986 using one battery

[Tree-Farmer]

I have an International 986, it has 2 - 12V batteries, but they’re getting weak. I bought a used battery at Cook Combine Salvage for $25, I thought that was a good price. People have said that it will work with one battery and I think that’s correct, I don’t use it in the winter.

Question: Is there a correct way to remove/disconnect the 2nd battery? Do I just cover the positive end very well with electrical tape? Just tape up the positive end?

I guess I could completely remove the positive cable. Looks like it’s connected to the starter, but that’s hard to reach. Do I have to take off the floor of the cab to get to the other end of the battery cable?

Thank you!

 

[used red MN]

Question: Is there a correct way to remove/disconnect the 2nd battery? Do I just cover the positive end very well with electrical tape? Just tape up the positive end?

You can just tape it up but tape is not very thick. I suppose you could put 5 layers on it and it would probably be okay. After taping I would zip tie the cable close to the taped up terminal to hold it away from just laying against to bottom of the battery box. Another thing you could do is cut the top off of an old quart oil bottle. Then cut some slits near the top of the bottle to run some zip ties through stick the cable end in there and use the ties to hold the battery cable to the edge of it. Lay that down on the battery box floor so dirt or water don’t collect in it. It will take a long time to wear through that.

 

[urbancase]

i have a 986, one good battery will start but i bet everything needs to be in your favor. the screw's in the floor there are about 8-12 of them i would pull the second off, another thing is if you never had it off it would be good to clean under the cab in case there a lot of dust and trash under there. mice and rats love getting under and nesting. if you don't use in the winter.

 

[caterpillar guy]

We use 1 1000 CCa grp 31's with the stud top on all the smaller tractors.I mean smaller like the H though 1466 the bigger ones we use 2or 4 depnding on what it has in it. The Steigers need about 3-4 to start. The 7140has 2or 3 been a few years since I bought batteries for it. As for the cable we remove the one positive since it only goes from the pos to the pos or neg depending on whether they are series hook up or parallel . Then we use the neg to the tractor and the pos to the starter .
I also change the ends or the cable depnding on the condition of them with new ones that have eyes for 3/8 bolt and get the heavy ends not tose cheap copper ones but the heavy copper ones that look like they bleached the color out of them. Then solder them together with no crimp just the solder never had a problem with the solder melting if they get warm/hot. You would like the 31's with the studs no over tightened clamps to contend with.

 

[Mrfred54]

Most 86 series tractors use one positive cable for the two batteries. The right side cable goes to the left side with the positive battery clamp having the cable go thru it and then on to the starter. Another thing to consider is, does your tractor fire up immediately or do you have to crank it over and over and over. If so , you may have other issues.

 

[johnnmr]

There is nothing more aggravating than dinking around with batteries when it's time to get the work done.

I'd put good batteries in it and be done, find a different corner to cut to save some money.

 

[soupkid]

You could use heat shrink to cover the terminals.