JD 410 C BACKHOE---DIESEL

[lenray]

HAVE this late 80's John Deere Diesel Backhoe. It has two batteries hooked positive to positive and negative to negative. Was wondering why it needs two batteries. Have bigger tractors with just one battery. THE rare times I start it in th ewinter I always plug it in....Why wouldn't one big battery work?????

 

[Centerplate]

One battery will work for any summer starting. Two are needing very cold weather.

 

[Jim.ME]

If you always plug it in in cold weather and it starts easily the rest of the year one high cold cranking amps group 31 battery will likely, do it. Try it worst case is you have to add another battery.

 

[rScottie]

I have a 310SG with the optional 410 FEL & 6000+hrs on the engine. Mine also came from the factory with the optional two battery system just like you describe. The two battery system was an option - often part of a cold weather package with selectable ether injection, and a 110V. block heater, and some other heater I forget now. Anyway, mine came that way too. I've got the invoice here somewhere.

The OEM batteries worked fine for ten years, but when it came time to replace them I had all kinds of trouble trying to get two matched batteries. One would always take a bit more charge than the other, and then if it set for a month both batteries would run each other down and be too low to start the engine.

For the past 5 years I still have the two batteries in the battery box, but I only hook up one at a time. I'm careful to insulate the cable terminals that are not in use, other than that it is simple. After all, the original backhoe only had one battery as standard. The two battery option was just an extra feature for extra cost.

So mine has become a one battery system that carries a spare battery. It starts just fine that way down to below 0F - which is about where the biggest drag on the starter becomes the cold hydraulic oil. To help with that, I went to 50% winter weight. Lo Vis. Hygard.
But unless I'm in a hurry I try to plug in the block heater for a few hours when it's cold out.
And if the hoe sits for more than a month I use a two small trickle chargers - one for each battery. since they are separate.

Bottom line, try it with one good battery. I find it works just as well as two in parallel even in the cold.

rScotty

 

[moresmoke]

Purely to turn the hydraulic pumps while trying to start a cold engine.