Gravely 996122 Owner's/Operator's Manual page 27

There should be no need to add water throughout the
normal life of a maintenance-free battery. However,
abnormal electrical system conditions or high ambient
temperatures may boil off more water than normal. Batteries
with removable vent caps should have the water level
checked in them once a year. Water level in each cell should
be up to the level indicator. If not, add water. Distilled water
should be used to fill each cell in the battery. However, tap
water may be used if tap water is not hard or does not have
high mineral or alkali content. Do not overfill. Have the
charging system checked by your local Gravely dealer if the
battery requires water every few months.
Charging the Battery
Batteries that are severely discharged may not take or
indicate a charge immediately. Some automatic chargers
need a minimum voltage before they will start charging and
some will not indicate a charging condition at the meter until
the battery reaches a minimum charge. Consult your
charger manual to determine how your charger works.
When recharging batteries, please follow these important
safety precautions:
1. Secure vehicle for maintenance. See Securing Vehicle
for Maintenance on page 24.
2. Read manufacturer's instructions for the charger.
3. Leave battery charger unplugged until its cables are
connected to the battery.
4. Choose the correct battery charger to properly charge
a battery.
5. Put on protective eye wear, rubber gloves, work
clothes and remove all jewelry.
6. Don't charge a frozen battery. Allow battery to warm up
to about 60 degrees F before charging.
7. Charge batteries in a well-ventilated area.
8. Never smoke while charging a battery.
9. If applicable, remove vent caps and check battery's
water level. If water level is low, follow instructions for
Adding Water to the Battery on page 26 above.
10. If applicable, reinstall vent caps before charging.
11. Set charger to 12 volts.
12. Plug in and turn on charger.
13. Don't wiggle connections to check contact while
charger is turned on or plugged in.
14. Choose lowest amperage setting initially. Once
charger is on and battery is charging you may want to
choose a higher amp setting to reduce charging time.
Jump Starting the Battery
The battery will discharge if lights or any other electrical
equipment is left on after engine has stopped running. Also,
the battery will discharge if lights or power plug outlet is used
over a prolonged period while engine is idling.
The engine can be jump-started with a booster battery.
Follow procedures listed below when jump-starting.
Prepare Vehicle to Jump-Start
1. Use only a 12-volt battery to jump-start the Treker.
Higher voltages can damage starter motor and other
electrical components. Do not use a 24-volt battery or
two 12-volt batteries connected in series.
2. Do not disconnect a vehicle's battery that needs a
jump-start. Disconnecting the battery can damage the
vehicle's electrical system.
3. Park second vehicle close to the vehicle needing a
boost without touching the two vehicles together. Set
parking brake on both vehicles.
4. Turn off all ignition switches, electric switches, light
switches and set parking brakes on both vehicles.
Connecting Jumper Cables
Refer to Figure 21 on page 28:
1. Inspect battery terminals for corrosion. Remove
excess corrosion before connecting jumper cables.
2. Connect one end of the red jumper cable to the
positive (+) terminal on the dead battery.
3. Connect the other end of the red jumper cable to the
positive (+) terminal on the booster battery.
4. Connect one end of the black jumper cable to the
negative (-) terminal on the booster battery.
WARNING: Make connection in step 5 below to
a metal surface away from battery. Never
connect to negative (-) post of dead battery or
to a metal surface near the battery. Sparking
near the battery can result in a battery gas
explosion and personal injury.
5. Connect the other end of the black jumper cable to a
metal surface on the vehicle that has the dead battery.
6. Inspect jumper cables to make certain they are not in
the way of moving or rotating components. Reposition
any cables that will be in the way.
DANGER: Make certain everyone is clear of all
moving and rotating components before starting
either vehicle.
Refer to Figure 21:
7. Start the live vehicle and run it at a moderate speed for
a few minutes to charge the dead battery.
8. After waiting a few minutes, start the dead vehicle. It
should start within several tries. If vehicle does not
start, then the problem might be something other than
the battery.
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