Charging The Battery; Adding Water To The Battery - Toro 71209 Operator's Manual

3. Slide the rubber cover over the battery post.
4. Using the bolt and wing nut, connect the
negative (black) cable to the negative (-) battery
post (Figure 28).
Checking the Electrolyte Level
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 29).
Figure 29
1. Vent caps
2. Upper line
Note: Do not allow the electrolyte to fall
below the lower line (Figure 29).
3. If the electrolyte is low, add distilled water;
refer to Adding Water to the Battery.
Battery electrolyte contains sulfuric acid,
a deadly poison that can severely burn
you and others.
• 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.

Adding Water to the Battery

The best time to add distilled water to the battery
is just before you operate the tractor. This lets the
water mix thoroughly with the electrolyte solution.
1. Remove the battery from the tractor; refer to
Removing the Battery.
2. Clean the top of the battery with a paper towel.
3. Lower line
Important: Never fill the battery with
distilled water while the battery is installed
in the tractor. You could spill electrolyte on
other parts and cause corrosion.
3. Remove the vent caps from the battery
(Figure 29).
4. Slowly pour distilled water into each battery
cell until the electrolyte level is up to the upper
line (Figure 29) 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 5 to 10 minutes after filling the battery
cells. Add distilled water, if necessary, until
the electrolyte level is up to the upper line
(Figure 29) on the battery case.
6. Install the battery vent caps.

Charging the Battery

Charging the battery produces gasses that
can explode.
Never smoke near the battery. Keep sparks
and flames away from the battery.
Important: Always keep the battery fully
charged (1.260 specific gravity), especially
when the temperature is below 32°F (0°C) to
prevent battery damage.
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 and charge it for 1 hour at 25 to
30 amps or 6 hours at 4 to 6 amps. Do not
overcharge the battery.
4. When the battery is fully charged, unplug the
charger from the electrical outlet.
5. Disconnect the charger leads from the battery
posts (Figure 30).
28