exploding battery

realolman · Jan 24, 2011

I recently bought a 300 u... the battery sits right between your legs.

I talked to a guy today who said he had a battery on one of those explode right between his legs. fortunately it was cold, and the guy had on carhartt coveralls which pretty much disintegrated when washed.

His story kind of unsettled me....I know that batteries can explode... they give off gas that will ignite.... but why would a battery explode in cold weather? Why would a battery explode during starting or operation of the tractor?

Guy I talked to built a battery box behind the seat.... don't sound like a half bad idea after hearing his story.

teddy52food · Jan 24, 2011

A loose connection or short to ground. Anything that causes a spark can blow them wnen they are charging.

Nebraska Cowman · Jan 24, 2011

You can get hit by lightning or bit by a
rattlesnake too. And we kill about one person a
day in an auto wreck in this state but nobody
stays home. Did the battery in your car ever blow
up? Yes, batteries will explode if there is
hydrogen gas present (from charging) and a spark
to ignite it. Believe me I know all about it. I
had one explode on the work bench one time when I
was using the bench grinder next to it. Yeah I
know. But the battery charger had been next to the
grinder for years without a problem. We moved the
grinder.

Bob M · Jan 24, 2011

I had a nearly new battery explode on my Minnie Mo U a couple years ago.

Temperature had been in the low 20's overnight; the tractor had been warming up unattended about 5 minutes when the battery let go. Fortunately no one was nearby when it blew (the battery sat exposed beneath the gas tank)

Problem turned out to be a bad voltage regulator causing severe overcharging the battery. The source of the spark to set it off however I could never determine.

I now have the battery inside a vented marine-style plastic battery box. Figure should it blow again the box will contain the acid and flying bits of battery.

DeltaRed · Jan 24, 2011

I had one blow on the way to work on morning.sounded like a bomb under the hood

Anonymous-0 · Jan 24, 2011

I have heared if they are frozen and the motor is cranked , after running a few minutes the battery can explode I have never had this to happen in 60 years of operating motor vehicles.

John M · Jan 25, 2011

I guess Ive either never seen a 300u before, or Ive never paid it much attention, but isnt there a cover over the battery? Never saw an IH battery box that didnt cover the battery enough to keep something like that from happening?

Farmallhal · Jan 25, 2011

John, a Farmall and International 240 does not have a battery box which encloses the whole battery but only a hold down cover over the top. That is the design from the factory and the way it's shown in the parts catalog. Even then the cover is something that can rarely ever be seen on a 240 trator. How do I know, as I've searched almost everywhere for a cover with no luck, Hal.

Janicholson · Jan 25, 2011

The hydrogen oxygen mix in the space above the electrolyte is a perfect mix of fuel and oxidizer. The three most common ignition sources are (from my experience): internal plate or connector fractures or defects causing arcing above the """water""" line, A corroded post to cable end connection that sparks when starting current is passed through it, or a cable in a battery box rubbing the metal of the case. On a IH utility of several models and years ther was no "box", just the cheesy lid as noted. A plastic marine battery box is a good idea that even looks good. Jim

John M · Jan 25, 2011

Never saw a 240 up close so Ill take your work for it.

Farmallhal · Jan 25, 2011

John, if you ever see a Farmall 240 battery cover up close and you don't need it please let me know. I think there must be an abundance of hens teeth for every existing cover for those tractors, Hal.

FC Andy · Jan 25, 2011

So, If your battery is low on acid, This could increase your chances of explosion? Dad and I blew one up in the shop years ago, on a Cub Cadet at probably 20 degrees in the middle of winter. Charged battery, Still had to use the boost on the charger. It started and the battery blew at the same time. It stayed Running! We picked up pieces of plastic out of corners for years. Luckily, the only things hurt were Dad's and mine coats.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2011

Talking about strange places to put the battery. I own a 2003 Buick Lesabre, looked for the battery and it is not under the hood, but under the back seat. It has to vent through the floor and seems like a long way from the front. A friend of mine has a Cadillac and the battery must have leaked and was corroding the floor when he replaced the battery.

mkirsch · Jan 26, 2011

If exploding batteries on tractors were a problem, you'd hear about it a lot more.

This was an isolated incident.

Surely some combination of neglected maintenance and bad luck came together to cause this.

In the grand scheme of things, worrying about exploding batteries should rank right up there with worrying about being hit by a falling block of frozen urine dropped from an airplane.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 26, 2011

The older style battery that is vented are notorious gassers, I had a irate customer come in blaming us for his battery exploding, he always had a lit cigar & when he checked on his battery under the floor boards in old pickup it blew up in his face, felt bad about it but wasnt something we had any control over.

exploding battery

realolman

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teddy52food

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Nebraska Cowman

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Bob M

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DeltaRed

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Anonymous-0

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John M

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Farmallhal

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Janicholson

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John M

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Farmallhal

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FC Andy

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Anonymous-0

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mkirsch

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Anonymous-0

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