John Deere 4010 24 volt system

Ldwallace

Member
I have a John Deere 4010 with the 24 volt system.

Can I charge the batteries with both batteries connected with a 12 volt charger? Will that charge both batteries?

The tractor has not been started for months and I do not want the batteries to be completely drained. Currently there they are charged enough to turn the engine over. Unfortunately the tractor did not start.

Any tips for maintaining the batteries will be appreciated.

Just FYI. My dad used the tractor for bush hogging and his home garden. I acquired the tractor after he died but I know very little about tractor maintenance. I have acquired an owners manual.
 

You can charge each battery individually with a 12 Volt charger by matching the polarity of the charger's cables to the polarity markings at the battery posts.

You can charge BOTH batteries at the same time with TWO 12 Volt chargers connected as previously directed.

If the charger(s) is in a metal case, it's a good idea to keep the metal case of the charger(s) from being in contact with any metal parts of the tractor just in case there's any internal issues with the charger that cause the metal case to be in contact with the charging circuit.

If the batteries are connected as when the tractor left the factory the odds are that the RH battery is the most discharged of the two.

If in a hurry and using one charger, charge the RH battery first and see if the tractor will then start, if not charge the LH battery, as well.
 
A 12 volt battery charger won't do both batteries at the same time and even if it did, I wouldn't go there myself.

You can use a 12 volt battery charger to do one at a time and give them equal time each. 5 amps overnight would be enough to top them off well and good.

Once every two months should be adequate, check your voltage with a meter before charging to spot issues can be a most wise thing to do too.

Don't be thinking that you need to start it on a continuing basis to keep them in shape, it's an old wives tale. They do just fine charged on occasion (as above) with a battery charger and sleeping thru the winter as when it's very very cold, they just don't charge just like they don't put out the starting amps that they can in the warmth of summer. They can take and supply amps, but the internal chemistry is highly effected in that bitter cold. If you need to use it, by all means use it, but you didn't do your batteries any favors and it's not the method to keep them maintained. Charging them at five amps overnight and letting them sleep for months might be the best thing you can do. And since you say you took some amps out of them recently, I would charge them up right now.

Being a 24 volt system there isn't a common battery maintainer I know of that can do the job and because of the split 12 volt system it actually is, I would be afraid of blowing the central fuse to ground that makes the two 12 volt circuits work together properly. I don't see an easy hands off solution.
 
"because of the split 12 volt system it actually is, I would be afraid of blowing the central fuse to ground that makes the two 12 volt circuits work together properly. I don't see an easy hands off solution".

Unless it's been updated to the later-series 4020 circuitry a 4010 does NOT have the "central fuse".

The (-) cable from the RH battery and the (+) cable from the LH battery are both directly connected to the chassis.

Two 12 Volt "battery maintainers" can be connected, one to each individual battery, with them still connected to the tractor, and will keep the batteries charged indefinitionally.

I've done that for YEARS, with an older 24 Volt 4020.

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(quoted from post at 12:00:16 01/21/22)
"because of the split 12 volt system it actually is, I would be afraid of blowing the central fuse to ground that makes the two 12 volt circuits work together properly. I don't see an easy hands off solution".

Unless it's been updated to the later-series 4020 circuitry a 4010 does NOT have the "central fuse".

The (-) cable from the RH battery and the (+) cable from the LH battery are both directly connected to the chassis.

Two 12 Volt "battery maintainers" can be connected, one to each individual battery, with them still connected to the tractor, and will keep the batteries charged indefinitionally.

I've done that for YEARS, with an older 24 Volt 4020.
J
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If Jd engineers had kept designing an engine with twice as many cylinders to start it, they would have show up with a v12 on the 4010.
Instead, they got this very simple idea of a 24v system! Great !
 
LD, good questions:

Can I charge the batteries with both batteries connected with a 12 volt charger? Will that charge both batteries?

The 12 Volt batteries are connected in series to get the 24 volts,

YES you could charge ONE 12 volt battery at a time using a 12 volt charger......

NO you cant charge both at once connected in series unless you had a 24 volt charger

Since one battery is positive grounded and the other neg grounded use caution when connecting the charger and dont sit it on the tractors frame/metal

Make sure each battery cell has electrolyte above the plates before charging

John T
 
Long, slow charges on each battery will work best if they are low and haven't been recently charged. They must be even in voltage for the system to work properly. Load test each battery when fully charged. Mismatched batteries will be a problem. Check charging voltage with the engine running. You should see at least 26 to 27 volts across the generator or alternator with the engine running at about 1,500 rpm's.
 
Good recommendation! If you grew up around these 24 volt systems,they are not that difficult to understand
or work on. Never understood why people thought or made them to be so difficult. Hook charger or two
chargers directly to batteries Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative. Leave them connected while
charging. Good advice. DW
 

I think what causes JD 24 volt electrical to be misunderstood by people unfamiliar with that system is that there are 2 circuits for lights/accessories (A which is ""negative ground"" & B which is ""positive ground"'') while starter,generator & regulator are
''"ungrounded & insulated from tractor frame"". Attaching electrical accessories must be equal for each battery for charging system to operate correctly & maintain proper battery charge level.

With advent of better,more powerful 12 volt starters I see no reason why anyone having problems with the JD UNIQUE 24 volt system would not choose to switch to 12 volt system. I understand the JD UNIQUE 24 volt system better than the average tractor owner & I'd certainly change a 24 volt system giving problems over to 12 volt system.

That's my opinion & I'm stickling to it. :lol:
 

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