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Battery or alternator problem?

O

old

Well-known Member
Location
Camdenton Missouri
So a few weeks ago I used my Case VAC to rake hay. It started up just fine and ran like it should have but I did notice the amp gauge kept reading around 30 amps charge. Yesterday I went to start it and all it would do is spin over very slow but not fast enough to start. I grabbed the jump box and it fired right up. Amp gauge read around 30 amps but didn't go that high till it had been running for about 15 minutes. So is the problem the battery or the alternator?
Thanks
 
Old,
This meter will tell you everything you need to know about condition of a battery and charging system.
cvphoto105294.jpg

It more than just a voltmeter.
 
And I'll bet it isn't cheap. Of course this is also the time of year I am parking the tractor for winter. It was just one of those things yesterday where I used it to rake the hay and shut it down and went to start it back up and it wouldn't spin over even after running for 1.5 hours.
 
SV,
That means he would have to remove battery and take it to town.
Gas isn't cheap. Time to drive to town isn't cheap.
Still doesn't tell if charging system is working.
Hard to fix things without proper tools.
 
After sitting for 2 hours, check battery voltage at the starter switch to ground Less then 6.1 if 6v or 12.3 if 12v means the battery isn't holding a charge. It could be low on water, or have a failed cell. Check the avtual charge voltage when running. 7 to 7.2 if 6v, and 14 to 14.6 if 12v. Charging at 30 amps is probably excessive if for a prolonged time. Voltage readings are in the driver's seat. Jim
 
I haven't taken the time as of yet to check it with my VOM to see what is going on. I know the battery is a cheap Orscheln's universal battery and probably 3 plus years old. Plus at this time I have to hot wire it to run due to the ignition switch going bad. Plan to put it in the shop to fix the switch problem now that hay has been done. Was going to unhook rake yesterday and that is when I found that it would not start again due to not turning over well for the 2nd time
 
Did you check the voltage across the battery when it was showing 30a?

If it was up above 16 v, something is wrong in the alternator.

If it was normal or lower, try a different battery.

But keep an eye on it though, if it's intermittent, it might start overcharging again and cook the battery.
 
Haven't check voltage or anything else at this point. I had hay down yesterday and needed to get it done and after I had the raking done I noticed the problem with it not starting again after it had been running for about 1.5 hours
 
Rich, I also hate where the factory put the batteries on a VAC.
I made this and bolted it on and put a knife switch on for complete safety when stored under the shed.
I get this battery for about $50 and they last me 3 or 4 years.
Also put an extra step for this old 69 year old to climb up on.
It's not original, but it makes it easier for me.

Richard
cvphoto105319.jpg


cvphoto105320.jpg
 
Forgot to say, my Delco alternator starts charging at about 30 amps and drops back to about 10 in a few minutes.
 
This alternator is working backward of that. Starts at around 10amp then jumps to around 30 and stays there. Battery is cheap and about 3 maybe 4 years old. I have started buying the Walmart batteries that are around $50. This VAC has the Stockton hitch which sort of makes it easy to get on from the back
 
Yes mowed it Saturday and bale it yesterday. Don't know that it was worth it though. Took about 1.5 hours to cut it and about that to rake it and then another hour to bale it and got all of 3 bales
 
I tend to think the same after I found another battery that I got around the same time and is the same type and it too is dead. Had it on a charger and then 24 hours later short across the terminals and get zero spark say bad
 


Extended 30 amp charge but still flat is simply a bad battery. If ya don't have the tools to trouble shoot you have to go to town.
 
New load tester, a sort.
What do you use to short out the battery???
I shorted out a battery with jumper cable, battery blew up.
That was a hard one to explain to DAD.
Lucky, I didn't get acid in my face. Went all over the car.
 
Hate to ask you to spend more money, however Harbor Freight has a battery tester for less than 20 bucks.
I have run over mine, pulled it back to halfway straight, and it still works.
Sure comes in handy without spending a lot of money. Just hook it to your battery in vehicle or out of it. 10 seconds is all you need to see if it is good, marginal, or bad.
Probably the best 20 dollars I have spent. DOUG
 
(quoted from post at 21:45:46 10/20/21) Had a battery that had been off the charger for a couple of days that I checked like you did. Couldn't hear for two days after it exploded and that batter tested stone cold dead with a meter. It can and will happen. Was not attacking you or any one else. Just stating facts. I don't say much but the truth. That is why you don't see me post a lot. Was taught that if you can't tell the shut up and that is why I don't post too much. So if I have offended anybody then I guess I don't need to post anymore.
Click to expand...


ArleninOr, don't let Old's attack keep you from posting. You are far from the first YT member that he has attacked in this way. While Old posts mostly in response to questions and requests for help he has also posted numerous times about his problems with his machines and vehicles. These posts usually show a complete lack of preventive maintenance, and usually result in some criticism which Old doesn't usually take very well.
 
Hopefully Arlen doesn't get into my situation where I am not allowed to reply to his posts anymore because I live in another country, so I reply to replies which I think is allowable. Never could find his rule on the YT rule list, he made it up himself.
 
Well since after I get it started again it will go to the shop to have a new ignition switch put in then go to the machine shed for the winter I'll worry about it later. I am pretty sure it is the battery
 
Showcrop, yea seen it many times over the years. Usually it is the truth that is posted that will upset him. That and too many recreational
or moonlight strolls. I may just go the way of others as I have a lot of medical issues right now to play kid games. Wat do they say,
Simple pleasures for simple minds? Later all.
 
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