Dead 6V battery

[Lurker Carl]

6 volt batteries aren't big sellers any more. Check the manufacture date - make sure you buy a recent one.

[Mac from NS]

Have found that these new fancy chargers will not charge a completely dead battery. They need a referance voltage to work. An old charger often brings a basket case battery back to life.

This is what I found with my cleaning tank, so I put a battery between the
charger and the tank. Works like a charm now.

[Joey]

jniekamp: I've also seen a battery explode, in my friend's face. Been leery ever since about fooling with batteries. Have a healthy respect for them.

Mr. George: thanks for the suggestion, I'll look for a VOM.

John *.?-!.* cub owner: The tractor is connected positive ground, always has been. I think the problem with the first battery was not polarizing the generator (learned that from this forum), but I've been polarizing this battery every time it got disconnected and reconnected (not very often). Have to check on the overcharging possibility.

I'll bring the battery in and see what they can do with it. If I have to buy another one, think I'll try a different brand. Will check the date, also!

Thanks for the help! I'll get back with the results.

[Patbretagne]

If you need to replace the battery, try to see if you can find a stockist who sells batteries "DRY", that is without the acid actually in the battery but in separate bottles. When you are ready, just add the acid and you have a completely brand new, never been used, never rested on a shelf for 5 years, CUB battery.
Costs no more than normal, you have to handle the acid, but the last one I bought was "Bosch" and had a little filler that fitted on the plastic acid bottle for filling, hope you overcome,
Pat

[Joey]

Well, took the battery off and brought it in to get checked.....the computer said "replace battery". Told the guy that the battery was just purchased... he looked in his computer register and, lo and behold, there it was - May7, 2005. Not even 3 months old! He promptly replaced it, but I had him check the date of manufacture and it was April 2005. I'm going to try this battery and see what happens. Ordered a battery load tester and will get a voltmeter also. Figure I can use both of them at some time.

Brought the battery home, installed it, polarized it, cranked up at the bump of the starter, and spent 3 hours mowing grass. I noticed, though, the the ammeter showed a slight discharge of the battery when the tractor was running. Shouldn't it be on the positive side after running for a while? Is this an indication the generator is not charging?

[Patbretagne]

Joey
yes you are right, after starting it will charge fairly hard, if the regulator is working properly that will drop as the battery charges, but will stay on the + side whilst mowing, dropping back to 0 or even - on slow tickover.
Just check though that the ammeter is correctly installed, not reversed in the wiring. With everything connected up, engine off, turn the lights on, the ammeter should register -, if this is so the ammeter is correct.
Soulds like you might need to have the generator looked at along with the regulator, an auto electrical speciaist should be able to do that for you fairly quickly, ask your garage who they would use, that is if you can trust them!
Hope you get to the root of the problem, best wishes,
pat