks though in that case.
(Mark gets off his self pontificating pulpit of self righteousness and never making an electrical mistake and struts away....) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Farwell]

If the old battery works and starts the tractor fine and the new one doesn't then I think the problem is with the new battery. Charging it over night is a good idea. If it won't turn your motor over after the over night charge I would take it back to the place you purchased the battery and have them check it out or give you a replacement.

 

[TractorLegend]

I could be wrong but would assume he turned in his old unit as a core??? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I could be wrong but would assume he turned in his old unit as a core???

Here's a quote from his message.. he states he still has the old leaky battery.


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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I put the old battery that leaked all over back in and it starts right up.
)</font>

My vote is for a discharged battery.. or dirty terminasls.. or reverse polarity..

Soundguy

 

[BobCorazza]

I put a Red-Top35 in my kubota last year. The suggestion of dirty terminals (or just not tighetned down?) would be my guess if the battery was charged. I know you didn't ask, but I would be concerned why the old battery caused problems in the first place. Overcharging causes gassing in lead-acid batteries, chronic overcharging is at least one cause of the original problem you describe. The Optima "recombines" the gassing back into it's original state, but it can be overwhelmed if (severly) overcharged & vent. I am not sure, but I believe the battery is damaged if it vents. Have you or the dealer checked the charging system to ensure that it's putting out around 13.8 - 14.5 volts?

 

[computerboy]

I will try putting it on the charger to see if that helps. I have checked the polarity a couple of times to make sure it was correct.

 

[computerboy]

I did not take my old battery in for exchange just incase something like this happened. They gave me a slip to bring my old battery in to get $7.

I forgot to say all the optima batteries were on sale, not just the battery I purchased.

 

[MikePA]

I hope I don't rain on your parade.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I bought an Optima Yellow Top (51R) for my TC25D and had the same problem. I exchanged it for another one. Same problem. I charged it overnight. Started the tractor fine, so I finished up the installation. Tried to start the tractor the next day, wouldn't start.

I pulled the Optima out, put in a battery I got at Tractor Supply, been running fine ever since.

Others have installed Optima batteries and didn't have a problem, so I'm confused why they wouldn't work in my situation.

 

[computerboy]

The first time I saw the problem my dealer gave me a new battery and new parts. He said only one other customer had this problem and the new battery fix it. I did this last fall. There were no problems with battery all winter removing snow and this spring and summer cutting grass until last week. I have been installing a couple of retaining walls and I drive over some bumpy ground to dump my excavated dirt in a washed out area. I assume all the vibrations and bumpy conditions caused the battery to leak. I could be wrong. If charging the battery does not help, I will return the battery and talk with my dealer. Either way I will talk with my brother to help me test the charging system.

Thanks,
Mike