Zetor 6340 - Battery Draining

BnB

I have a Zetor 6340 that is flat every time I go to start it. Even when it's parked up less than 24 hours.

I used away during the summer and it was starting no problem. Probably 2 or 3 times a week. Then in October/Early November it was parked for a good 6 weeks without being stirred. I started it then one Saturday to fit the Grab onto the loader to be ready for feeding silage the following weekend and it started that day no problem.

It was then parked for a week until I went to use it again the following Saturday and it was dead. I jump started it on the Saturday and was able to start it again the following day (although it struggled).

Since that, I have to jump start every time. Even this weekend, I used it Saturday evening for about an hour. Then again Sunday afternoon and I had to jump start it off the jeep both times.

Anyone have any idea what could be causing it. Is it a coincidence that it started happening after I fitted the grab to the loader or could it be related ?

I'll probably have to get someone to have a look at it, but just wondering if there was any few obvious things I could check for first.

Thanks in advance

The Sidewards Man

Be careful jump starting it you might 24volt it or the jeep, happened a fella there lately.

BnB

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

Be careful jump starting it you might 24volt it or the jeep, happened a fella there lately.

I'm not at all happy doing it Sideways man which is why I want to get it sorted.

What exactly do you mean by "24volt it" ?

annubis

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch-Power-Kill-Cut-Off-On-Off-Switch-Disconnect-Car-Van-01-/111732970085?hash=item1a03cdd265:g:3S8AAOSwhcJWOd~h
little kill switch if tractor doesnt have one will help establish is battery is being drained or if its just knackered

patsy_mccabe

Could be one of 3 things; bad alternator, bad battery or battery being drained by shortcircuiting.

Can you get your hands on a Voltmeter?
If so, with the tractor running, disconnect the earth cable. Now measure the voltage across the disconnected cable (earth) and the live terminal of the battery. This will be the voltage coming from the alternator. It should be about 14.6V, I think. If way below this then your alternator is goosed.

If not the alternator, then it might be the battery itself. When finished using the tractor, disconnect both leads and charge the battery with a plug-in charger. Loosen the caps on top first to let out the gas bubbles. Voltage should be about 12.6 on battery as it stands charged with no cables attached. When charged try starting tractor again. When you stop the tractor, disconnect the live wire. Try these steps for a few days and see how it goes.

If all ok now, then you need to find where the battery is being drained.
See how you get on with the first 2 items first.....

BnB

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Could be one of 3 things; bad alternator, bad battery or battery being drained by shortcircuiting.

Can you get your hands on a Voltmeter?
If so, with the tractor running, disconnect the earth cable. Now measure the voltage across the disconnected cable (earth) and the live terminal of the battery. This will be the voltage coming from the alternator. It should be about 14.6V, I think. If way below this then your alternator is goosed.

If not the alternator, then it might be the battery itself. When finished using the tractor, disconnect both leads and charge the battery with a plug-in charger. Loosen the caps on top first to let out the gas bubbles. Voltage should be about 12.6 on battery as it stands charged with no cables attached. When charged try starting tractor again. When you stop the tractor, disconnect the live wire. Try these steps for a few days and see how it goes.

If all ok now, then you need to find where the battery is being drained.
See how you get on with the first 2 items first.....

Thanks Patsy

The Alternator went in my car about 4 weeks ago. I could charge the car up from another car and it would drive away. But it would eventually die.

With the tractor. Once I charge it enough to start it, it is flying it. Considering I do most of my foddering at night with lots of lights on, if the Alternator was gone, would it not mean that the Lights wouldn't even work when started or at least that they might be dodgy ?

Or does a tractor have a different system to a car ?

Kovu

The same thing happened our Zetor during the summer- had to use the portable jump kit to start it all the time. Turned out the alternator was gone in it. Easy enough to get it checked in a garage.

BnB

Thanks Kovu. What did the new Alt cost you ?

Kovu

BnB wrote: »

Thanks Kovu. What did the new Alt cost you ?

Between 80-100 I think. We got a few things done at once but think it was about that cost.

patsy_mccabe

Once a tractor is running, you can actually take out the battery. At least with the old style tractors, you can. A diesel engine doesn't use any electrical power to run. A petrol engine needs power to keep the spark plugs going.

With a tractor, if you have lights on, they can run on either the battery or the alternator. So if the alternator was gone, they would run away on the battery but would eventually run it down.

Do you have a volt meter?

BnB

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

With a tractor, if you have lights on, they can run on either the battery or the alternator. So if the alternator was gone, they would run away on the battery but would eventually run it down.

I'm doing most of my foddering at night. So when I get to the Tractor and the Battery is flat - I jump start it off the Jeep - I then use it for the best part of an hour with a load of lights on - No problem. I reckon if the alternator was gone, I wouldn't be able to do this.

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Do you have a volt meter?

I don't have a Volt Meter but I think I'll pick one up. Following your original post, I could narrow it down very quickly with one.

RobinBanks

Can you take the battery to local garage to get it tested? Maybe you could bring it with you to work and go somewhere during lunch. Even the local motor factors could test it for you.

I suspect your battery is fecked and will only hold charge for a short period of time.

Odelay

I'd agree that the battery could be the first to check, on machines around here at the first sign of cold weather any with batteries on the way out refuse to start.

Belongamick

Had similar trouble recently, cutting a long story short;

Battery was taking charge, draining over time, suspected alternator - alternator refurbed, still draining over time and it turned out to be the battery. Even though battery was showing correct voltage, once a load was on it (starting) it died. Garage reckoned the battery internally damaged/fused plate or otherwise. To be fair battery was old.

Most frustrating thing about all this is the amount of time it can soak up.

BnB

OP Here. Just to follow up on this.

I took the general advice in the thread above. I didn't have a Voltmeter (I actually bought a cheap one in Halfords but it didn't work) but I found a "12 Volt Battery Tester" up in the shed. It rated the battery Good-Fair-Bad and did similar for the Alt.

I tested the battery before starting and obviously it was coming up "Bad" as it was flat as a pancake.

Started the Tractor from the Jeep and with the Tractor running the tester was rating the Alt as "Good"

Did my work for an hour and knocked off the tractor. Tried to start it again straight away to see if the battery was getting any charge at all and it started grand.

Tested the Battery after knocking of the tractor again and it was coming up as "Fair"

Disconnected the battery and left the tractor for 24 hours. Came back and the battery was flat again.

So, stumped up €130 for a new battery. Put that in nearly 2 weeks ago and it's been fine since. Hopefully it stays that way.

Thanks for the advice