marine batteries

I can only get to my farm on weekends and sometimes once a month. The battery doesnt always stay up so i was wondering would it hurt to use a marine battery in my d 17 so it can handle the rechargeing i have to do. I cant find anything wrong with the charging system on my 12 volt series 1. thanks in advance

I put battery cut off switches on all my tractors. Even the restored ones with all new charging systems. For $20 it can save a lot of headaches.

I am having a similar problem. I live 1/4 mile down the road from my machinery, but work etc keeps me from starting them often enough.

I am in the process of shopping for a solar, trickle charger or battery maintainence system. Whatever you want to call it.

We have used a similar device down at our hunting cabin which has no elec. I have had a battery down there stay charged for over two years while hooked up to one of these.

They work, You just need sun!

Gene

Bottom line, there is something wrong. I"ve had tractors, combine, backhoe, etc, sitting all winter and they start right up. Some I plug in the engine heater to start in mid winter, just to run the AC and keep the seals lubed, but the batteries are in good shape. You have a discharge problem, maybe ever so slight, but if it is in a month, it is not slight.

You can in a pinch, but I wouldn't leave it in there because they are a deep cycle. You need to find out if you're problem is 1) battery issue(Charge it and load test the battery or take it to a shop to be done), 2) Too low a charge rate (Put a volt meter on it and make sure at the speed you use your tractor or at least 1,000 RPM your voltage is over 13.2 with all electronics on), or 3) Battery being drained ( Take off negative cable and put one voltmeter lead on the negative cable end and one on the negative cable. You should be below 3 or 4 volts. If not start unplugging until the voltage drops. Drains are about milleamps, but I use the voltage as a quick check. Hope this helps. Gerard

Yes it can be done but not really a good thing to do.
What I would do is this. #1 unhook the battery when your nor there using it or pull it out and take it home that way you know it has a charge on it because before you go back you charge it. Or
#2Spend about $75 and get a solar charger and hook it up so you then know the battery will stay charged up. Yep that is the price of one as per O'reilly's

Hey old, how's your back doing?

Have my good days and my bad days. Seem like when it is wet and humid out it hurts a lot more then on dry days, but such is life

Get your battery tested, if its good make sure your charging system is good. If everything looks like its charging correctly. After you have been using the tractor and shut it off check the voltage at your battery and disconnect a battery cable. Then get the cable end within a 1/4" of the battery post and slowly bring it closer til it touchs. If you get a spark, something is draining your power. If you have an alternator you could have a bad diode. They will still charge but a bad diode will upset the ripple current and cause a little bit of noise like a bearing that is dry. If its a generator, your cutout should be open if it is sticking shut there is usually a pretty considerable discharge on your ammeter. Make sure all your cables are good and clean and just because an end looks clean it can still be rotten on the inside of the lug and not be getting charged while running. I have equipment that sits nearly all winter and I can hit the key and they fire right up. Newer style radios have a memory to store radio stations they do use a little power on some but your battery should last longer than a month. Check any after market electrical add ons you might have for power use after the tractor is off. I would just get the correct battery and stay away from the marine battery.

All that was said is true, tractors normally have no battery draw when shut off unless you have accessories or you have bleed through with the charging components/meter etc. I have a car that uses 300milliamps draw when turned off, so it needs a good battery to last a month, but it can. But it maintains the car computer, radio, clock etc when shut off. Very easy to check a drain from battery, the spark method is a clue something is wrong, then a cheap meter can tell you the details.

Don't happen to have one of those 1 wire alternators do you? They will drain a battery if it sets for more than a few days. Otherwise, you can disconnect a cable. Don't forget to clean off the top of the battery. If it's wet, that can also drain a battery.