4010 battery

[jd4010guy]

I have 1961 4010 Diesel that the right side positive battery terminal corrodes making a lot of residue on the cable/battery terminal in a short amount of time - a week to two weeks. The negative terminal also corrodes but not to the extent of the positive terminal. At that point the tractor won't start until clean up the connections and then it starts well. The left side battery shows no signs of corrosion. Also, the negative right side battery terminal looks as thought it has melted with some of the lead winding up below the clamp on the cable. I have cleaned this up twice now but continues to reappear. The batteries were new in 2008 but when not in use (winter) i pull the cables off the batteries and put battery tenders on them. Maybe it needs new batteries but I do not want to put the in and have the same thing happen if there is something else wrong. Any ideas???
Thank you.

 

[Tx Jim]

The simplest solution would be to change your 4010 diesel electrical system from 24 volts to 12 volts.

 

[teddy52food]

The starter has brush dust that is partly draining the right battery. Then when running & charging it gasses more & corrosion happens to those posts. If it melted part of the post, that had a bad connection.

 

[Dalex]

How does the leakage from the "Brush Dust" get thru the solenoid
without the sol . being energized ? Lemme guess....solenoid dust ?

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 13:23:21 09/17/15) How does the leakage from the "Brush Dust" get thru the solenoid
without the sol . being energized ? Lemme guess....solenoid dust ?

Starter brush dust drainage never goes through the solenoid but travels through the RH battery cable.

 

[Mike M]

Have you tried switching them from one side to the other to even them out ?

They are pretty old and one could be getting bad ?

I usually thought the LH battery drained from the starter being bad ? at least on 4020's maybe a 4010 is wired different ?

 

[Tx Jim]

Mike
You could be correct as I left JD dealership way back in 1987.

Irregardless if I had a JD tractor that had a 24 volt system I'd change it over to 12 volts and save a lot grief & AGONY.

 

[buckeye al]

The right battery is connected to all the guts of the starter at all times by way of the starter's side post! The starter's top post and the OTHER battery are what is connected to the solenoid! When dust and/or moisture are present inside the starter they provide a leakage path that drains the right battery as they sit idle.

If you measure the voltage between the top post OF THE STARTER (the one connected to the bottom post of the solenoid) and the frame of the starter you should see the voltage of the right battery. If you measure the voltage between the frame of the starter and the battery cable post OF THE SOLENOID you will read the voltage of the LEFT battery. If both batteries are exactly 12 volts you will read 12 volts both times but they will be of opposite polarities! One + the other - but both 12 volts.

If you measure voltage between the battery cable post of the solenoid and the starter lug post of the solenoid (top & bottom posts) you will read real durned close to 24 volts!

The guts of the starter are always energized by that right battery and dust, dirt, rust and moisture let the right battery's energy leak out to the frame of the starter when it sits idle.

Hope that helps.

 

[Tx Jim]

Thanks Al for backing me up.
Jim

 

[chuck from neb]

the batteries are pretty old ..buy two new ones...when terminals corrode like that ...yhe battery does not have much life left

 

[Joe Mindy]

Dear buckeye al,
I am always impressed with your knowledge. You have the best information on the forums. I wish you would post more frequently.

 

[DONMYEIL]

*** the right hand battery goes thru the starter UNSWITCHED ! Brush dust builds up on it and causes a short . Best get educated before making snide commits .Battery cables melting is caused by a loose connection .

 

[jjamna]

I have to disagree with this. I have a 24 volt 4010 diesel and a neighbor has a 12 volt 4020 gas and the 4010 starts way better than the 12 volt in all weather. Unless you have MAJOR issues with the 24 volt system stay with it.. This Is my opinion and my opinion only.

 

[buckeye al]

Thanks for the compliments guys! I often fear saying too much or offending which is never my intent!


Have a good weekend fellers.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 13:52:55 09/18/15) I have to disagree with this. I have a 24 volt 4010 diesel and a neighbor has a 12 volt 4020 gas and the 4010 starts way better than the 12 volt in all weather. Unless you have MAJOR issues with the 24 volt system stay with it.. This Is my opinion and my opinion only.

It's not comparing apples to apples & oranges to oranges when comparing a JD diesel engine starting ease to a JD gasoline engine that most likely didn't start very well if equipped with points & condenser.

 

[jjamna]

Ok

 

[jjamna]

Apples, Oranges Banana's or Lemons. It doesn't matter the 24 volt turns the higher compression diesel way faster than the 12 volt therefor 24 volt, if correct, is better than 12 volt.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 19:46:08 09/18/15) Apples, Oranges Banana's or Lemons. It doesn't matter the 24 volt turns the higher compression diesel way faster than the 12 volt therefor 24 volt, if correct, is better than 12 volt.

If 24 volt starters are better then why did equipment manufacturers switch to 12 volts as for JD tractor the yr of switch was '69?

Engine cranking speed depends on type 12 volt

 

[David G]

We are lucky to get 3 years out of those narrow batteries. I would replace both batteries, check charging voltages and address issues from there.