Leaky battery

Highbeam · May 10, 2006

I have been noticing that after working the tractor, especially bumpy work, that my battery is spooging acid out the top and leaking all over the place. Even after realatively smooth and level jobs like boxblading. The acid has surface corroded some nuts, the battery hold down and a couple of brass colored pieces. I want this to stop. The battery is an EverStart brand labeled with a "return to walmart for free testing" sticker and a made in august 2005 sticker and I bought the tractor in September. My assumption is that this battery is a dealer added battery. Do the tractors ship batteryless? Or did the Kioti battery go TU upon delivery?

Is there an overvoltage light on the dash? Has anyone had an alternator overcharge on their Kioti? I know a boiling battery will spew acid but I never smell the sulfur or hear the gurgling of a boiling battery.

I would just buy a battery box for this one but I want to use the OEM tiedown system so I am planning to buy an optima style red top (starting/ non-deepcycle) battery which is an AGM battery and spillproof, made for high vibration. I have had one in my pickup for many years.

I have been neutralizing the acid by flushing it with lots of water. When I switch to a clean battery is there any recommended way to kill any remaining acid? Some other tractor brands have the same problem and the acid is actually getting vacuumed into the radiators by the engine fan.

Does anybody have any other ideas or see an problem with my plan? Check your batteries for acid leakage folks.

depratt_equip · May 10, 2006

Tractors do ship without batteries...... so your dealer did install it. The tractors have a voltage regulator to prevent over charge and do have a battery light on the dash.

Not quite sure what is causing your problems, but for clean up baking soda will neutralize it.

sodamo · May 10, 2006

You sure seem to have your challenges... Now, I'll have to check mine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've always used the baking soda/water, but recently found a convenient product at wallyworld - "Battery Cleaner & Acid Detector". Basically it is baking soda, but has the added benny of changing color if acid is present. It is an aerosol.

As I now live off grid and own a few batteries (24 non vehicle) I'm a bit more into battery care than I used to be. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You can get more info at Chemical catalog

David

SteveInMD · May 10, 2006

I realize I'm out of my area here - I'm a New Holland owner, however the acid problem you mention is all too common to all brands of tractors. There are various solutions. A "sealed" battery isn't really sealed, so that may or may not help. Some people modify their tractors to accommodate a plastic battery box. I went with the AGM battery solution myself. After cleaning up the original mess from the OEM battery, I've had no problems with AGM battery. I went with the Optima brand.

Highbeam · May 10, 2006

I have my challenges, true, but I do get out and use the tractor and try to learn from my mistakes. This problem isn't Kioti here but a crumby car battery in a harsh environment. I know you guys will agree that these tractors are great so I don't post just to tout the great things but I also need advice with the not so good things that I need to fix. Maybe my fix will be an upgrade that dealers might implement.

I could probably suck out acid unti it just barely covers the plates but at this point I am looking to rid the tractor of this acid bomb for good. I didn't want to be specific but yes I had seen this trouble in both NH and JD tractors. For some reason, folks are using deep cycle batteries in place of the starting battery. If anyone knows a good reason I would like to hear it. Pretty soon too since I hope to replace the battery in the next 3 hours.

I kind of thought it might be a pretty common problem. I am glad to hear that a light will come on in the event of overcharge since my meter has a blown fuse so I can't check voltage.

So just water isn't good enough? I need to use baking soda? Do I just sprinkle it everywhere and mist water on to make a solution or do I sprinkle and then blast the water away? I don't use a pressure washer under the hood. I will also go around with my rust converter stuff and make the visble rust go away. Some operators of some brands are actually not catching this problem until the metal has already begun to blister under the paint.

There should be a tech tips area for certain fixes that certain tractors benefit from and also general fixes like dumping lead acid batteries.

Highbeam · May 10, 2006

Steve, thanks for looking and adding your input. I welcome you to the area. I have been known to contribute in all forums and I have benefited from discussions in other brand forums too.

I am sure my current lead acid walmart battery is considered a sealed battery since it is very difficult to find a battery these days that is not maintenance free. I used a battery box for my dozer battery for boil over and since there was no tie down for it which is not good under a metal hood. The box kept acid contained and kept the terminals insulated.

How did you clean the mess? I plan to go AGM tonight. Did you get a deep cycle or marine AGM? Is so, why?

SteveInMD · May 10, 2006

Thanks for the welcome.

To clean up the mess I used baking soda, lots and lots of water, and a scrub brush. Unfortunately there was some permanent damage to some metal parts and finishes on plastic. I took what apart anything that was easy to get to and washed it out. I then primed and painted some of the metal.

I went with an Optima yellow top (deep cycle) only because the red top (starting) version of the size I needed was not in production yet. I'd go with a red top given the choice. Deep cycle batteries are designed to withstand many draw downs to low power in the battery. Normally this isn't an issue on tractors. However, the yellow top has done just fine for me.

Good luck to you.

sodamo · May 10, 2006

I personally think you make quite a contribution, not only to Kioti forums but others as well - Thank you.

I was taught to make a soda/water solution to use for the initial wash, basically pour it on, scrub with brush where necessary, then flush with plain water to rinse away residual. The soda solution will foam in presence of battery acid. The commercial spray I mentioned will turn pink to red depending on acid concentration.

Seems strange why someone would use deep cycle vs cranking battery for a tractor, but I'm curious to read the rationale.

David

SteveInMD · May 10, 2006

( So just water isn't good enough? I need to use baking soda? Do I just sprinkle it everywhere and mist water on to make a solution or do I sprinkle and then blast the water away? )

I put some baking soda in the bucket of water I was using. I sprinkled it on area where I thought there was a lot of acid. Just plain water is probably good enough if you use enough rinse away all the acid.

SteveInMD · May 10, 2006

( Seems strange why someone would use deep cycle vs cranking battery for a tractor, but I'm curious to read the rationale. )

I agree there is no real need for a deep cycle battery for most tractor applications. The only AGM battery I could find happened to be a deep cycle type. Deep cycle batteries cost a little more than a starting only battery, but as far as I know that the only down side to using one. As I said before - it has worked just fine for me, and best of all, no more acid problems.