Backwards Battery.

L.Fure · Mar 19, 2015

I run into something strange while installing a new gas gauge on my tractor. I was using a multi-meter to check power on the leads of the gauge. I tried the meter on the battery to see what kind of reading I'd get. What surprised me was the polarity of the battery. When I put the red lead on the + post and the black on the - post, I get a negative reading on the meter. I checked to make sure I had the leads hooked up to the meter correctly, and they were. What gives?

rustyfarmall · Mar 19, 2015

Maybe the leads are reversed on your multi-meter?

Bob · Mar 19, 2015

Simple. The battery was completely discharged at some time and the guy that connected the battery charger connected it backwards.

You are not the first person to have this happen, and must still have a generator charging system, an alternator (and other modern electronics) are a LOT less forgiving of such bumbling!

gene bender · Mar 19, 2015

Thats ot the first time that has happened

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Mar 19, 2015

Saw that once on a mid 50s Chevrolet car that was brought into the shop for a bad radio. It had idiot lights and no gauges, and everything worked except the radio. Customer had removed the radio for us to check on the bench, and it worked fine. He put it back in twice before he finally left it in car for me to check. As soon as I put a voltmeter on it I spotted the problem.

old · Mar 19, 2015

Bob has it right. I have seen it more then once

Phil Tibbetts · Mar 19, 2015

Right on, my father did that once on our H after the battery went dead.

L.Fure · Mar 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:18:24 03/19/15) Simple. The battery was completely discharged at some time and the guy that connected the battery charger connected it backwards.

You are not the first person to have this happen, and must still have a generator charging system, an alternator (and other modern electronics) are a LOT less forgiving of such bumbling!

That's probably what happened. The previous owner must have had some confusion about positive ground versus negative ground.
This is a IH340 with a 6 volt system. It has the original generator and voltage regulator. I think tractors made when this one (1960) were positive ground. I just have to remember to hook up a new battery as positive ground when the time comes.

jeffcat · Mar 19, 2015

Yup friend had a 64 Ford Galaxie and left headlights on till dead. Dumb kid friend hooked him up with jumpers and did the same thing. Radio would not work AND the blower for the heater would suck and not blow! If you can SLOWLY discharge the battery to Zero and then hook it up correctly you may JUST get away with it. A lot of times that is the end of the battery. As said on here Only with a generator.

gbs · Mar 19, 2015

yep seen a 6 volt drained and charged backwards

Bob · Mar 19, 2015

"If you can SLOWLY discharge the battery to Zero and then hook it up correctly you may JUST get away with it. "

On the other hand, if the tractor is starting and charging, there's no big, obvious, SCREAMING elephant in the room that demands ANYTHING be done.

At this point, if he keeps using and enjoying the tractor 'til the battery dies of old age nothing bad is gonna happen!

teddy52food · Mar 19, 2015

They usually don't last long backwards. I discharge them with a headlight bulb & when the bulb goes out I put a jumper wire on overnight. Then hook it up parallel with another battery to slow charge it.

Backwards Battery.

L.Fure

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rustyfarmall

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Bob

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gene bender

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john .?-!. cub owner

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old

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Phil Tibbetts

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L.Fure

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jeffcat

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gbs

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Bob

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teddy52food

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