Winter items to do on the tractor...

BillCroasmun · Dec 12, 2005

Just thought I'd share some work I am about to do on the PT180 over the next week or two.

Bought a solar trickle charger from Harbor Freight (currently $13 on sale) and a cigarette plug from Wal-mart (Don't remember the price). I will be mounting the cigarette plug somewhere under the console (maybe around the left knee area) and installing the trickle charger outside the portable garage on some T stakes. I found the battery drained last week and figure I don't want this to happen again. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bought some inexpensive (~$15) 35W Halogens from Wal-Mart and will be mounting them to aid in evening snow removal. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

On a side note, I have been removing snow from my 230' gravel drive with my LMB. The drive is not all that level so I've been experimenting with techniques to not dig it up too bad. The last time I had it in float with the bucket tilted back enough to "ride" on the back of the bucket with the front edge about 4" up in the air. This kept the front from digging into the drive, the bucket fills with snow and the added weight helps the back edge "plow" what the front is to high to catch. It's no professional job but it's 500% better than shoveling and waiting for the next thaw! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MuncyBob · Dec 13, 2005

How long did that battery last that recently drained on you? It's getting plenty cold around here already and wonder if I'm rolling dice by not charging my battery?

BillCroasmun · Dec 13, 2005

Not sure if you mean how old is the battery or how long did it sit. Age wise I bought the PT back in the spring so it is still real new. As far as the other goes, I don't have a specific time that the tractor sat idle but to give you a rough idea... I cleaned up the PT and mowing deck pretty good after my last cut of the year (which was a little early as my neighbors got in two more cuts after me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) then it sat for a few weeks. I then started it for a very short time (maybe 5 minutes or so) for a quick job and then it sat until I found it dead sometime around Dec. 1st.

Don't remember date wise when the end of mowing season was but if I were to guess I think it sat for 5 to 6 weeks with only that one short run somewhere in the middle of that time frame.

Please don't call social services on me for neglecting the tractor for such a long time, normally I am very attentive parent. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

HRDS · Dec 13, 2005

Thats ok my PT's battery needs a boost every morning when the temp gets below mid 30's. Seems like its half a click short of starting. Plan on looking @ better battery. In addition to boosting the battery I warm the engine up with a heater to aid in thinning the oil in the crankcase

MossRoad · Dec 13, 2005

Our battery is the same one we got with the unit in 2001. I keep a trickle charger on it in the winter, but have never done anything to it. Still starts right up. Even after I left it on for two days, the trickle charger was keeping it up. Batteries are funny things. One can last for a decade and another of the same brand and model can poop out in a year.

pajoube · Dec 13, 2005

David,
Will keepng the trickle charger on the battery in winter cause the battery fluid to run low?
PJ

MossRoad · Dec 13, 2005

I have never checked the fluid level in the battery. I've never taken the cables off the terminals, either. The charger is only a 500MA charger for motorcycle batteries that I removed the clip leads from and converted to a 12V male plug. I installed a 12V outlet under the bracket that supports the gas tank on the left side of the machine. After use, I just lift the engine cover, remove the dust cover from the outlet and plug in the charger. The ground lead is attached to the bolt that holds the bracket to the frame and the hot lead is attached to the engine starter post. I did it that way to avoid running wires through the tunnel. Eventually, I will mount some switches under the canopy. I see no reason why I couldn't install a 12V outlet there, too and use it for a magnetic flasher when in use and the charger when in the garage.

I hope to never have to change that battery, as the muffler has to be removed to do it. But I still wonder if my two day on blunder last week has done anything to the battery. I'll find out the next time I attempt to start it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

J_J · Dec 13, 2005

A trickle charger is always good to keep a float charge on the battery. Over charging will definitely lower the water level. Evaporation will take some more of the water. There is one way to check if you have any leakage through the circuits. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. Connect an ammeter between the battery terminal and the negative lead. Start at the 10 amp scale, and observe readings. Check each ammeter setting and see if you have any leakage. If you find any, it needs to be fixed.

J_J · Dec 13, 2005

David, I have an idea you might consider. Mount a cigeratte lighter receptacle at the rear . Connect the terminals from the lighter through a 15a plug in fuse and straight to the battery. On the charger, install the plug that goes into the lighter. You might use the end off an old cell phone charger. You could even rig it so that if you fail to unplug, as you drive off, it will unplug itself. This lighter connection on the PT can now be used for any plug in 12v apparatus. Magnetic light, air pump, 12 drill. 12v impact wrench. all the 12v goodies.

Bob999 · Dec 13, 2005

<font color="red"> Will keepng the trickle charger on the battery in winter cause the battery fluid to run low? </font>

Yes.

A better, but more expensive, option is to use a battery maintainer.

Here is a link to the one I use. Battery Minder

There are other brands.