Super A Battery Box

I'm getting a little frustrated here.

Twice now I've set out to install the expensive new battery box parts I bought from OEM on my Super A in the hopes that it will help to firm up the slightly wobbly steering post. Twice now I've been sent packing with a black eye and my tail between my legs...

Both blind nuts are stripped out. I was able to slip a nut behind one, and rethread the other with 3/8 NC.

Had the box almost installed, but now the battery won't clear the bolts! I can install the right panel, wedge the battery in, but now I can't get the bolt into the instrument panel on the left side because the battery is too tall...

I guess this is why most Super As I see don't have any battery box at all...

Wonderin' if the height of the battery isn't at the root of your problem. My SuperC has the two-sided battery box, but I'm not sure what you're boltin' to on the SA. OEM lists those side panels as fittin' both the SA and the SC.

Where does the ground wire from the battery attach? On the SC, it grounds through the right rear upper bolt holding the battery box, so it has to be lower than, or at least just above, the top of the battery to be able to make that connection. I have no problem snakin the battery in thorugh the Touch Control rods to get it in place, but that ground cable is so short as to be almost rigid, and is the biggest pain in the neck.

I'll go out and look on some battery sites and see if maybe there's two different Group (i.e., case size) numbers for the 6v and let you know what I find.

On my C and Super C I had to put the battery in the box on the ground and install as one unit. Kind of a pain. I see why so many tractors have no batt box.
Paul

I went out for a look at mine, and it's a run of the mill Group 1, which is 9-3/8" tall. Still short enough to run the ground cable over the top of it to the bolt to ground, it, though.

Only other thought for the moment . . . Are the bolts that secure the two sides of the box at the top rear at different heights? Can you mount the left side of the box first and slip the battry in from the right side and then get to the bolt on the right side?

The battery box sides are a little differant than the originals but they will work if you ordered both sides. The top is correct from OEM but the little clips on the sides are down further than the original. The top is correct enough to work but you might want to cut a little off the T bolts where it doesnt stick up as far.

A 12V battery will fit in the box just fine. You just need a differant battery. Take the battery box width, length and height measurements and buy a new battery that will fit.

Another problem your going to see is that the battery post is going to be close to the "blind" bolts. Wedge some rubber or wooden wedges in there to make the battery tight.

One other thing you might want to address now is that the battery is going to ride on the lip of the battery box. Cut a 1/4" piece of wood and lay on the bottom to make it flat. Cut it wide enough to fit between the battery lip/side and that will bring it up even.

BTW - I just got a new battery box lid from OEM and put it on this morning. Had one off a 140 on there but the metal clips under the lid kept getting in the way.

Did you get the one with or without rubbers?

Just had a thought... With the four-piece battery box, do the side plates hold the battery up off the torque tube, or should they line up and create a continuous flat floor for the battery box?

I think if I drill new holes in the battery box sides that would allow the battery to rest on the torque tube, I'd have plenty of space to bolt it to the instrument panel without even removing the battery.

Sitting on the tractor, you have to mount the left one first. Then slide the battery in from the right while someone holds down the clutch. Then put the right side bettery box on while you push up on it to align the holes. Then hook up the two rods.

Its really a pain and that is why most SA's dont have battery boxes.

I had the same trouble with my Farmall 230 and SA-1. To solve the problem I purchased a 6 volt Interstate battery. The model number is MT-I9L. Total cost with tax was $85.55.

I purchased the 4 piece battery box from Steiner Tractor.

Again, realizing the dimensions could very well be different betwee your tractor and mine, but I wjust went ot look, and the bottom of my battery is held up above the top of the torque tube about 3/8" by the edges on the box.

I think SA-TX may have it licked by suggesting you slip the battery in from the right. As the fog clears from my feeble memory, I seem to recall having to tilt my battery quite abit (no spill, anyway) to sneak it in under the control rods to the TC. If that is the route, once it's in there, push the battery over to make sure it will be on top of the lip on the left side of the box (it'll still be tilted little at this point), clap the right side of the box on to fit the right side of the battery, and then raise it until the holes on the bottom edge and the one at the top rear line up and bolt her in.

Dont go drilling no new holes!

If you drill new holes then the sides of the battery box will be to low for the lid to fit cause it will hit the instrument panel.

Just cut a piece of wood and lay down on the torque tube. Use 1/4 or 3/8, whatever it takes to bring it flush with the battery lip.

mkirsch: Is your new battery box one piece box with cover as original, or is it the 100,130, 140 type with two sides and a cover?

Either way, I cover this problem with 1" shorter battery than factory. In shorter, I mean less tall.