Shorted battery

stmar · Feb 16, 2017

My 6 volt battery, positive ground, slipped and the negative pole made contact with sheet metal shorting the battery. The terminal was glowing and some lead melted and the engine quit. I am letting it cool down before I try to start it. Any suggestions on what damage to look for?

HFJ · Feb 16, 2017

the engine quit because it was starved for electricity. my 3 concerns would be:

1. did i melt a hole in the plastic battery case with dripping molten lead?

2. did i melt a hole in the sheet metal?

3. if i didn't melt a hole in the battery, i want to put it on a charger.

i don't think your ignition system, etc, were at risk.

Bruce (VA) · Feb 16, 2017

Charge the battery . (see tip # 60)

Polarize the generator. (tip # 23)

Start the tractor.

Chances are pretty good it will be ok if it shows a charge.

And buy a battery cover & install it or next time instead of a melted post you'll have a melted tractor.
75 Tips

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Feb 17, 2017

How did the battery short out on the sheet metal? Does it have side posts? It couldn't have run very long once it shorted out. Is it a 9N, 2N, or an 8N? Battery covers differ. You can always take the battery to your trusty local starter/battery/alternator/generator guy to be tested to see if A) it is safe to charge and use; and B) if it will sustain a charge under load. Do you have the correct battery cables?

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Dean · Feb 17, 2017

You are very fortunate. Your tractor could have burnt if the gasoline had caught fire.

Recharge the battery and reconnect if possible.

Get a PROPER battery hold down.

Dean

Dean · Feb 17, 2017

8N battery terminals can short to the tank support if the battery is not properly anchored.

It happened to me once when I was a kid driving my fathers 51 with the battery tied down with clothes line rope.

The battery slid and the terminal shorted to the tank support stalling the tractor. At the time, the tractor had no fuel tank door so I immediately saw what had happened and jumped off. Earlier in the day I had nearly filled the tank and gasoline had sloshed our a bit around the old OEM gas cap. Fortunately, I had been mowing for a couple of hours reducing the fuel level so that it was no longer wet around the cap and support. Once I realized that the fuel tank was not going to ignite, I returned to the tractor and pushed the battery back in position. The terminal was partially melted and there are "weld marks" on the fuel tank support to this day.

Close call.

Dean

stmar · Feb 17, 2017

Thanks for all the help/input. I checked the battery, it was over 6 volts but I went ahead and charged it for a few hours. The puddle of melted metal was from the cable, it must have been coated with solder. It did not burn through the battery case, just put a nice little divot but just surface. Had to change the terminal but I got off lucky. Took your advice and polarized before I tried to start it. Started right up and ran it for a while and everything seems to be back to normal. It had a rubber strap holding the battery and that is what came off causing it to slide. I guarantee it will not move now but I am going to get a hold down when I can find one that will work with my setup.
P.S. It did hit the sheet metal, slid to the left and the negative terminal hit.

Bruce (VA) · Feb 17, 2017

This is how Henry made it. Keeps the battery in place and gas off of it as well.

Don't know if this site has them, but nnalert's and Dennis Carpenter do.

75 Tips

Shorted battery

stmar

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HFJ

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Bruce (VA)

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Tim PloughNman Daley RIP

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Dean

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Dean

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stmar

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Bruce (VA)

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