Got a new Interstate battery for my mower last year and now it's dead. My 3 year old grandson messed with the switch last fall and left it on but although weak it started to turn over so I had to jump it. We used it after that and it was fine but now it goes dead in less than a month ( twice now) in a heated shed. I can't imagine it having a parasitic draw but I unhooked the ground and will try it in a month or so because I've got too many other things going on right now to mess with it. I suppose if it's dead in a month the batterys killed, and if not it's a PD that I'll have to figure out. Oddly enough the original battery lasted like 10 years. Anyone want to go out on a Limb as to what it will be?
Mower Battery Dead #@%&
- Thread starter i4ni
- Start date
micromind
Well-known member
If it sat dead for more than a week or so, it's most likely sulfated to the point that it'll self-discharge in a fairly short time.
If it's a flooded-cell type, sometimes they can be desulphated by a severe overcharge provided it doesn't boil the cells dry.
A lot of electronic battery chargers have a desulphate function. I've done this a couple of times, it seemed to help.
If it's a flooded-cell type, sometimes they can be desulphated by a severe overcharge provided it doesn't boil the cells dry.
A lot of electronic battery chargers have a desulphate function. I've done this a couple of times, it seemed to help.
D45
Well-known member
I charge my mower battery all the time.
Once in the spring and once in the fall, before it gets removed and taken inside the garage for the winter
Slow 1 amp trickle usually takes 12-16 hours, I would guess
Once in the spring and once in the fall, before it gets removed and taken inside the garage for the winter
Slow 1 amp trickle usually takes 12-16 hours, I would guess
Thanks, I don't know if the one over at the farm shop has that function but if it doesn't I'll ask a few friends. Thanks
Suppose?
MarineScott
Well-known member
I remove the caps under the label, and top off with distilled water and charge the battery with my manual charger. My batteries last longer when maintained this way.
I need to check if it has a warranty first I guess.
Yeah?
If it was flat dead, then somehow started the mower and you've just been driving it around it needs a proper charge.
Maybe a fancy charge mode will help, but bottom line it's needs some attention.
I guess I neglected to mention I did charge it each time. My bad
PlanB
Well-known member
Are you running a smart charger?
I 've use a noco10 in fix mode to help a couple of batteries. Beyond that its replacement time, hopefully on warranty.
I 've use a noco10 in fix mode to help a couple of batteries. Beyond that its replacement time, hopefully on warranty.
if yu wanna try you can try using a smart charger to restore it, works eh sometimes. sometimes the smart charger wont charge it cause its to low voltage and you need a dumb old school charger to put some power to it first.
if not buy a new one. then make sure to get a battery tender on it all the time
if not buy a new one. then make sure to get a battery tender on it all the time
BillK
Well-known member
That probably killed it. I have had it happen on a fairly new car battery. Ran it totally dead and it sat that way for a week or two. Would never hold a charge after that.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I leave a cheap harbor freight trickle charger on mine year round
Monza Harry
Well-known member
Deep discharging a lead acid battery will cause serious longevity issues. I didn't know that it was caused by sulfation (TY micromind), I just knew (as also stated by a few others) they were never the same. Harry
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
Deep discharge and jump starting a small battery from a much larger battery can both cause issues.
In over 50 years of buying batteries, sorry to say that the two Interstates I've owned were the worst.
Even Walmart batteries have been and are still better. Best I've owned were Delco.
If you don't run the tractor regularly then a trickle charger is your friend. I use a Battery Tender and the batteries on those seem to last far beyond their rated lifespan.
Even Walmart batteries have been and are still better. Best I've owned were Delco.
If you don't run the tractor regularly then a trickle charger is your friend. I use a Battery Tender and the batteries on those seem to last far beyond their rated lifespan.
I put battery disconnects on all of my old junk. It helps protect the battery from parasitic draws, prevents people (family members mostly) from fooling around with it, and the biggest thing is it should help prevent a fire if something shorts out. 
niget2002
Well-known member
While you're at it, test the generator on the lawn tractor.
Mine had gone out on my mower. Every other mow, the battery would be dead as it slowly drew down the battery while running instead of charging it. I lived with the mower on a battery tender between mows for over a year before I finally tested the generator. Ended up being a $15 part to fix the generator.
Mine had gone out on my mower. Every other mow, the battery would be dead as it slowly drew down the battery while running instead of charging it. I lived with the mower on a battery tender between mows for over a year before I finally tested the generator. Ended up being a $15 part to fix the generator.
D45
Well-known member
This for sure ^^^^
Some have as low as a 2amp system and some have as high as a 20amp charging system
Some have as low as a 2amp system and some have as high as a 20amp charging system
66HertzClone
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a quad that is parked outside all the time, I may go weeks without starting it. I bought a solar charger for it to keep the battery charged fully, it has worked flawlessly for several years now. I ran a pair of wires to the battery and left a pigtail by the brake light to make it quick and easy to connect.
Steve W.
Well-known member
If you are connecting battery-to-battery (of the same voltage), size does not matter.
If you are using some kind of jump pack that provides extra voltage (to keep the amps down), you might have issues.
.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I mounted a Noco Trickle Charger behind the seat of my Cub Cadet XT2 lawn tractor. The Battery is under the seat. I plug it in for the winter when I store it in the garage. Since I put that trickle charger in... it's never failed me.
This has worked out so well... I have done the same thing for the vehicles I rarely drive.
This has worked out so well... I have done the same thing for the vehicles I rarely drive.
niget2002
Well-known member
I used one of these and mounted it on the side of the mower. Sadly, they've been discontinued.
Blowsion. NOCO Dash Mount Battery Indicator - GC016
<h1><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Product Description</span></h1> <p>X-Connect 12V Dash mount Indicator allows you to remotely connect to your battery, as well as, display the batteries state-of-charge in 25% increments. It permanently attach
www.blowsion.com
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
andyvh1959
Well-known member
Smart chargers usually require a minimum charge threshold before they actually charge the battery. It looks like they are charging but may only be in hold mode. An older basic charger will charge the batteyr no matter it's current charge condition. I have both smart and basic chargers (Craftsman 10amp from 1980). For batteries I know are in decent charge state I'll just leave them plugged in to maintain.
On occasion I'll use the old style Craftsman charger. My dad used to revive/desulfate old batteries slow discharge with a small 12v light bulb, then a full charge with an old style charger. Then discharge again. He'd do that maybe ten times over and did revive many old lead acid cell batteries. That process may not apply to the newer AGM or sealed batteries.
On occasion I'll use the old style Craftsman charger. My dad used to revive/desulfate old batteries slow discharge with a small 12v light bulb, then a full charge with an old style charger. Then discharge again. He'd do that maybe ten times over and did revive many old lead acid cell batteries. That process may not apply to the newer AGM or sealed batteries.
oldmxracer
Well-known member
Agree with niget2002 Is Your mower charging the battery? Been there done that!
Monza Harry
Well-known member
Lawn tractors, snowmobiles (old ones anyway), and small M/C's (etc.) usually have a voltage regulator and or a diode(s) that are famous for giving up the ghost silently! Worked yesterday and no charge today usually they keep the magic smoke in, so no real notic until you are sitting with a dead battery in the dark! As noted above [@D45] they have a notoriously small output. Harry
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oldmxracer
Well-known member
Or maybe a Kohler engine with loose flywheel magnets, it still put out some juice but not enough !
Took Me a while to find that one, repaired it and all is well !
Firebrick43
Well-known member
CTek still has theirsI used one of these and mounted it on the side of the mower. Sadly, they've been discontinued.
Blowsion. NOCO Dash Mount Battery Indicator - GC016
<h1><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Product Description</span></h1> <p>X-Connect 12V Dash mount Indicator allows you to remotely connect to your battery, as well as, display the batteries state-of-charge in 25% increments. It permanently attach
But both ctek and noco offers just a straight dongle. I am really baffled why one would want to mount the whole charger when a dongle can allow the charger to be used on multiple batteries?
My Husqvarna has this input. Any idea where I can get a charger?CTek still has theirs
But both ctek and noco offers just a straight dongle. I am really baffled why one would want to mount the whole charger when a dongle can allow the charger to be used on multiple batteries?
The Husqvarna branded one is expensive
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Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
If the smaller battery was at (or near) 12V why would you be jump starting it?
D45
Well-known member
Sometimes also, the flywheel magnets do need to be adjusted for gap spacing
Usually a poker playing card is a good thickness
Usually a poker playing card is a good thickness
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yea... I'd stick with the branded one. Buy once... Cry all night but ... you will be full of electricity.
Should have added "Husqvarna branded".
When I looked quick last summer I could not find a Ctek branded one with the correct plug.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I did a quick look on amazon for Ctek chargers and they appear (at first glance) to have that plug. I also noticed "Adapters" ... that might be able to be cut and resoldered into whatever charger you do get. My setup for 2 cars and a tractor is a bit of a franken assembly ... but it's all NOCO branded. Agree tho... for a 10 foot "CORD"... with the right plug end.... $30
Oh and yea... I only looked at the plug... and knew it was Ctek branded... I never thought Husqvarna had anything.
Link?
Ill have to look again. Be nice to just pull a plug and drive off. I put the maintainer on it for the winter, but that has ring terminals.
Edit: found this, now that I know the "comfort connect" marketing I see more options
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