JD 2150 Battery Issues

   / JD 2150 Battery Issues #1  

Huntshillhaus Farm

Bronze Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2018
Messages
67
Location
South Central Missouri
Tractor
John Deere 2150, Husqvarna Z554
My JD 2150 diesel started having trouble starting last year, but after adding a trickle charger, I haven't had any issues, and could reliably shut the tractor off and restart multiple times without issue. A few weeks ago, while brushhogging, I started noticing some sluggishness when starting - not a lot - enough to notice though. Since I also had a pretty sever hydraulic leak to tend to, I parked it under the shed, and put the trickle charger on it. Fast forward to this week, when I went to start it, and all I got was some clicking at the starter solenoid. I tried jumpstarting it with 150amp jump box, and go a couple of cranks, but then clicking again. Within a minute, I started hearing the battery boil, so I stopped, and took the charger off. I removed both batteries (6y/o each, and one with some bulging), and found they took about 1.25 gallons of distilled water to fill them. Before I filled them, the bulging one read 5.6V, and the other 8.5V. After filling them with the water, I checked the voltage again, and the first read 9V, and the second one 10.5V. After replacing them in the tractor, and cleaning and making sure the leads were properly tightened, The tractor fired right up with the jump box. I ran the tractor for a couple of hours, then turned it off, and tried to restart. Barely cranked. I added the trickle charger back on, left it for two days, and tried again yesterday, but all I got was the clicking again. Voltage read 7V. After jumping the tractor again (which took about three minute at 150amp, and starting to boil the battery again, it finally cranked over and started. I cut for about two hours, then parked it, and checked the batteries while it was running - 13.67V, which indicates to me that the alternator is working properly. Shut it down, and nothing but clicks again.

I've resigned myself to buying to two new batteries, but since my tractor manual doesn't specify the battery type/size, I'm wanting to make sure I buy the right ones. My dad, who is an electrician (but not a battery guru) said I should be fine with matching the CCA and other data of the current batteries, but seemed confused when I mentioned that the interwebz said tractors must have a deep-cycle batteries, unlike an automobile. He said deep-cycle is necessary for places where you draining out your battery, and running it really low, such as marine, or forklifts, but didn't see how that situation applied to a tractor which only needed electrical for starting the engine. I want to buy the right thing, but have not had good troubleshooting know-how help with my local JD dealership, and google gives me conflicting information. So my questions are these...

Am I correct in thinking that the batteries are the failure point here?

Do I specifically need deep-cycle batteries?

Does anyone know the correct specs for a JD 2150 Diesel set of batteries?

Am I (will I) damaging my batteries (boiling them out) by leaving them on a 3amp trickle charger? Should I buy a float maintainer instead?

For reference, I use the tractor once or twice a week during the summer, sometimes every day, but not always, and only seldom after brushogging is done in the fall. It doesn't like to start in freezing weather, though it did much better with the trickle charger on (been using that for the last year or so.
 
   / JD 2150 Battery Issues #2  
Your batteries are shot... Yes you need to replace them...

Go with your dads recommendation the interweb is not always correct....Really is no need for deep cycle battery... The type (group number) and capacity (CCA) of existing batteries lasted 6 years, why would not the "new" batteries of same type (although new battery quality is not so great)....
Also check output of generator/alternation, system should have a charging voltage of about 14 volt if generator/alternator is producing charge voltage/current...

A float maintainer would be better than a trickle charger... IF generator/alternator is working properly and you use tractor several times a month you should not need any external charging unless you are in severe cold weather...

Not deep cycle but AGM batteries are a really good option... More expensive than "flooded" cells but a lot better design/capacity...Might look at something like batteries shown below... I have one in my Jeep and it has been horribly abused with using the winch and its held up fine for over 6-7 years now...


Then there is this.... Which tends to indicate the batteries are a Group 24...

 
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   / JD 2150 Battery Issues #3  
I agree with WranglerX but am not sure about the need for an AGM battery. They are better but I'm not convinced they are enough better to justify the cost. In any case I would use a maintainer in the winter not a trickle charger. Your charging system works and you use your tractor frequently enough that nothing should be required during the summer. I live in Washington state and the tractor is mostly parked in the winter, except for snow removal. I don't do a thing with the battery. The trick is to get a good quality battery not the cheapest one you can find.
 
   / JD 2150 Battery Issues #4  
IMHO deep cycle batteries are built for trolling motors used for fishing not tractors. 2150 parts catalog lists two batteries 12V, 55AH. If battery ground cable straps are still attached to battery box I suggest relocating ground cables to tractor engine block or starter mounting bolt.
 
   / JD 2150 Battery Issues
  • Thread Starter
#5  
The local dealer said this is what they would sell. I drove 45 minutes yesterday to the dealer, because they said there were two of them in stock, but after an hour of looking through their warehouse, they couldn't find them. :/ But for $153 each, that's a tough price to beat.

 
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