Super A Battery Dead

Anonymous-0 · Jul 2, 2012

I bought a new 6 volt battery for my Super A about 3 months ago. Went to start it yesterday and the battery is dead. I know I didn't leave anything on. What would be discharging the battery so quickly? How to test the electrical system to see if there something that's discharging the battery. Trying to charge the battery now. If if won't take a charge, could I have purchase a defective battery?

Thanks for the help,
John

mkirsch · Jul 2, 2012

Certainly it could be a defective battery, but there is the possibility that a contact stuck inside the voltage regulator and discharged your battery.

The way to tell if it's defective is to disconnect it from the tractor and see if it goes dead on its own.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 2, 2012

I just started charging the battery thinking it was dead. It read 5.5 volts on the meter. But when I tried starting the tractor, I got nothing. Wonder if I have something wrong with the starter. It did nothing when I engaged the starter.

Thanks,
John

Cue P. · Jul 2, 2012

Did you try bypassing or replacing the "kill" switch? On two occasions i've had that switch be defective and/or worn out.

ken house · Jul 2, 2012

meter should read 6+ volts without any load. attach charger and then retry starting.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 2, 2012

Thanks, I'll jump over that switch after I get the battery charged. Maybe it's just the switch.

John

teddy52food · Jul 2, 2012

The starter should work with the switch on or off.

Bob M · Jul 2, 2012

John - That sounds like a bad battery (a good battery at rest will show 6.6 volts).

Another test: Stick your voltmeter across the battery terminals and watch while you hit the starter. If the voltage drops to near 0, the battery is no good.

Note: Even a new battery can be ruined by running it down fully flat. So even with another new battery you may still have have a problem (stuck relay in the voltage regulator) that needs attention.

Janicholson · Jul 2, 2012

A new battery will often start and run a small tractor for a month. Especially if it is not used very much. If it charges when running (on the amp meter) then as discussed, the cutout points in the regulator may have stuck closed. Disconnect the battery while charging it (at the negative terminal post, assuming it is positive ground as from the factory) to isolate it from possible drains. It should be charging above 7 volts, but less than 8 volts. measured across the posts.
When charged, with the lights off ,battery still disconnected, and ignition button pushed in, measure across from the negative post to the negative terminal for voltage, If you get less than one tenth volt, or nothing, it has no drain. If you get battery volts 6+, there is a short in the system possibly the cutout contacts. Jim
BobMs

JohnTs help

gene bender · Jul 2, 2012

Your SA should have a 6v pos ground regulator so if when you changed the battery and changed the ground to Neg you probably fried the reg and that could sure run the battery down. Did you clean all connections when installing the new batt

Anonymous-0 · Jul 2, 2012

Gene,

Hooked the new battery up with positive ground like original and polarized per instructions I got from this forum. Cleaned connections when I installed new battery. It fired right up and I drove it around the farm. Then the tractor sat for a month without use. This is when nothing happened when I tried to start it. Didn't have an volt meter on hand so I removed the battery and brought it back to my house which is an hour away from tractor location.

Thanks,
John

gene bender · Jul 2, 2012

You can disconnect the ground cable and put a voltmeter in series if it reads batt voltage you do have something letting batt voltage thru. Could be the starter sw on top of the starter but ive never had any problems with that. Anothere check would be to disconnect the batt wire on the reg and again put a meter in series from that lead to the batt terminal that would show the reg is the culprit.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 2, 2012

Thanks Gene,

I'll try that.

John

Super A Battery Dead

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