1953 Farmall Cub

Hello,

This is my first post.

My 53 Cub has always started with zero issues. Recently the battery was going bad and would only start with a battery charger hooked up to it.

Yesterday it would no longer start even with the charger hooked up.

So while cranking it with a plug out I don't think I have spark.

Later it would not even turn over with the charger hooked up.

Did I fry something trying to start it with the battery charger hooked up?

I plan to install a new battery tonight.

Thanks

Probably not. The weak battery is likely now so weak that the charger hasn't enough outpot to do the job alone. You also need to determine if the system is charging when running. The battery voltage should be About 7 if 6 volt, and about 14 to 14.4 if 12 volt. Jim

Nope. You shouldn't of hurt anything by
trying to start with charger hooked up.

Sometimes with a low enough battery, and
all the juice going to the starter for
cranking or an attempt to crank, there's
not enough juice going to the coil to throw
a spark. Kind of like everything being sent
to starter. You don't have this problem
with a fully charged battery. But a half or
less charged battery, you could run into
this.
I'm guessing you'll have spark back with a
new fully charged battery. So try that and
see.

Make sure you replace battery with same
type that it has now. If it's a 6v, replace
with a 6v. If 12v, then a 12v. And also
(this important), that you note how the
cables are hooked up in terms of + or - on
the old battery. If positive cable goes to
the ground post (positive ground), then
hook up new battery that way. But if not,
hook up as negative ground. You NEED to pay
attention to this when you unhook the old
battery. If you replace with wrong battery,
or hook up new the wrong way, you can 'FRY'
something on the charging system.

A 53 Cub was likely 6v positive ground when
new. Hard to say what it might be now.
Could of been converted to 12v or who
knows. So, you'll have to take notice of
what you got.

Clean all the connections good before installing the new battery. Let us know if that works. Bill

Thanks fellas.....I also think I flooded it trying to crank it. I had fuel dripping from the bottom of the carb.

(quoted from post at 13:04:48 09/08/23) Clean all the connections good before installing the new battery. Let us know if that works. Bill

Click to expand...

hat's where I'd start.

(quoted from post at 11:28:10 09/08/23)

Thanks fellas.....I also think I flooded it trying to crank it. I had fuel dripping from the bottom of the carb.

Click to expand...

It's not flooded unless the spark plugs are driping wet with gas.

A charger only charges the battery. A nearly flat battery with a charger attached still won't give ya a lot of cranking ability, unless it
has a start function.

Let the charger soak the battery for a few hours and go from there.

I dont know what the heck is going on.

I put the new battery in and she fired right up. YAY!

Then an hour later I went to start it and it only cranked...no start..fuel dripping from carb.

THEN i smelled something and touched the negative battery connector and it was RED HOT.

I have NEVER had a starting issue.

I see that my battery connector on the neg side is a bit frayed....when I crank it it the strands of wire actually start to glow red.

(quoted from post at 13:24:29 09/09/23) I dont know what the heck is going on.

I put the new battery in and she fired right up. YAY!

Then an hour later I went to start it and it only cranked...no start..fuel dripping from carb.

THEN i smelled something and touched the negative battery connector and it was RED HOT.

I have NEVER had a starting issue.

I see that my battery connector on the neg side is a bit frayed....when I crank it it the strands of wire actually start to glow red.

Click to expand...

That is because only a few strands are conducting the current. This is usually due to corrosion inside the terminal. Also the battery cable connectors need to be not just clean on the inside contact area but shiny clean