Charging The Battery; Adding Water To The Battery - Toro 74704 Operator's Manual

Checking the Battery Electrolyte Level
Battery electrolyte contains sulfuric acid
which is a deadly poison and causes severe
burns.
• Do not drink electrolyte and avoid
contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Wear
safety glasses to shield your eyes and
rubber gloves to protect your hands.
• Fill the battery where clean water is
always available for flushing the skin.
1. Tip the seat forward to see the battery.
2. Look at the side of the battery. The electrolyte
must be up to the Upper line (Figure 32).
Do not allow the electrolyte to fall below the
Lower line (Figure 32).
Figure 32
1. Vent caps
2. Upper line
3. If the electrolyte is low, add the required amount
of distilled water; refer to Adding Water to
the Battery in Electrical System Maintenance,
page 27.

Adding Water to the Battery

The best time to add distilled water to the battery is
just before you operate the machine. This lets the
water mix thoroughly with the electrolyte solution.
1. Remove the battery from the machine;
refer to Removing the Battery in
Electrical System Maintenance, page 27.
Important: Never fill the battery with
distilled water while the battery is installed
in the machine. Electrolyte could be
spilled on other parts and cause corrosion.
2. Clean the top of the battery with a paper towel.
3. Lower line
3. Remove the vent caps from the battery
(Figure 32).
4. Slowly pour distilled water into each battery
cell until the electrolyte level is up to the Upper
line (Figure 32) on the battery case.
Important: Do not overfill the battery
because electrolyte (sulfuric acid) can
cause severe corrosion and damage to the
chassis.
5. Wait five to ten minutes after filling the battery
cells. Add distilled water, if necessary, until
the electrolyte level is up to the Upper line
(Figure 32) on the battery case.
6. Reinstall the battery vent caps.

Charging the Battery

Important: Always keep the battery
fully charged (1.260 specific gravity). This
is especially important to prevent battery
damage when the temperature is below 32°F
(0°C).
1. Remove the battery from the chassis; refer to
Removing the Battery.
2. Check the electrolyte level; refer to Checking
the Electrolyte Level.
3. Make sure that the vent caps are installed in
the battery. Charge the battery for 1 hour at 25
to 30 amps or 6 hours at 4-6 amps. Do not
overcharge the battery.
4. When the battery is fully charged, unplug
the charger from the electrical outlet, then
disconnect the charger leads from the battery
posts (Figure 33).
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