64 4000 battery won't hold charge

[Maydayaz]

So I just inherited my dad's Ford 4000, which had been sitting at his place for 6 months or so. We've replaced the float valve, plugs, distributor cap, etc. Since arriving in AZ from Michigan, we've had a terrible time with the battery holding a charge. We replaced the battery, but it still drains overnight. Once we get it charged up, it starts right up and runs great. My husband is convinced that the tractor is wired for reverse polarity, but after reading these boards, I thought I'd ask rather than find out the hard, expensive way that it is not. Any advice???
 

[old]

Simple way to maybe figure out what is going on is this. In a shady place or close to dusk pull one of the battery cables off and watch for a spark when doing so. If you get a spark then you have a short some place which will drain the battery over night.. If you see a spark then leave the cable off over night then try to start it the next day by hooking it back up. If it starts then you know you have a wiring problem for sure. I almost bet you have a problem with the charging system and if still a generator your V.R. points are sticking
 

[john in la]

Since it has a gas motor; it would have had a 6 volt generator and battery and wired + ground from the factory.

So help us out........
Is he using a 6 or 12 volt battery?
Does it still have the generator or has it been converted to a 12v alternator?
How does he have it wired + or - ground.

If you really think something is draining the battery over night you do not have to wait for dark and start looking for hard to see sparks while taking a wire loose.
Take one of the battery cables loose. Install a test light between the battery post and the battery wire. If the light comes on you have a drain somewhere. If you remove the drain the light will go off.
 

[old]

Reason why I say use the shade or dust thing is, because that way you do not have the own any thing fancy to check for a drain and so simple even a child can do it and the cost is zero. One of them keep it simple stupid things. LOL Learned long ago one of he best test pieces of equipment you can own it your eyes and ears
 

[souNdguy]

6v or 12v?

it was oem 6v/pos ground if a gasser.

if you take the bat out and charge it , and let it set, out of the tractor overnight? does it hold a charge?


if it sat dead 6m the bat may simply be ruined.

let em freeze once and they are near useless..