new diesel owner/dead battery

Bill from MA · Jun 23, 2008

I knew I was creating a problem but it couldn't be helped.

We bought a JD2040 18 months ago, drove it a bit, added 4 gallons of fuel and winter fuel stabilizer and it has been parked in a garage since.

Now I need to start it. Not even a "click" when I turn the key. After 20 minutes on jumper cables from my Suburban it turns over for a few seconds and then I'm getting a "click". I am not familiar enough with diesels to know if it's close to starting or not.

Do I not fight it and just buy new batteries?
Is it possible to get a charger on it to get it started?

I assume I'll have this problem every time if I only use it once or twice a year.

Will I need to remove the batteries and take good care of them? I have a Battery Tender (maintainer), but we never went back to the house to use it.

This must be a common maintenance issue with a lot of equipment. What do you all do? I can't drive it once a month as it is 3 hours away.

Thanks,
Bill

Anonymous-0 · Jun 23, 2008

Anything used very little- diesel or not- unhook the battery cables- both ends. Wire brush them, Clean the battery terminals. Re-charge the batteries on a low charge, maybe a day. Tenders are ok to leave on for extended times, don't do anything for a quick start. Jumping is not much better. You need cranking amps to spin a diesel, and that works if the connection between the post and the clamp is good. Won't be after sitting a year and a half.

thurlow · Jun 23, 2008

Sounds like you're using a set of $9.95 booster cables; should start within a few minutes with a HEAVY set of cables; a charger may.......or may not... help, depending on the condition of the battery. A 225 amp.....or better...... charger will probably start it. A battery tender/minder would work, but personally, I wouldn't like the idea of leaving it hooked up all the time while I was 3 hours away.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 23, 2008

Put a slow charger (10 amp)on it and give it a 24 hr charge, then try starting it. Maybe your batteries will recover, maybe not, sulfation from sitting discharged may have ruined them.

Keep the batterys (tops /terminals) clean of dirt /acid with a water baking soda solution, and keep a float charger /battery maintainer on it to keep the batterys full charged. I like the BatteryMINDer sold by northern tool co, as it also prevents /removes sulfation. No need to remove the batteries.

Bill from MA · Jun 23, 2008

>>Sounds like you're using a set of $9.95 booster cables; should start within a few minutes with a HEAVY set of cables;

I bought the heaviest pair they (local Agway) had. I think they were 6 gauge.

>>a charger may.......or may not... help, depending on the condition of the battery. A 225 amp.....or better...... charger will probably start it.

I started out with a 300amp Black&Decker portable jumper/inflator. Home Depot sales guy tells me they come charged. Now that I am reading the manual more carefully, its 1/2 charged and requires a 24 hour charge before use.

>>Anything used very little- diesel or not- unhook the battery cables- both ends. Wire brush them, Clean the battery terminals. .............You need cranking amps to spin a diesel, and that works if the connection between the post and the clamp is good. Won't be after sitting a year and a half.

So I think the next time I get up there I will remove the batteries and clean them up and then try the charger/jump starting.

I wasn't sure if jumping from a gas truck would turn a diesel or not.

Thanks,
Bill

Bill from MA · Jun 23, 2008

>>I wasn't sure if jumping from a gas truck would turn a diesel or not.

So if everything is clean and in working order then I should have no problem quickly jump starting the tractor from my truck, is that right?

Bill

Bus Driver · Jun 23, 2008

Probably the battery(ies) are sulphated to the extent that they will never again accept enough charge to start the tractor.

ericlb · Jun 23, 2008

as others have said clean terminals are a must for a diesel, second how old are the batteries? look for a date punched on them if more than a few years old replace them, also look at the sides of each battery if they are bowed out, slightly they have been overcharged and are no good,if it were me i would go buy new good quality batteries, that way you know what you've got, and a main disconect switch for them, this will allow you to isolate the batteries when your done using your tractor by simply turning a switch, to jump start a diesel you need at a minimum 4 gauge cables, 2 would be even better, and 1 gauge welding cable will fire that booger right off, even from your 12 volt pickup battery, its all in the amount of amps you can carry thru the cable

GordoSD · Jun 23, 2008

Save yourself a lot of trouble and do the job right, in the right sequence.
1) Remove the batteries. Charge each one for 12 hours with 10 amps of 6 volt charger.
2) Take the batteries to dealer and have them tested. Repace as necessary. Mine are 5 years old, in SD, are outside all winter.
3) Clean all the cables, spray with the terminal spray. Replace with heavy cables and terminal from tractor dealer as necessary
4) When you leave it, disconnect the cable from one battery to graound
4) Install batteries and fire it up.
5) When you leave it discnnect the cable to ground.

Gordo

showcrop · Jun 23, 2008

I can't say enough good about the solar battery maintainers that I got about 2 and a half years ago.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jun 23, 2008

It will jump start easily if the batteries are good, just discharged. If the batteries are bad, you're never going to get enough amps through jumper cables to get it started. If you don't want or have time to fool with the batteries, just pull start it.

twomen · Jun 23, 2008

Our diesel moving trucks use 3 larger 12volt batterys hooked + to + and - to -. On occasion I have to jump start them (headlights, 2 way radios, etc. left on) I use my old "66 Chev. p/u and a real good set of cables (NAPA) - of course all the connections are clean and tight - I let the old truck run for about a 1/2hr. and the big trucks usually fire right up. I have newer trucks to jump from but the old truck has no electronic stuff to worry about.

Larry D. · Jun 23, 2008

You got that right...Those SOLAR 12V Chargers, are ALOT better tyhan My Memory to think to Charge them . I have a Mahindra E-350 DI that is as delta always says it is ready when I am!Just put it on there and forget it, it' won't over charge, At least i never had on to do so.. Larry KF4LKU

thurlow · Jun 23, 2008

See ericlb's post above; of course, it's possible to start a tractor/vehicle with a bad battery.....using jumper cables. It's also possible to start one that the battery has been removed from; just gotta have decent cables and clamps.

dave guest · Jun 23, 2008

18 months means over winter. If batts were dead, they froze up and 90 percent change are no good. Buy some and maintain them. Probably shouldn't let diesel sit without running that long. Also fuel may be contaminated with water.

trucker40 · Jun 23, 2008

The best thing to do if you have trouble starting anything is this,clean the terminals.If you have time charge them up.If they take a charge,test them.If they are bad replace them.With clean terminals and hot batteries,it should crank good,and for quite a while.If it doesnt crank good,and runs down quick,you may need to rebuild the starter.If you hook good jumper cables up and it doesnt crank,either the cables arent making a good connection,or the alternator is not putting out much,the batteries are bad,or real dead.You might have to charge it 30 minutes or more to get it cranking good if the batteries are completely dead.Dont just buy new batteries until you charge them and test them.If they are around 3 to 5 years old,theres a good chance they could be bad.

kyplowboy · Jun 24, 2008

Were is my idea for your situation. If you are only going to use it for a day or two a year and it's 3 hours away, think about this. (some on here will say you can't use a truck battery on a tractor but I have never bought a big "tractor" battery, this one my "have" to have two I don't know, all I have every had were 12 volt tractors that did fine with a pick up battery.) Make sure your truck has post terminals, if it only has side screw in jobs, get one with both screw in jobs and post type. Drive your truck to the tractor, take battery out of the truck and put it in the tractor. If you think the alt may be bad and your tractor will run the battery down, get a "hot box" and put in the truck before you leave the house. Dad got one of them things a few years ago and I use the fire out of it. It is alot quicker to get stuff started than jumper cables, is easy to carry around, and charges back up quick when pluged in. If your battery is where you are the other 364 days a year, that is one thing you don't have to worry about punks walking off with from the "farm".

Good luck

Dave

new diesel owner/dead battery

Bill from MA

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Anonymous-0

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thurlow

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Anonymous-0

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Bill from MA

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Bill from MA

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Bus Driver

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ericlb

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GordoSD

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showcrop

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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twomen

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Larry D.

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thurlow

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dave guest

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trucker40

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kyplowboy

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