Tried jump starting VAC tractor after dead battery

Mattyd2020 · Feb 12, 2020

First post people, hope I do this correctly.
I have a VAC at the farm which was the first tractor my grandfather bought to help the horses out. It has been in diminishing roles over the years at the farm and run seldom the last couple of years. Last fall I went to start it and let it run for awhile before winter and the battery was dead.
Like a fool I grabbed the jump starter and attached to the battery (while still connected to tractor) the normal way which I learned after the fact that I was wrong. The moment I did it the motor started to turn over real slow on its own and sparks flew behind the fire wall (cant remember out of where exactly).
Obviously I stopped right away and then tried to turn over with the hand crank and it still didn't sputter. I will pull the battery from the tractor, see if its still good, if not I will replace and see if I can get the tractor to turn over on its own.
Has anyone else made this same error in the past? Any words of advice on what the problem could be if a new battery doesn't fix the problem?
If I can get the tractor running again I am thinking I will restore it for my kids to enjoy as they get older.

SkipperII · Feb 12, 2020

If it started turning over on it's own, and throwing sparks behind the dash, you have more problems than a dead battery. Sounds like a stuck
starter push button, or, bare and shorted wiring, etc.

Mattyd2020 · Feb 12, 2020

(quoted from post at 09:54:42 02/12/20) If it started turning over on it's own, and throwing sparks behind the dash, you have more problems than a dead battery. Sounds like a stuck
starter push button, or, bare and shorted wiring, etc.

Thank you very much for the replay! I ll get to workin on this and will update further

Harold Evans · Feb 12, 2020

When you jump start an old tractor like this, you should always check on polarity. Your VAC is likely a positive ground and six volt setup since that is what it contained from the factory. You can jump start with a 12 volt battery, but you must connect it properly or you will cause some very bad and dangerous problems.

Mattyd2020 · Feb 12, 2020

(quoted from post at 13:59:12 02/12/20) When you jump start an old tractor like this, you should always check on polarity. Your VAC is likely a positive ground and six volt setup since that is what it contained from the factory. You can jump start with a 12 volt battery, but you must connect it properly or you will cause some very bad and dangerous problems.

Yeah it was not my proudest moment for sure. Thank you for the information. When I get to restoring I ll take a before photo and then an after photo. Odds are I may have more questions which I will be sure to post on here. Thanks again for the reply and help

rustred · Feb 12, 2020

so ,.. from factory the tractor had 6 volt battery, with positive ground system. so did you jump it with 12 volts?? plus the only way the engine can turn over on its own if is the push starter switch was stuck with contacts closed. so when you connected cables that could have been the switch sparking who knows. plus where you boosting with 12 volts.??, which is negative ground. you have a story but the actual facts are not in it.ie battery's how and what used for boosting and hook ups. and with a hand crank it should start with a low battery with a distributor.

Mattyd2020 · Feb 12, 2020

(quoted from post at 14:31:22 02/12/20) so ,.. from factory the tractor had 6 volt battery, with positive ground system. so did you jump it with 12 volts?? plus the only way the engine can turn over on its own if is the push starter switch was stuck with contacts closed. so when you connected cables that could have been the switch sparking who knows. plus where you boosting with 12 volts.??, which is negative ground. you have a story but the actual facts are not in it.ie battery's how and what used for boosting and hook ups. and with a hand crank it should start with a low battery with a distributor

I used a 12 volt jumper and hooked it up positive to positive. I can t remember being 6 months later where exactly the sparks were coming from so I can t be sure on that. Maybe the push start switch is stuck some so I ll check that out too. First off is getting a good battery back in it and see if it will turn itself over. If it doesn t I ll start digging into the electrical side of things and see where I screwed everything up

mEl · Feb 12, 2020

If it did not try to start till you pushed the push button then threw sparks behind the dash when you pushed the button I would suspect that there are corroded terminals on the back of the switch, if indeed the tractor tried to turn over without pushing the button when you hooked up a booster pack then a stuck switch should be suspected , I am not sure from your original post how it happened and am assuming from answers you got that it tried to start without pushing the button , please clarify.

NickatKY · Feb 13, 2020

Dont beat yourself up over this. We all make mistakes. You may not have hurt anything.Does it still have the 6 volt battery? Many have been converted to 12 volts.
I try to avoid jumping batteries and prefer to take the old battery out and put a good one in.
I would clean the points and check for fire before trying to start it.
If it cranks over check the fluids before trying to start it.
Welcome to the Case forum and Dont be afraid to ask questions, this forum has great people with good knowledge.
Nick

Tried jump starting VAC tractor after dead battery

Mattyd2020

New User

SkipperII

Well-known Member

Mattyd2020

New User

Harold Evans

Member

Mattyd2020

New User

rustred

Well-known Member

Mattyd2020

New User

mEl

Well-known Member

NickatKY

Well-known Member

Similar threads