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Charging a very old battery

Z

Zachary Hoyt

Well-known Member
I recently bought a Super C at auction and figured that since it had been in the barn for many years it would need a new 6V battery, especially since the ignition switch was on when I first saw the tractor. When I checked the battery it showed 0.15V on my cheap multimeter. I took it out of the tractor and looked at it to make sure it looked okay and then began charging it with my little cheap charger set to 6V 2A. At first it showed as high as 6.47 volts and then for the last hour or so the voltage declined and now it is reading around 5.91 but does not seem to be falling any more. The battery has a Central Tractor sticker on it with a punch card on top for month and year, but the year is indicated only by one digit, in this case 4. I am guessing this must be 1994 since I think CT was closed by 04. the price sticker on the battery says $44.99. Is continuing to charge the battery a good idea or am I doing something dumb? Any advice will be much appreciated.
Zach
 
Continuing to charge an 18 year old battery will not further damage the battery and probably will not damage your charger but will not rejuvenate the battery either.

Dean
 
You are talking an 18 year old battery. I doubt if you will get it to take a full charge and if it does it most likley will not hold a charge. If your in an area that gets cold the battery has proability been froze.
 
Have you checked the water levels in each cell and used a hydrometer to test the state of charge in each cell? Water levels rise a fair amount as a battery gains charge.

A discharged battery will usually freeze in the winter and bulge out the sides. The freezing kills the battery by breaking off plates inside or even crack the battery case.

My guess is the ignition switch was accidentally or intentionally left on by someone at the auction. I'd continue to slow charge the battery for several days. I brought one old battery back to holding a charge by doing that.

Enjoy your new C.
 
Hello Zachary Hoyt,
Check the electrolyte level, and make sure all the plates are covered. While a battery is charging the voltage will keep going up, after it is fully charged the voltage will start to go down. Stop charging the battery now!
If the 6.47V was the reading of the battry soon after the charger was put on, chances are it is bad. But if it charged to the 6.47 volts after a couple of hours it is probably good.
Check the voltage after the charger has been removed for awhile. Note the voltage and the ambient temperatue.
At 70 degrees F it should read a voltage of at least 6.3V.
Guido.
 
just tried the same thing on a 10 year old 12 volt garden tractor battery,had like 1.5 volts,put it on 2amps for 20 hours only made it to 5 volts and was getting hot.It was worth a try. Bill
 
Thank you all for the advice. I had figured it would be bulged out but when I got it out of the battery box it wasn't, so I didn't know what to think. Larry, the Super C pictures are on the Farmall forum, on about page 3 of classic view, I think.
Zach
 
(quoted from post at 21:42:37 06/25/12) It may go Ka-Boom if you keep tinkering with it.
Click to expand...

I have had some luck with recharging old batteries, by the following procedure. Dump the old water/acid solution out of them. Fill each cell with a solution of 7% Epsom Salt/ DI water. Charge the battery on 2 amps for 24 hrs. It usually works.
 
Congratulations on the new tractor. I looked at it on the Farmall forum. As to the battery- most of this has been said already - but- if nocracks, bulged sides , full of water, then you can try charging it. Ck voltage before you start, and when you stop charging. Charge at low rate for a long time (6-12 hr). While charging you can look in the caps to seeif there is any bubbles in each cell. Let the battery set for a day or 2 after you charge it and check voltage again. If it has a charge after your"e done and holds it a couple days it may be OK . A battery as old as you think this one is- I wouldnt expect too much.
 
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