400 won't start without battery charger

Evan From IA · Jul 25, 2012

The 400 has a brand new battery (6v) but it wont crank over the tractor, or engage the starter when I turn the key. It will only do those things when I have the battery charger on it. What could be the reason for this? The tractor was sitting for 4 years, and I just got it running today. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

davediehl@hotmail.com · Jul 25, 2012

Check your cables and connections. A dirty ground can make you scratch your head for hours.

Harold Evans · Jul 25, 2012

Check the voltage on your new battery. I've seen some 'new' batteries that don't put out the correct voltage. Better yet, put a load tester on it. If you don't have one, you can take the battery into just about any auto parts store and they will put a load test on it for you -- usually at no cost to you.

I agree with the other comment on making sure you have tight and bright connections, especially at circuit grounding points.

IAtractorKid · Jul 25, 2012

Replace your battery cables. Connections may be corroded but the cables could be corroded internally as well. Be sure to get large cables for a 6v system... OO gauge

John T · Jul 25, 2012

First of all is that "new" battery a good high CCA unit???? or some light little wimpy thing and even if new its easy n free to have the place you bought it run a quick load test just to be sure.....

Next thing Id do if the battery is okay is remove, clean n wire brush shiny, and re atatch each n every battery and starter and starter switch/solenoid,,,and ESPECIALLY THE GROUND CONNECTIONS.

For a 6 volt and especially a tractor that big I prefer at least 0 better yet 00 Gauge battery n starter n ground cables.....

Insure battery is okay,,,,,,RE DO ALLLLLLLL CONNECTIONS

John T

The Red · Jul 25, 2012

One of my Hs had that same problem. Replaced the original battery cables then stripped the insulation off one of the old ones. Rusted the entire length of the cable!

Dean Olson · Jul 25, 2012

That was the biggest problem I had was finding a quality 6v battery. Even the ones I bought that worked fine initially didn't last more than couple years. I have some 10 year old 12v batteries that are still working fine.

In addition to what the others have said:
a proper 6v battery for a 400 should take up nearly the whole battery box. If it only takes up 1/2 it's amperage is too small. You'll typically have to special order the big one. The 6v batteries that our local Tracor Supply carry are the small ones.

Farmallhal · Jul 25, 2012

In addition to what has already been suggested run your ground cable to one of the starter mounting bolts at the tractor frame. I've had very good luck with 6 volt batteries but get the best ones I can find. I also use nothing but 00 cables with soldered terminals and use those external tooth washed at each connection to get a good bite into the metal. All connections should be bright and shinny clean, Hal.

Nebraska Cowman · Jul 25, 2012

There is a reason I told you to convert it to 12 volt. Everything has to be perfect to start on 6 volt. And @ 60 years old "perfect" is a rare commodity. Good luck.

teddy52food · Jul 25, 2012

Leave that charger on the battery overnight & try again. Just because it is new doesn't mean it is charged up right. Check the voltage when trying to start . Should hold up close to 5 if it is good. It takes voltage to make a starter spin.

rhtx55 · Jul 25, 2012

I would try cleaning the connections at the ignition switch & solenoid on top of the starter, after making sure the battery cable ends are shiny bright also. Any corrosion robs a 6 volt system of much needed amperage. High quality copper battery cables double ought in size usually help a lot, a welder friend of mine offered me some of his discarded cable he had lying around & it works great. I soldered new terminal ends on them both.
The larger cables offer less resistance. Any wire you need to replace, go with 10 ga copper, less problems down the road.
I would go with the highest cranking amp 6 volt you can find, the heavier the battery the better, this means the lead plates inside are either bigger, or there is more of them.
The best ( and most expensive) I have found, BUT at least you never have to worry about rust in the battery box again :
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/6V_121207.pdf

El Toro · Jul 26, 2012

Use a hydrometer and check the specific gravity in each cell and compare the readings. Should see around 1.275 on a fully charged battery. You may have a weak battery cell. As been mentioned use 00 cables welding cables are ideal for battery cables use soldered lugs and don't make the cables any longer than necessary. Clean all surfaces until shiny including where your battery is grounded. If one battery cell has a reading of 1.100 you have a dead cell. Hal

Leroy · Jul 26, 2012

I am no mechanick but the key here is when you have the battery charger hooked up where are the charger leads hooked to? Are they hooked to the battery cables at the post or elseware? If hooked at the post then your wireing is OK or the charger curent would not go thru either and that the battery is either not making contact with the clamp or the battery is bad. Now if you are hooking to someplace other than the battery ends on the cables then you have a wire problem. To check for that hook the ground to battery and try using the spot where you are getting it to start, then do the same proceduar with the positive post and it will tell you if you have a positive wire problem or a ground problem. Charger hooked directly to starterand not using starter button does it crank better and if battery ignition will it start that way, a week battery would provide enough power for just the points but not starter and points.

400 won't start without battery charger

Evan From IA

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