tractor batteries

[Anonymous-0]

Hello! I just bought a neighbors "53 IH super C and the battery is pretty weak, I do not know if it a 6 or 12 volt and do not know if I can charge it on my automotive charger if it is a 6 volt.
The battery is a Diehard vintage 31001 group 1 625 cca. Any ideas about charging or what is a good replacement would be welcome.
This is my first tractor and I am quite proud of the little rustbucket even if it is a bit big for my little garden.

 

[Wayne in MN]

Look at the top of the battery; if both + & - terminals are on the same side of the battery it is 12 volt. If the + & - terminals are on diagonally opposite corners; you have 6 volts.
The tractor was 6 volt, + ground from the factory.

 

[Yugrotcart]

3 vents in the battery or 6 vents?

Paul

 

[Anonymous-0]

group 1 should be a 6 volt battery. bill m.

 

[Mathias NY]

Welcome to the hobby.

Assuming it is not a sealed battery, you can count the number of holes to add fluid. If there are 3, you have a 6 volt battery. If there are 6, you have a 12 volt battery.

If the battery is 12 volt, your automotive charger will work fine. If the auto charger has a 6 volts setting, it will also work on those too.

When you count the fill holes, make sure the fluid is above the plates in the battery. If not add some fluid, distilled water is best, but on a battery that age tap water will be fine.

 

[Machinist]

Well it looks like it is an old 6 volt then, I guess I will have to get a different charger for it. Or a hand crank. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[El Toro]

You should use a hydrometer to measure the battery electrolyte in each cell. Do this after you have charged the battery overnight. Should read around 1.250 or better. The readings should be close to one another. If you have cell that has a reading of 1.100 after being charged replace the battery. You can get a hydrometer
at Walmart and it will measure your antifreeze too. They gave me this one when I retired. Hal

 

[super99]

When you hook up charger, be sure to hook + to + and - to -. Have seen guys hook red to hot and black to ground and ruin battery. Does the generator work? Fill cells with water and start it and let it run for 2 or 3 hours and it should charge battery enough to tell you if it will hold a charge. Chris

 

[RickB]

BCI group 1 is a 6 volt battery. Replace it with another BCI group 1 battery in the brand of your choice. Do not attempt to charge it with any 12 volt source.