IH584 battery cables

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Well-known Member
So this 584 I have has battery cables that are iffy at best. Most every time I try to fire it up I have to mess with the cables to make a good connection at the battery. This is a diesel by the way. So I am thinking about replacing both cables. Old one got pretty hot and the insulation is melted off them both due to the fire this tractor had. So can I get by with 2 or 4 gauge cables like you find at most auto parts places of will I need something heavier??
Thanks
 
Rich, as you already know well bigger is better due to less voltage drop. That being said, since its a diesel and it gets coldddddddddddd where you live, Id prefer AT LEAST 1 Gauge, but like it MUCH BETTER AND RECOMMEND if they were 0 or better yet 00 yayyyyyyyyyy. The thing about even the 2 Gauge you mentioned are for smaller gas cars and even if 2 gauge sufficed their ends are light n cheap grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Often, especially on a high current draw diesel in cold climates, its as much or more the quality and construction of the cable termination ends as much as the wire size. A big honkin 0 or 00 Gauge welding cable with heavy duty ends, and if not already, route the ground cable down near the starter or on a starter bolt itself is my plan. Of course the length of the cables and how many starting amps are required makes a huge difference and this is ONLY a guess but I still like bigger cables in cold climates when starting a diesel

Cables and ends that need attention for most starts are a sign of carbon and burning and loose/resistive voltage dropping poor electrical connections GET RID OF THAT I have seen them that looked fine on the outside but were burned bad underneath

I hope the battery posts themselves aren't part of the problem ??

John T Live in the RV from St Madelines Church parking lot in High Springs Florida, its a bit warm here tonight lol
 
I have no idea how big the old cables are and the + one I wrapped with tape and the ground is a mess. Both have those brass type cable ends at the battery which are always causing problems. It does start easy down to around 35 degrees and then I have to plug it in if colder. Only has as much wiring on it as I need to make it start and run as in a wire from the solenoid I touch on the battery to start and a wire to excite the alternator and the charge wire and that is it. My problem is, is finding cables bigger then the 2 gauge
 
2 gauge should be adequate for that little 206 CID diesel.

Of course, as you know, bigger is better!
 
While sure 2 will "work" you may have to go to a welding shop or a heavy duty truck dealer to get say No 1 or larger heavy duty cables. Our local Interstate Battery dealer makes up cables of those sizes, any near you ??

John T
 
I have been think abut this a bit so I may take a 2 gauge cable with one end for the battery and the other for a bolt and also get another 2 gauge that is set up for a bolt on both ends and then double up on them
 
Rich, Do you have a Bumper to Bumper auto parts store around your part of the state as I know you mention O'Reilly's a lot. I've had 00 size cables with the soldered copper ends noted by John T made up several times at the one here in Rolla and they certainly do really work well, Hal.
 
No such shops any where near me. Closest would be at least 30 miles one way
 
Up here I have O'Reilly's or auto zone and the guys in auto zone can't find there back sides let alone a part.
 
Rich, I don't know but I would think O'Reilly's would be able to made them up with 00 cable as their store here in Rolla seems to be a fairly good and capable outfit as I've had hydraulic hoses made there. I just got used to Bumper to Bumper for any battery cables as their person does such a nice job with them and have never even inquired at O'Reilly's on the cables - you might want to ask at the counter instead of just getting something already made up hanging on a rack thinking that is all they offer, Hal.
 
I'll probably just call O'Reilly's and ask for Mark. He is the manager and he buys eggs from me so when I have that odd thing I ask him and if it is to be had he can find it
 
Just buy new cables this is the tractor that has been on fire you was sew cheap that you did not to buy new fuel filters you had starter problems a year ago you don?t want spend money on it who cares how far you got to get parts you just want to cabul it you ask and don?t want to fix it rightly
 
I vote for the bigger cables also. We have the older model of that tractor the 574. Those English models do not start good in cold weather. We plug ours in when below about 40 degrees at night. I convert our tractors to the group 31 batteries with a 3/8 stud on top instead of the posts. This ends all the problems with posts and the cleaning. Plus the monitors for baler,planter and such all just fasten on at the battery so no worry about finding a place to get them hooked up to use.
 
The 584 has a German diesel in it and the German diesels start pretty easy even in cold weather
 
I'm one who believes is it isn't broken don't fix it or it will be. Up till just lately it has been starting just fine
 
yep, I agree Timmy, u nailed it! how can there be so much discussion on battery cables. mole hills become mountains. its so goofy I cant help posting.
 

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