Batteries - Cub Cadet 900 Series Professional Shop Manual

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Batteries

1. Precautions: See Figure 7.39.
CAUTION: Batteries produce flammable and
explosive gases, particularly during charging:
Precautionary battery label
Figure 7.39
• Do not smoke or allow an open flame or heat
source near the battery.
• Charge batteries in an open area
• Wear eye protection and acid resistant gloves
when handling batteries.
• Do not allow direct metal contact across the
posts. This will produce extreme heat that may
cause direct burns or ignite flammable gas.
CAUTION: California Proposition 65 warning:
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. These chem-
icals are known in the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
NOTE: Some batteries used in Current Cub
Cadet equipment are sealed. It is not possible to
check, test or add fluid.
CAUTION: Batteries contain electrolyte, which is
highly corrosive. If a battery is ruptured, neutral-
ize the electrolyte with baking soda, then care-
fully rinse the effected area with water.
2. Importance of battery charge level and condi-
tion: A fully charged battery that is in good condi-
tion is an important factor when trying to
diagnose other parts of an electrical system:
118
• Some charging systems do not work if the sys-
tem voltage falls below 6V. It takes a certain
amount of voltage to excite the fields in the alter-
nator.
• Solid-state components will not work if the sys-
tem voltage falls below a given threshold.
• Some solid-state components can be damaged
by the jump-starting that accompanies operation
with a dead battery.
• Many electric PTO clutches will fail to work
dependably if battery needs to be replaced.
Even though the charging system produces
enough out-put to drive the clutch, it is over-
taxed driving the clutch and forcing a charge into
a damaged battery.
• Continued operation with a weak battery over-
taxes the charging system.
3. Charging the battery:
NOTE: It is best to remove batteries from equip-
ment for charging to minimize corrosion from
out-gassing during charging.
CAUTION: When disconnecting or removing the
battery, disconnect the ground cable first. When
reconnecting or installing a battery, connect the
ground cable last. These steps will minimize the
chance of shorting-out the battery posts with a
tool.
3a. Batteries on most modern outdoor power
equipment are 12 volts so set the charger
to 12 volts.
3b. Set the charge rate to 2 amps.
CAUTION: Never charge an outdoor power
equipment battery at a rate higher than 2 amps.
Damage to the battery will result.
CAUTION: Never attempt to charge or jump a
frozen battery.
3c. Charge the battery until it is fully charged.
Most battery chargers have an amp gauge
to show the charging rate. When the
gauge is at zero, stop charging the battery.