Battery Maintenance - Ferris 300S Series Operator's Manual

transmission drive belt be performed by an authorized
Ferris® servicing dealer.

Battery Maintenance

DANGER
Be careful when handling the battery.
Battery acid can cause severe burns. Avoid contact with
skin. Wear protective gear (safety goggles/face shield and
gloves) when working with the battery.
Keep the battery out of reach of children.
To avoid an explosion, keep open flames and sparks away
from the battery, especially while charging.
When removing or installing battery cables, disconnect the
negative cable FIRST and reconnect it LAST. If not done in
this order, the positive terminal can be shorted to the frame
by a tool.
Cleaning the Battery and Cables
This unit is equipped with a maintenance-free BCIU1 battery.
1. Disconnect the cables from the battery, negative [-] cable
first (A, Figure 48).
48
2. Clean the battery terminals and cable ends with a wire
brush until shiny.
3. Reinstall the battery and reattach the battery cables,
positive [+] cable first (B).
4. Coat the cable ends and the battery terminals with
petroleum jelly or non-conducting grease.
Checking Battery Voltage
A voltmeter can be used to determine condition of the battery.
When the engine is off, the voltmeter shows battery voltage,
which should be 12 volts. When the engine is running, the
voltmeter shows voltage of charging circuit which normally is
13 to 14 volts.
A dead battery, or one too weak to start the engine, may not
mean the battery needs to be replaced. For example, it may
mean that the alternator is not charging the battery properly.
36
If there is any doubt about the cause of the problem, see your
authorized Ferris® servicing dealer. If you need to replace
the battery, follow the steps under Cleaning the Battery and
Cables.
Charging the Battery
WARNING
Keep open flames and sparks away from the battery; the
gasses coming from it are highly explosive. Ventilate the
battery well during charging.
A dead battery or one too weak to start the engine may be
the result of a defect in the charging system or other electrical
component. If there is any doubt about the cause of the
problem, see your authorized Ferris® servicing dealer.
To charge the battery, follow the instructions provided by the
battery charger manufacturer as well as all warnings included
in the OPERATOR SAFETY section of this manual. Charge
the battery until fully charged. Do not charge at a rate higher
than 10 amps.
Jump Starting with Auxiliary (Booster) Battery
Jump starting is not recommended.
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