Ford 3910 Battery and Cable Replacements

maxf15

New User
Well, add me to the list of those with starting problems with their tractor. I think I have narrowed it down to bad battery cables. At least the terminal ends are shot, and the cables have seen better days. I have called three different parts houses, none have OEM spec cables. Im assuming 2 Gage copper Does anyone know of a source for quality replacements? Also, the previous owner had put in a smaller auto type battery My local OReilly auto parts carries the correct group 4DLT, but I know all batteries are not created equal What is everyone using out there? Any particular batteries to avoid? Thanks!
 
Got my last 2 or 3 4DLTs from Batteries Plus, least expensive I could find, and so far they are doing as well as the OEM batteries, and considerably less expensive!
YMMV, HTH, Dave
 
I have had good luck with OEM cables from CNH! Just be sitting down when they quote the price!
Oh yeah, put an extra layer of garden hose or such over the cables where they go down between the battery tray & fuel tank, at least on the positive cable!
 
Great, thanks for the pointers Dave. We have a local
Batteries Plus so that should work great. If I get cables from
YT, or Steiner, or maybe Messicks to avoid the sticker
shock do you have any idea what the OEM lengths are for a
3910 diesel? I could get close just estimating, but someone
thought about it when designing the electro system makes
sense to use the same lengths.
 

No more 4DLTs for me, last two didnt last two years each
I added a longer ground cable and switched to group 49 and group 65 batteries
Cranking amps are the same or more as 4DLT and being automotive batteries they have a 5 year warranty versus a 1 year commercial ag warranty for 4DLT
 
I make my own cables. Buy some 00 welding cable at your local welding supplier. They will sell it by the foot.
Then go to Napa and get some solder-on cable ends. They make lefts, rights and straights.
I also buy some big shrink tubing there and shrink that on at the joint.
You will have a few bucks in them but they will last forever. I had some extra welding cable so just had to buy the ends.
PS, I'm with Destroked. I never had good luck with the 4DlT batteries and quit using them.

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Sparks are bad, right? I installed two new battery cables, got a new 850CCA battery, went to crank it just knowing it would start this time. Bzzzt! A few sparks from down by the right side (either from where the positive cable attaches to the solenoid, or where the negative/ground cable attaches to the tractor. Couldnt tell which.). And now all I can get is a single click when I try to start. Now If I attach jumper cables to the battery terminals All I can get is a single click. But if I attach the positive jumper cable to the positive battery terminal And the negative jumper cable to a grounding point on the tractor She fires right up. No clicks, no hesitation, I just dont get it.

Solenoid problem maybe? I mean, whats left? I did notice the battery ground is attached differently than Ive seen on other tractors but since I got this tractor 5 months ago its been working fine until it didnt. (See pic Instagram of using point A, many starters use point B to connect the battery to ground.)
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Tractor is now fixed. Ended up being a loose positive at the solenoid. Which I previously checked but apparently not well enough. The attachment stud is copper and was stripped by the previous owner at some point (wouldnt tighten, hence the sparks. I removed a washer and found/installed a wider nut. More purchase, so its on for now. But Ill probably put a solenoid on the shelf in case it happens again. In the interim I upgraded the battery, cable and terminals. So theres that. . Thanks guys for all the inputs. I know my 3910 that much better now.
 
I have an OTR truck sales-service handy. I like their batteries as they are made for OTR trucks harsh environment and still sell for less than a hundred bucks in a sealed 950+ CCA size 3/8 terminal studs, size 31 as I recall (about the size of the popular sized 27 with standard lead post). I just bought another one for a different tractor a couple of months ago, was about 80 bucks........you walk in the door and there are 2 skids sitting out in the middle of the floor: 1 full of these batteries and the other full of HD diesel engine coolant jugs.....the point to be made here is that they buy in volume and get great wholesale pricing. I think my 18 wheeler used 6 each....multiply that by the number of the trucks on the road and you have a huge market.

While there, on one occasion when I was restoring a 3000, I had new cables made for it to fit my new battery (same swing out battery tray setup as my 3910) using 00 copper cable and 3/8 lugs to fit my battery....meaning that one was longer than OEM to reach the terminal on the far end of the battery...something not required with the OEM batteries with terminals on the same end and big bucks to purchase. I purchased my 3910 a couple of years ago and it came with a new battery. When It fails, I will do the same thing with cables and batteries.

Now here's the kicker. I have been doing this for so long I can't remember, using these batteries in all my tractors, and I have NEVER had to replace one of them........
 

Ford lowered the battery tray on the 30 series to allow use of the group 31 batteries but they are to tall for sufficient hood clearance on the older models
 

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