Toolmanbill 32 #1 Posted June 15 Bought a new starter from AJ electric in April.although it started the tractor it never seemed quite right.sometimes cranked slowly but then cranked ok.now it won’t crank at all except with a jump. I noticed the amp gauge was charging extremely low. The battery checked out at 11.4 volts.Does the starter work to generate the battery or would this be a voltage regulator issue?Any advice would be appreciated greatly! Thanks. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #2 Posted June 15 What model tractor? What other repairs and maintenance have you done to the electric system? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toolmanbill 32 #3 Posted June 15 Tractor is a 314-8 from 1994.put in a new coil last fall.first time it ever left my property for repair.also put in a new ignition switch,seat switch and pto saftey switch.fair mechanical ability but lacking in electrcal repair. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,306 #4 Posted June 15 6 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: Bought a new starter from AJ electric in April.although it started the tractor it never seemed quite right.sometimes cranked slowly but then cranked ok.now it won’t crank at all except with a jump. I noticed the amp gauge was charging extremely low. The battery checked out at 11.4 volts.Does the starter work to generate the battery or would this be a voltage regulator issue?Any advice would be appreciated greatly! Thanks. ' 11.4 volts is a dead battery. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #5 Posted June 15 3 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: also put in a new ignition switch,seat switch and pto saftey switch. Why were these switches installed? 1 hour ago, lynnmor said: ' 11.4 volts is a dead battery. Agreed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,229 #6 Posted June 16 20 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: .Does the starter work to generate the battery or would this be a voltage regulator issue? The first step would be to take the battery to an auto parts store and have it load tested. There is a charging system built into the engine. The starter only turns the flywheel, has nothing to do with charging the battery. 16 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: Tractor is a 314-8 from 1994.put in a new coil last fall.first time it ever left my property for repair.also put in a new ignition switch,seat switch and pto saftey switch.fair mechanical ability but lacking in electrcal repair. Please don't just buy parts until you have finally replaced the problem part. We are happy to work with you to troubleshoot any problem you experience. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toolmanbill 32 #7 Posted June 17 Put the pto switch and seat switch in because I was getting no spark intermittently and couldn’t find the issue and it turned out to be the coil. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #8 Posted June 17 8 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: Put the pto switch and seat switch in because I was getting no spark intermittently and couldn’t find the issue and it turned out to be the coil. Is the issue solved now? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #9 Posted June 17 Can you jumpstart the tractor at this point? Do you have a voltmeter? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toolmanbill 32 #10 Posted June 18 Issue was solved after a new coil was installed.can jump the tractor.went to local dealer and had the battery checked and it failed under load.put a new one in and started right up. I have a voltmeter but have very little knowledge of how to use it. The battery was replaced after only 2 years and 6 months.previous battery lasted over 4+years . I think the starter hard cranking I think did the battery in. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,750 #11 Posted June 18 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Toolmanbill said: . The battery was replaced after only 2 years and 6 months.previous battery lasted over 4+years . I think the starter hard cranking I think did the battery in. Hot and cold temperature are tough on batteries. With our Texas summers I'm very very happy if I get 2 years out of a LG battery, 18 months seems more like it. yes I use battery tenders on my equipment. They also have engineering the life of them down pat. My car and truck batteries last 2-3 months less that the (prorated) guarantee. That gets you taking it back for a $1.25 refund and you buy the same brand since your already in the store. Recently I picked up a Lithium battery for my jet ski with a 4 year guarantee vs 12 months for a lead acid battery. Cost was about 180% of a lead acid. Then I read the battery manual and saw the 140F warnings. The battery sits directly next to the engine case in a tight compartment, partly under the gas tank. Its a pain to get to to change, so that was part of the attraction. But thinking about that hot lithium battery sitting under the gas tank, between my legs just didn't seem like a great idea! While the battery was listed as a direct replacement for my jet ski, I returned it and thought I'd wait a while and returned it. I'm on the fence considering one for a tractor soon, since their more in the open. Edited June 18 by oliver2-44 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,229 #12 Posted June 18 8 hours ago, oliver2-44 said: Lithium battery I'm not convinced that the charging system on our Wheel Horses is compatible with a Lithium battery. I've seen several warnings like this on the internet: Using a normal battery charger designed for Lead Acid on a lithium battery may result in damage or even destruction of the battery. This is because lithium batteries require specifically designed charging profiles tailored to their chemistry. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #13 Posted June 18 10 hours ago, Toolmanbill said: battery was replaced after only 2 years and 6 months.previous battery lasted over 4+years 2 years and 6 months is basically 3 "seasons". The small engine repair place I get my batteries from said that we are at a point now where batteries last between two and four seasons if they are not properly maintained. Most of the time they are not. That life length may seem short but you're exactly what normal is nowadays. 9 hours ago, oliver2-44 said: I'm on the fence considering one for a tractor soon, since their more in the open. As stated by Richard above, if the machine was not specifically built to use and maintain a lithium battery, I wouldn't do it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,306 #14 Posted June 18 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: The small engine repair place I get my batteries from said that we are at a point now where batteries last between two and four seasons if they are not properly maintained. Most of the time they are not. The key words are "if they are not properly maintained." I don't know of any of my neighbors that actually own a good battery charger. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horse Newbie 7,069 #15 Posted June 18 So what are you guys consensus on battery tenders ?… I use one on all my Horses and Cubs… 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,498 #16 Posted June 18 11 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said: So what are you guys consensus on battery tenders ?… I use one on all my Horses and Cubs… I like them. I use them. Whatever batteries are not in a tractor during the summer or winter, we keep them in the basement. We have a couple of automatic one amp battery tenders that get cycled through. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,306 #17 Posted June 18 I use the 1.25 AMP Battery Tender brand chargers and leave them on a battery about 3 days each month. I know it can be left on indefinitely but there is no need. Some simple maintainers aren't good at recharging a rundown battery but these do just fine. Since I move the chargers around I need less of them and I don't have equipment exposed to power surges 365 days per year. I have 17+ batteries and always get 5 to 12 years out of them. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,750 #18 Posted June 19 15 hours ago, 953 nut said: I'm not convinced that the charging system on our Wheel Horses is compatible with a Lithium battery. I've seen several warnings like this on the internet: Using a normal battery charger designed for Lead Acid on a lithium battery may result in damage or even destruction of the battery. This is because lithium batteries require specifically designed charging profiles tailored to their chemistry. @953 nut I too have been more reading about battery chargers for lithium batteries. Regrettable there's a mix of conflicting info out there. Then you have Lithium battery manufacturers stating their battery is a direct replacement for the lead acid one in my jet ski. But if I read further in the same manual, they recommend using only their portable charger. Did someone not tell them jet skis have built in chargers. The lawn tractor Lithium battery I bought was on the shelf at Walmart next to the lead acid batteries. How many Walmart shoppers are going to read the manual when they've been replacing batteries for years! So I'll keep watching this from a distance for a while. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #19 Posted June 19 I don't have any experience with smaller lithium batteries but the larger batteries (100AH) have a built in system to stop charging when full. The problem with modern chargers on those batteries is the charger gets tricked and will not fully charge causing issues with the battery. Oddly you can use an old style full charge type (doubt you can even buy them anymore) and it works fine as the battery stops charging when full. I use an old 12 amp charger and it does just fine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
