Whats the difference ?

[ChuckinVA]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a New Holland battery 50A and 70A ?

I am having difficulty starting my 1720 tractor in cold weather. When I bought the tractor in January, I couldn't start it more than once with out charging the battery. I called the dealer I bought it from about a leak in the control valve and discussed the starting problem at the same time. They came and picked the tractor up and replaced the battery and fixed the leak. The battery that came with the tractor was new and the dealer said it was just a bad battery. The new battery is a 50A. Looking at my manuals ( thanks Rick! ) the specifications call for a 70Amp hour battery (70A ?). Is it possible that the 50A battery is causing the difficult starts ?

Yesterday was warm in WVA early in the day I had no problem starting. This morning it was around 28 degrees and the tractor just would not start. I did not run the battery down completly but I did jump it with the car and it took off like it was ready to do something.

I worked with the tractor for about an hour pulling ditches and didn't have any problem starting it after I shut it down.

If the dealer put the wrong battery in the tractor when they replaced it I need to get the correct one installed. If the battery is NOT the problem then I have another problem...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Egon]

Chuck:

Perhaps on a cold morning disconnect the 50 amp battery and just use your car battery to see what happens. Make sure the car battery is completly disconected from the car if you try this. This may indicate if the problem is battery or somewhere else.

Egon

 

[DVerbarg]

ChuckInVA,

Did the 50A battery work fine in the cold when you first got it? You might want to have the dealer check the charging system as it might not be charging at all or not charging enough.

It seems that you would want the 70A for those really cold mornings, especially if the manual indicates that is what you are supposed to have. The dealer should take the 50A back and replace it with a 70A if that is factory spec and this is warranty work.

 

[cmsedore]

You might want to check to make sure your glow-plugs are both functional. In my 1700, I had one fail (unknown to me initially)--that made it hard to start in weather below about 30-40 deg, when both went, it would not start period.

-Chris

 

[spencer200]

Chuck if you can find the New Holland part number on the battery (it should start with F) I can tell you if your dealer replaced your battery with the right one.

Rick

 

[dthomas]

Chuck,
I also own a 1720. When I first crank the tractor, even if it is in the 60s, I turn the key backwards until the glow plug light goes off. Then it cranks by the time the engine turns over about twice. If I forget to use the glow plugs it just spins over. Then I remember and use the glow plugs and it cranks right up. Once it runs awhile, I can turn it off for a few minutes and crank it without using the glow plugs.

Yesterday I bought a five foot Big Bee finishing mower. Boy that thing sure is nice. I have been cutting grass with my Cub with a 42 inch belly mower and didn't know what I was missing. The Big Bee is sort of different, it doesn't discharge out the side or back. It is closed up all the way around.

I've cut all my grass, my daughter's grass and both sides of the road today...I guess I'll start cutting the neighbor's grass tomorrow just so I can use my new toy./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Donald

 

[ChuckinVA]

Dave,

It has been pretty warm 60-70 deg. up until night befor last. The problem only appears to happen when it is very cold. I noticed that the glow plug indication did not light up when the battery was weak and I tried to heat up the plug. Once I jumped it with the car, the dash lit up like a Christmas tree.

 

[ChuckinVA]

Chris,
How would you check the glow plug ?

 

[ChuckinVA]

Rick,
I'll be back over to WV on Tuesday and I'll check the number.

thanks,

 

[ChuckinVA]

Donald,

Does the glow plug indicator light light up, when it is not necessary to use it ? If the ambient temperature is higher say 65 to 70 deg. does the glow plug indicatorstill light up if you turn the key back ?

I'm glad you are having so much fun working your 1720. I LOVE the tractor, I was only on it about 5 hours in two days this week and would have liked to have gone back over to the property tomorrow but have things I need to do here.

Is the Big Bee a mulching mower ?