Battery's again

[744k]

I have a 4010 diesel, been converted to 12-volt, one wire alternator, has two 12-volt batteries hooked parallel,575 cold cranking amps each. Would it be better to have two 6-volt batteries hook in series at 850 cold cranking amps. Current batteries will not hold a charge overnight; alternator is putting out 14.2 volts. Seems to me when I bought this tractor it didn't spin like it should, maybe the batteries were going south at that time. Has an aftermarket starter on it, could be part of the problem, I'll see if I can if Ican get a picture so somebody can tell me if it is the right one.

 

[da.bees]

"Not holding charge overnight". Are you certain they are fully charged to begin with? Charge both to 12.6 , leave them on bench or in tractor NOT CONNECTED to tractor nor one another overnight and test again. With that out of the way we can do some troubleshooting. Two 6 volts in series isn't the answer.

 

[744k]

Dixie electric 260-67139 dl1140 260-67139AO575E

 

[744k]

"Not holding charge overnight". Are you certain they are fully charged to begin with? Charge both to 12.6 , leave them on bench or in tractor NOT CONNECTED to tractor nor one another overnight and test again. With that out of the way we can do some troubleshooting. Two 6 volts in series isn't the answer.

Charged batteries overnight not connected to tractor. This morning, they were at 12.5, hooked them back up, put a test light on each battery at the same time, when I turned the key both batteries went to 7.5 volts, that tells me the batteries are no good

 

[560Dennis]

Have starter tested at local shop or auto parts if possible.
How’s the positive and negative cables? any corrosion ? Voltage drop tests suggested .

 

[744k]

Have starter tested at local shop or auto parts if possible.
How’s the positive and negative cables? any corrosion ? Voltage drop tests suggested .

Did what Johnt tells everybody that has electrical problems CLEAN THE CONNECTIONS AND MAKE SURE CABLES ARE GOOD

 

[rustred]

I have a 4010 diesel, been converted to 12-volt, one wire alternator, has two 12-volt batteries hooked parallel,575 cold cranking amps each. Would it be better to have two 6-volt batteries hook in series at 850 cold cranking amps. Current batteries will not hold a charge overnight; alternator is putting out 14.2 volts. Seems to me when I bought this tractor it didn't spin like it should, maybe the batteries were going south at that time. Has an aftermarket starter on it, could be part of the problem, I'll see if I can if Ican get a picture so somebody can tell me if it is the right one.

no sense guessing or presuming... just load test the batteries and you know. and for ease of simplicity just use one 900-1000 cca battery and you will have all the cranking power u need. if you have the room. i think them tractors had them low cca long skinny batteries that never lasted any how, 3e's or something like that.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I have a 4010 diesel, been converted to 12-volt, one wire alternator, has two 12-volt batteries hooked parallel,575 cold cranking amps each. Would it be better to have two 6-volt batteries hook in series at 850 cold cranking amps. Current batteries will not hold a charge overnight; alternator is putting out 14.2 volts. Seems to me when I bought this tractor it didn't spin like it should, maybe the batteries were going south at that time. Has an aftermarket starter on it, could be part of the problem, I'll see if I can if Ican get a picture so somebody can tell me if it is the right one.

Why not use one battery? I bought this battery off Summit racing for $100 less than any auto parts store in town. My car uses a 12v 850 CCA AGM Delco battery. When it was new it measured 1035 amps at room temp. If you have room I would buy it.

 

[M-MAN]

He already tested the batteries. They are bad.

 

[ss55]

I have a 4010 diesel, been converted to 12-volt, one wire alternator, has two 12-volt batteries hooked parallel,575 cold cranking amps each. Would it be better to have two 6-volt batteries hook in series at 850 cold cranking amps. Current batteries will not hold a charge overnight; alternator is putting out 14.2 volts. Seems to me when I bought this tractor it didn't spin like it should, maybe the batteries were going south at that time. Has an aftermarket starter on it, could be part of the problem, I'll see if I can if Ican get a picture so somebody can tell me if it is the right one.

Might not hurt to also check for any electrical drains, electrical shorts in older alternators and starters are not uncommon.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I have a 4010 diesel, been converted to 12-volt, one wire alternator, has two 12-volt batteries hooked parallel,575 cold cranking amps each. Would it be better to have two 6-volt batteries hook in series at 850 cold cranking amps. Current batteries will not hold a charge overnight; alternator is putting out 14.2 volts. Seems to me when I bought this tractor it didn't spin like it should, maybe the batteries were going south at that time. Has an aftermarket starter on it, could be part of the problem, I'll see if I can if Ican get a picture so somebody can tell me if it is the right one.

The answer to your question is NO. It would not be better to have two 6 Volt batteries at 850 CCA. Two 12 Volt batteries in parallel at 575 cold cranking amps each is 1150 cold cranking amps. 1150 > 850.

In series, Volts add. In parallel, cold cranking amps add.

A single Group 31 battery at 1000 cold cranking amps normally works almost as well as two 575's in parallel, due to having fewer connections. Unless you have done two "home runs" running each battery to the starter and ground separately.

How old are the batteries? 5+ years it's entirely possible that the batteries are bad, especially if the tractor was left to sit without being run for months and months, with no battery tender.

 

[744k]

The answer to your question is NO. It would not be better to have two 6 Volt batteries at 850 CCA. Two 12 Volt batteries in parallel at 575 cold cranking amps each is 1150 cold cranking amps. 1150 > 850.

In series, Volts add. In parallel, cold cranking amps add.

A single Group 31 battery at 1000 cold cranking amps normally works almost as well as two 575's in parallel, due to having fewer connections. Unless you have done two "home runs" running each battery to the starter and ground separately.

How old are the batteries? 5+ years it's entirely possible that the batteries are bad, especially if the tractor was left to sit without being run for months and months, with no battery tender.

The batteries are 6 years old, yes there is two positive cables running to the starter and one ground off each battery to the transmission case. Thanks, that was the answer I was looking for, guess I'll be putting in two new batteries tomorrow .

 

[caterpillar guy]

Get a grp 31 with studs out the top and be done with it less fooling around in the end and no cleaning connections all the time like with lead posts.

 

[m16ty]

6 year old batteries are likely junk. I’ve got as long as 10 years out of a battery before, but most of the time when you pass the 5 year mark it is living on borrowed time.

 

[m16ty]

Get a grp 31 with studs out the top and be done with it less fooling around in the end and no cleaning connections all the time like with lead posts.

Correct, I replace everything with stud top 31s on anything I can fit them in. I don’t know why all batteries aren’t stud top, don’t have near the connection problems as you will with post.

 

[Blackhole49]

The batteries are 6 years old, yes there is two positive cables running to the starter and one ground off each battery to the transmission case. Thanks, that was the answer I was looking for, guess I'll be putting in two new batteries tomorrow .

Perfect time to start adding hydrogen peroxide. 1 oz. per cell per year, start when new. Will extend battery life for pennies. Never too late to start on any lead acid battery.