What is charging voltage for 6v?

[punchofdeath]

I finally went and got a 6 volt battery (Exide from tractor supply) for my cub and when the tractor is at max speed the battery reads ~6.72v. When the tractor is off it is ~6.52v. Should I adjust the charging on the voltage regulator up some or leave it where it is? I have no experience with 6 volts so I don't know how many volts it should be at when the tractor is max speed. When I hooked the battery maintainer up to it when I was done this evening it said the battery was 60-70% charged.
I also don't have an ammeter yet. I am looking to order one soon. I'm not sure why the one on it doesn't work but since there's a dead spider inside of it then it's got some age to it. The needle doesn't move at all so I think it just doesn't work at all. I might try taking it off and try moving the needle somehow seeing if it may be stuck. The back isn't corroded or rusty.
Over all I think I just need to know what running voltage I should be aiming for

If I've left a gap in the information somewhere then please ask and I'll answer it as best as I can
~CG

EDIT: changed title from running to charging

[Slim140]

Should be around 7.2 to 8 volts charging.

[Glen]

Hi,
Below is a page from the Cub service manual, it shows the 6 volt system voltage, with a voltage regulator.
It says 6.6 - 7.2 volts, the first 3 in the table are 6 volt regulators, the 4th one is a 12 volt regulator.

http://www.farmallcub.info/manuals/gss- ... 009-04.jpg

[tst]

the amp is part of the charging circuit, if it is bad it will not charge, follow the chart

[w30bob]

Hi CG,

Not to throw a wet blanket over ya, but I hear Exide batteries suck. I bought one myself last year and so far so good, but I looked online and the reviews for Exide in general were all pretty bad and for the 6V battery it was the pits. I bought one (at Walmart) because I didn't have time to dick around and needed to get my Cub started. Walmart is also great about returning such things if there's a problem. Had I had more time I would have researched further and bought something different, but that wasn't an option at the time. I'm curious what folks on here think of the Exide 6V battery.

regards,
bob

[Crimson Tim]

Where are you measuring the voltage, and how are your cable and wire connections? Maybe losing some voltage to corrosion?

[Landreo]

The posted regulator chart gives a range but with a caveat from Delco, the battery has to be charging normally, not undercharging or over overcharging. That output voltage is measured with a standard load of around 4 amps. That load may not be what is actually being pulled by your partially charged battery. Otherwise Delco recommends a voltage a little over the half way point in the range or 6.9 volts for a 6 volt regulator and 14 volts for a 12 volt regulator. You are a little low.

[k hutchins]

I've had a little experience with Exide batteries. I've had two of them literally explode.

The last time, l got ready to mow with my '48 Cub. The battery was dead. No problem, l cranked it to start and off l went. 3 hrs later, boom! The battery box lid hit the bottom of the seat, the front and acid hit the back of my right calf.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions. Yes my switch was set on low charge, and yes the cover was bolted down. It exploded with enough force to bend/straighten the mounting flanges on the cover.

Moral of the story.....no more Exide batteries for me.

[Jim Becker]

Batteries explode once in a while. I don't know if one brand is any more likely to do it than another. The common thread in most people's experience is that the battery was already showing some sign(s) of failure. Here is a previous collection of battery explosion stories:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87751&p=698818

[punchofdeath]

Thanks for the information provided everyone. I think I'll try leaving the voltage regulator where it is unless I start getting starting issues. The battery has little vent caps things that I assume pop open under pressure. To explain further in-depth: the cap screws onto the battery then on top of the cap it has a little white lid thing that I assume pops off under pressure. If I remember to tomorrow I'll go get a picture of it.

Also to mention I think the 6v batteries sold at Napa and Advanced auto are the same battery just different stickers. The case for the exide battery is different as well as the caps on top. The Napa and Advanced dont have the little vent cap things on the top.

[Landreo]

I should have mentioned earlier but a combined voltage regulator, the ones with the "L" terminal, will lower the charging voltage a lot if the charge rate is too high. So a low battery will result in the regulator lowering the voltage to about what you have. The opposite of what you might expect. That may be what is going on with your tractor.

[punchofdeath]

This is what I was referring to when I said the batteries had something like pop off caps:https://imgur.com/a/O33RhBL

I think the charging system might be fine. I haven't put the battery maintainer on it in a few days and I haven't got stranded yet lol. A lot of this stuff is new to me and I over complicate it or get worried.

[Gary Dotson]

No pop off caps, those are just old school vented battery caps.