Battery problem

[MNC]

I bought a 9n in 2009 that had a new battery installed. I tried to fire up the tractor this past week and the battery was dead (12 volt). I charged it up, put it in, ran the tractor for about 10 mins, shut it off, turned ignition off and removed key. Went back last night, tried to start and the darn thing was dead again. I do not believe that the battery cannot be any good. What are some possible causes? No lights on tractor.

 

[HCooke]

Don't know how it is wired, but the battery can drain back thru the alternator if done incorrectly. Or, a bad cell in the battery will cause it to drain overnight. Test the battery with a hydrometer. Disconnect the battery overnight and see if it is still charged in the morning. That should give you some answers.

 

[old]

Now days not all that uncommon to have a battery that goes bad in just a year or so. Shoot I have gotten new batteries and installed them and not been any good from the get go. I would have it load checked then work back from there or try a different battery in it and see if the problem stays with the machine or goes with the battery

 

[lha]

One idea that might isolate the problem is to charge the battery,connect the ground wire disconnect the hot wire.Connect an ammeter inline with the terminal of the battery side on one side,the battery post on the other.If there is voltage leaking,the meter should read something,if not,it's a battery problem.---lha

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Just had an Advance Auto battery replaced today. One of two I put in my wrecker last summer. 1000 amp battery. Perhaps defective from factory??? Who knows?

 

[MNC]

I"m new to tractor repair so please forgive my obvious lack of knowledge. Is an ammeter available at auto stores or is it something that needs to be bought at an implement dealer? It seems I saw something that Bruce(Va) wrote that said an ammeter should be analog because the electric noise from the generator will interfere with digital.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

First, check the obvious: the battery.

Disconnect it. Charge it, then check it w/ a hydrometer. (tip # 49)

What you need to check voltage w/ is an analog multi-meter. $15 or so at Wally-World. A digital multi-meter is nice, but unless you pay big bucks for one, it won't work w/ the tractor running.

What kind of ignition switch does it have? A bad/incorrect switch will cause the battery to discharge. As well a bad diode.
50 Tips

 

[Dennisinponca]

Fyi, you are correct, alternators have diodes to convert ac to dc and to allow electrons to flow in one direction, if a diode fails, the battery can drain back through the diode through the alternator.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 13:30:26 11/12/10) I bought a 9n in 2009 that had a new battery installed. I tried to fire up the tractor this past week and the battery was dead (12 volt). I charged it up, put it in, ran the tractor for about 10 mins, shut it off, turned ignition off and removed key. Went back last night, tried to start and the darn thing was dead again. I do not believe that the battery cannot be any good. What are some possible causes? No lights on tractor.

t was said to check the obvious.......well, since you haven't had the tractor very long, I suggest checking to see whether someone just stuck a 12v battery in it & left the 6v generator/VR in place. If so, 'taint ever gonna work.

 

[MNC]

Bruce it looks like the ignition switch is the one that would have come with the tractor. Turn the key a couple of clicks clockwise and then press the switch. How do I tell if the thing has been converted to 12 volt? Don't see a lot of parts that look like they have been added to the thing.

My thanks to all who have responded.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

"How do I tell if the thing has been converted to 12 volt?"

You can tell if it's a 12v battery by counting the caps; 3 caps means 6v, 4=8v & 6=12v.

But that doesn't mean it's a 12v conversion.

If it has an alternator instead of a generator & a 12v battery, chances are 999 out of 1000 it's a 12v conversion. (hint: alternators are silver; generators are usually black, red or gray)

If it has a 12v battery & a generator, it could be a 12v conversion; you will need to check the operating voltage.

Post back when you find out what you have.
50 Tips

 

[souNdguy]

forget the ammeter.. a test lamp between hot post and hot cable will tell you if current is flowing.

soundguy

 

[MNC]

Found the problem with my $1.46 Wal-Mart hydrometer. 4 out of 6 cells pretty much dead. What a piece of garbage battery.

 

[36 Coupe]

Leaving a battery dead for a year will ruin it.That tractor may have a drain going on when its shut off .Your new battery will do the same thing.