Farmall 560 battery problem

Lee460 · Dec 27, 2019

I have two 560s, one gas and one diesel. Both have Delco
alternators. If ran once a month, no problems. If they sit for
two months both will be dead. Does anyone have this problem
or is just me? Does anyone have a good cure? Both have one
12 volt 900 amp batteries. One battery is 2 years old and the
other is a year old. Please advise.

ejr-IA. · Dec 27, 2019

Do they have the anti feed back wire or bad diodes.

charlieu · Dec 27, 2019

(quoted from post at 01:46:01 12/28/19) I have two 560s, one gas and one diesel. Both have Delco
alternators. If ran once a month, no problems. If they sit for
two months both will be dead. Does anyone have this problem
or is just me? Does anyone have a good cure? Both have one
12 volt 900 amp batteries. One battery is 2 years old and the
other is a year old. Please advise.

I would disconnect the battery ground cable and do this simple check. I would then hook a test light in the circuits that you have disconnected and check for a glowing light bulb.

The next step would be to disconnect the battery wire on the alternator to see if the alternator is draining the battery, If the alternator is at fault the test light bulb will glow. If the bulb glows bright you have a large draw. If the bulb barely glows you have a small draw on the system. You can just keep disconnecting various circuits until you find the problem.

Janicholson · Dec 27, 2019

If they are "one wire" type, they are probably doing the drain. The one wire Delcos are on all the time. The earliest type would drain the battry in 2 weeks. A 3 wire type stays off when not in use. They need a 10 ohm resistor, or a side marker lamp, or a diode in the wire from the ignition so they don't run on after you shut off the tractor. Bob M diagrams are on line. My diagram in parts and pieces works for the diesel. Jim

Dieseltech · Dec 27, 2019

Mine did the same thing with the one wire alternator when setting, I put in a heavy disconnect switch in the ground cable to stop it when it's going to set awhile.

Lee460 · Dec 27, 2019

I have always used the 2 wire alternators or 3 wire as some people call them because they are cheaper and easier to buy. The gas used a diode and the diesel needs none. I?m guessing the alternators must always be drawing a little and kills the battery. I just didn?t know if that is normal. I may have to put a disconnect in like Dieseltech says.

rustred · Dec 27, 2019

if they had the original working generator and regulator you would not have this problem. lol. my 560 sits all winter till spring, get on it and hold glow plugs for 30 sec. and she starts with about 3 turns, has 5600 hrs. engine untouched. one of the easiest starting 282's I have seen. other advise is good. just take your ground cable off when you know it will be sitting.

Lee460 · Dec 27, 2019

I agree, but they quit on me long ago. My diesel starts pretty good also. What ticks me is I have a green tractor I don?t like or use much and it always starts.☹️

Bob · Dec 27, 2019

(quoted from post at 21:47:28 12/27/19) I have always used the 2 wire alternators or 3 wire as some people call them because they are cheaper and easier to buy. The gas used a diode and the diesel needs none. I?m guessing the alternators must always be drawing a little and kills the battery. I just didn?t know if that is normal. I may have to put a disconnect in like Dieseltech says.

Try a simple test.

Check the voltages at the two-wire plug, expect to see ZERO volts on #1 and battery voltage on #2.

If that checks out, disconnect the large output wire from the alternator and put a wrap of tape on it to keep it out of trouble and pull the two wire plug out of the regulator then note if the battery still goes dead in the usual time.

In addition to possible leaky diode(s) or a wonky VR that doesn't completely shut off, alternators can get dirt and debris packed inside, and combine that with moisture and electricity it sets up a leakage path that may continue to bleed of a little current even once it dries up.

jhncp · Dec 28, 2019

At least the red one sounds alot nicer when it's running tho ah?

jhncp · Dec 28, 2019

Simple. Just take a battery terminal off when it's gonna sit.

Janicholson · Dec 28, 2019

A diesel needs a switched "excite" wire. The easiest way (and is automatic) is to use oil pressure to excite the alt #1 terminal. NAPA has 2 terminal oil pressure switches that are normally open, and close at about 5psi. The wiring is from the ammeter load side to the switch, and from the switch to the #1 terminal. No diode or other device needed. The Diode in the gas tractor could be bad, or backwards. Either alternator could have leaky diode trio, or rectifier pack diodes. Put a small light type tester between the big terminal, and the wire going to it. if it glows that is the issue. If you have a milliamp meter, the current should be less than 75ma when everything is shut off. (don't test it running, or disconnect a running alternator. Jim

Farmall 560 battery problem

Lee460

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ejr-IA.

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charlieu

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Janicholson

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Dieseltech

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Lee460

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rustred

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Lee460

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Bob

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jhncp

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jhncp

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Janicholson

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