trouble with connection at battery and other terminals

Presently own a Ford 841D and Ferguson TO-35, both 12v from the factory. My problem is the batteries keep draining on both and at times over the years there is a white fluffy substance on the battery terminals and other connections. I have cleaned all connections over the years and even used dielectric grease on all connections. Lately been disconnecting the neg terminal on the batteries. So my question is what is draining my battery and what is the white fluffy substance.
 
There shouldn't be anything on a tractor that old to cause a parasitic draw, assuming you turn the key off when you park it. Besides the white fluffy stuff, what does the top of the battery look like? If it's wet and dirty, you have a discharge between the posts through the moisture on the top. If this is the case,suspect overcharging. Check that system voltage does not rise above 14.5 volts. If so, a voltage regulator is in your future, or maybe simply an adjustment if you're patient.

The white fluffy stuff on the terminals is good old fashioned battery corrosion. Thoroughly clean the top of the battery, as well as the posts with a mixture of baking soda and water. Be sure not to allow any to get inside past the caps. Maybe try a set of those battery pads.
Battery pads
 

That could be just about anything from dirty corroded wiring, partially shorted ignition switch, bad cell in the battery and so on. Some times just a good cleaning of the wiring under the dash helps. If you live in a really humid area or by salt water, that can cause issues.

Another fix is a battery disconnect switch as pictured.

mvphoto27457.jpg
 

All wiring is new, stranded and is not dirty. However over time, usually several months, there seem to be some reasons that a short or shorts appear in the system. The batteries are good and each cell is tested with a hydrometer. I do have battery disconnects exactly like the one you posted.
 
The batteries are clean on top and the post are clean. I have used battery post pad in the past and will get them again. For some reason even with the neg cable disconnected the battery drains. Usually I will have to start going thru the connection and removing each, clean the wire, etc. and put on new dielectric grease, then jump the tractor. The tractors will work for day or weeks, but when you put them up (under cover) they seem to have some sort of electrical drain or short. ????
 

Sounds like you're doing everything right. I got nothing except a battery that slowly drains even when unhooked from the tractor suggests an internal short. My uncle used to have this problem years ago and I finally found out he was using well water in his batteries. His water had enough iron in it to keep a small foundry in business. When he switched to distilled water, problem went away.,
 
Sounds like an internal short in the battery then. Keep in mind that EVERY battery will drain if allowed to sit around long enough, but we're talking months here, not days.
 
Do you have an alternator on there? I pulled two off and put generators on them. You can also buy a Optima AGM battery, those will crank and crank and crank and crank and crank and crank and crank, even without a working charge system. They last a long time also.
 

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