Battery Charging

Gordo83

Member
I apologize if this subject has been covered many times but ...
I would like to know if it's ok to charge the battery on my 1977 Kubota L185DT tractor while it's still connected to the electrical system. I've heard differing opinions on this subject, and thought maybe it pertained to different tractors an/or electrical systems.
Thank you.
 
As long as the battery is good, and partially charged, not stone dead, there should be no reason to disconnect it. Jim
 
Operator's manuals caution against clamping onto the negative post (assuming you're dealing with a negative ground system) while charging due to the possible presence of highly explosive hydrogen gas. Rather, you should clamp onto the chassis some distance away. This would certainly imply that there is no problem charging a battery while it is connected to the system. I've never experienced a problem doing this although my experience with charging (a Kubota M6800) has been only to top it off for cold weather starts after sitting for anywhere up to 2 months. That tractor was built nineteen years ago this month. Still on the original battery that says "Kubota" on the side of it.
 
I never have disconnected battery, as noted do not spark on battery, I unplug charger from wall during connections.
 
You are ore electronics at that age of tractor, so should have little issue. You could mess up a diode if you get the polarity wrong so it might be a good idea maybe, but shouldn’t be a problem.

Paul
 
think of it this way , its not disconnected when tractor alternator is charging it. only difference is tractor engine not running and ignition is turned off and battery is getting charge from other source.
 
Thanks folks. Appreciate the feedback.
Wasn't sure why it went dead, but I did notice my fan belt was very loose when I opened the hood. Could be it was so loose it wasn't spinning the alternator I guess.
 
thats the problem. alternators need tight belt, not like a generator that will charge with a loose belt. many times when the alt. belt is loose it will squeal due to the slipping.
 
Yes rusted! This was completely my ineptness. No excuses, as I heard the squealing, but didn't look in to it, as eventually it would stop. Poor maintenance on my part.
 
Look the belt over carefully.

Sometimes when they are run loose it wears and burns the belt.

It needs to run up on the sides of the alt pulley, not touching down in the bottom of the v.

If it's charred, cracked, worn, it may need a new one.
 
ha, tractor was talking to you and you didnt listen so tractor got even and let battery go dead. lol.
 

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