6 volt starting system

[caseydog]

I have a VAI and a SC that both use a six volt battery system. Trouble is on both of them I can not get a battery to last over a year. I put a new battery in and all works good, but in a short time it hardly has the power to turn over the engine. It does not matter when I recharge the battery. I take the battery back, they test it and says it does not have drawing power.

Question is am I getting bad batteries, is they a common event or is there something I should check that might be harming the batteries?

thank you

 

[Nedd]

See if you can get 8 volt batteries. Generator will still charge it and it will swing the motor over better. I always seem to have better luck with 8 volts. Just my experience

 

[RBnWA]

X2. I use 8 volt batteries. Am happy with them. RB

 

[Ande]

Casey,

Are you sure your charging system is working on the tractor? Have you tested? I buy my batteries from CARQUEST, and I usually get 4-5 years out of them.
In the winter I give them a good charge, then unhook them when I put the tractor to bed in the shed

 

[John Saeli]

I totally agree w/ Ande. I never had any luck w/ 8V, as they seemed to be short lived, and I had an 8V burn up an armature. A Group 1-6V will do a very good job in a "VA" Series or "S" series, and last at least 3 years, maybe up to 7 years. Charging system has to be working, and battery cables and starter cable need to be at least 1 gauge.

 

[oldproudvet]

You HAVE to keep the battery topped off. Sitting for a month or two, or more, really gets that sulfation going that kills battery's. I keep several of those half an amp trickle chargers going all the time, and actually have a couple things with the unit hard wired in like we have on the Fire Dept. All those trucks have permanently mounted trickle chargers going all the time, otherwise some of those secondary vehicles you seldom use unless there's a big fire, like an old barn, in the area. All my trickle chargers have 6 volt capability.

 

[tractorguy2]

I would not use 8volt batteries. Sounds to me your charging system is not working.

I buy my batteries from Carquest. My SC battery will be ten years old next week.

 

[kevinthefixer]

What brand battery are you using? They are not all created equal. Also, off-size batteries can sit on pallets for a couple years, even more, before you get them, and of course you know they were religiously maintained all that while. Six-volt systems take a tremendous amount of current, so all cables, grounds, motors, etc. need to be in very good shape. Check to make sure your voltage regulator is not overcharging (or undercharging either). Lead-acid batteries like to be kept fully charged, but overcharging will kill them. If you have those clamp-on cable ends, throw them away and buy new cables, 0 or 00 gauge, the right length and with the clamps formed over the wires. Make sure the terminal posts are bright shiny clean also, that grey or black oxidation does not conduct electricity. "Furry" terminals are not a good thing, either the tractor will not start at all or possibly the terminals can melt down to a puddle of lead.