battery dead overnight

Bill from MA · Nov 1, 2008

I put new batteries in my JD 2040 about 2 months ago. Didn't finish mowing because it rained. Put the battery tender on the battery and left it. Came back a month later, tractor fired right up and I finished the field.

I turned off and restarted the tractor 4 or 5 times that day. Backed it into the garage and then the next morning it wouldn't start!

Thinking back I think the belt on the alternator may be loose. Was I just lucky? Could it be the alternator or does it sitting over night suggest a specific problem?

Thanks,
Bill

Ken Crisman · Nov 1, 2008

I'll probably get some nasty comments about my knowledge but here goes . I don't know about the Deeres but generally if the battery drains overnite it the VR most of the time . At least that's what I've found with my Fords in the years . HTH ! God bless, Ken

Anonymous-0 · Nov 1, 2008

next time you park it over night pull the battery cable off and then when you come back to use it hook it up if it don't start then your battery is junk but if it starts then it's the VR or you have left something on sure the key is in the off position and not on acc.

johndeereman · Nov 1, 2008

several things could be going on could have something drawing juice or batteries could have been overcharged and boiled dry bad conections not letting it charge fully just to name a few

Mike (WA) · Nov 1, 2008

Remove ground cable, charge it up. Come out at night (so you can see sparks in the dark), touch the ground cable to its terminal, and see if you get even a tiny spark. If so, you've got a little short somewhere, which will drain a battery overnight.

El Toro · Nov 1, 2008

Measure the charging voltage at the batteries with engine at 1/2 throttle or better using a volt meter. Starting the engine 4 or 5 times shouldn't kill the battery. If the charging voltage looks ok I would use a hydrometer and check the specific gravity in each battery cell and compare the readings. Should be 1.260 or better and close to one another. Hal

sasedivy · Nov 1, 2008

Heres a couple of ways to check for battery draw.

1) If your DVOM (digital volt ohm meter) supports current draw measurement put the meter in series between the negative battery post & it's terminal, the draw should be lower than 30 Milli amps or 30 thousands of an amp.

2) If you don't have a meter handy a 12v test lamp will work, install the test lamp the same as the meter, if the lamp lights even dimly you have a significant draw that over a short period of time will drain the battery.

Once you establish that you have a system draw start unplugging devices until the draw is eliminated, about 2 months ago the alternator on my car failed, by removing the B+ battery cable reduced it to normal.

BTW, be sure that you don't over load the DVOM as most meters have a fused 10 amp maximum rating.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 1, 2008

bad diodes in the alt. will draw down a battery overnite.

buickanddeere · Nov 2, 2008

If a belt has slipped to any degree. The surface will be glazed and the amount of tension to now make it drive will wear the water pump and alternator bearings.

battery dead overnight

Bill from MA

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Ken Crisman

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Anonymous-0

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johndeereman

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Mike (WA)

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El Toro

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sasedivy

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Anonymous-0

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buickanddeere

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