4610 won't start

bja105 · Oct 2, 2018

My 4610 didn't crank at all Saturday. No click, no dummy lights illuminated. I use it every weekend, and some evenings during the week. Last weekend, I mowed with it. It has never cranked weakly.

I cleaned the battery terminals tonight, positive was pretty crusty. No change. My voltmeter says I have 7 volts between the terminals. I took the battery out and brought it to the house to charge, which was a chore with the loader on. It is charging 5 amps.

The battery was new-ish when I bought the tractor in early 2014, so it may be 5 years old.

I don't know automotive electrical, I work in AC every day, with hvac.

How do I tell if it is a shorted something draining power, or a bad alternator, or a bad battery?

Matt from Oz · Oct 2, 2018

Hi bja105

While you have the battery out and after charging take it to a battery place and get them to load test it they will tell you if it is good or give it it's last rights. Five years old could have a weak cell and be no good. The fact it is charging is good so far. Start with the simple stuff and go from there.

IanC · Oct 2, 2018

When you look in the caps while it is on the charger are all 6 cells bubbling? You use it often, but how long each time? The 4DLT batteries are probably higher capacity than the digital testers at the auto parts can handle, when you have it tested make sure the teen using the tester checks to see if it will test an 900+ cca 250 amp hour battery.

ErnieD · Oct 2, 2018

What kind of charger? Five amps overnight is a good rate for a big battery, the charger should back off and float an amp or so when it is fully charged. Tomorrow make your volt measurement; if it is not 12.3-7 v coming off the charger you got a shorted cell. Each cell is good for 2.15v or so. Put the battery back in or jumper it for the next test. Hook it up and hit the starter. Take your next volt reading just after cranking; at rest with no load you should have 12.1-5. If less you have one or more weak cells. Best way to check is with a temperature corrected battery hydrometer. You are looking for equal acid strength across all the cells. Low acid strength = weak cells. You can try a batter desulphater, Schumacher makes a dandy battery maintainer with a high frequency pulsed dc charger. I have used with some success a Whiz-Bang (Amazon) to save some batteries; but prefer the Schumacher as it is quicker and has more capability.

Post back with your volt measurements and I will give you my spin.

Jerry/MT · Oct 4, 2018

I just had the regulator fail on our 4610 and it was charging at 17V which damaged the battery. If you can get it started check to see what the charging voltage is. It should be 14.1 V to 14.2 V. Guy at the electric shop that when these regulators fail they overcharge and you don"t know it until you ruin the battery because it starts up and the alt light goes out.

4610 won't start

bja105

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Matt from Oz

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IanC

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ErnieD

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Jerry/MT

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