Super MTA dead battery Question

Farmall Charlie · Jun 16, 2020

hello

I got two Super MTAs up and running. On the one that runs better I have had troubles keeping the battery charged. I try to run it 1 time every week or so. Any ideas what is draining the battery.

DeltaRed · Jun 16, 2020

Lots of things it cold be. Back feeding from the Voltage regulator,generator,or alternator.Bad ignition switch....Or even a bad battery. get a simple test light and do some trouble shooting.

Farmall Charlie · Jun 16, 2020

thanks

I got a voltage meter I can use and the battery is practically brand new. If it was the switch how would you check it.

DeltaRed · Jun 16, 2020

Acctually you need a 'continuity tester'.Just like a test light,only with a battery. You check for current flow.Or lack of.Current flowing where there should not be.

wore out · Jun 16, 2020

Disconnect one of the battery cables and connect an unpowered test light that has a real, small incandescent lamp inside (no batteries, no LED, no buzzer, just a simple test light with a low wattage incandescent lamp) in series between the battery cable and the post it was removed from. (Either cable works for this.)

If the test light lights or even glows faintly you have a current draw that is draining the battery.

Disconnect various components one at a time (generator, regulator, ignition coil, light switch, etc., etc., whatever it's equipped with. When the test light goes dark you have found your parasitic draw.

On the other hand, if diagnosing this sort of thing is not your strong suite there's nothing wrong with slipping a battery cable off during while it's sitting unused, or if the "Correct Police" will allow, install a battery disconnect.

used red MN · Jun 17, 2020

In my experience the likelihood of a bad switch is very low although it can happen. If your switch was the
problem your tractor would most likely not even shut off. If your tractor has the original generator the problem is
possibly in the regulator. If it has had an alternator installed another possibility is either an internal problem in the alternator or it
has simply been wired incorrectly. Or as others have suggested it may be another less common issue. Get a tester as wore out has suggested. I have not had the one in the link in
my hands but it looks like it has an incandescent bulb. The one you need cannot have an LED bulb that will be
to sensitive and will give you false readings. Someone is going to chime in here and say it is not a false reading
which they are correct. But for explanation at the knowledge level you need to do this test it is just easier to say that than to split the required hairs so to speak.
Example test light

Farmall Charlie · Jun 17, 2020

Thanks to all of you.

BarnyardEngineering · Jun 17, 2020

+1 on the test light. $5 at Harbor Freight as I recall.

I've had a meter for years, "Oh I have a meter," but the test light is SO MUCH EASIER. For one thing it's compact, you're not juggling the meter and two probes; you've got one probe, the other end clamps on so it's hands free. Plus you have an easy visual yes/no cue; you don't care how many volts or amps or whatever.

Good luck on your battery draw. On an MTA you've only got a handful of possibilities. It's not like one of these new tractors, or even one built in the 1960's for that matter.

Russ from MN · Jun 17, 2020

We have a Farmall C that had a similar problem, I found the insulation chewed off some wires in behind the ammeter, and a mouse nest.

55 50 Ron · Jun 17, 2020

How old is the battery? It might not be an external drain that is causing the problem.

55 50 Ron · Jun 17, 2020

Oh, flame me out as I didn't read carefully enough. I see the battery is near new. Sorry.

Super MTA dead battery Question

Farmall Charlie

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DeltaRed

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Farmall Charlie

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DeltaRed

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wore out

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used red MN

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Farmall Charlie

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BarnyardEngineering

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Russ from MN

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55 50 Ron

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55 50 Ron

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