Checking Battery; Testing Battery; Battery Recommendations; Battery Cable Recommendations - Briggs & Stratton Twin Cylinder L-Head Repair Manual

Checking Battery

1. Physical check – clean if necessary.
a. Corrosion
b. Dirt
c. Terminal and clamps secure and in good
condition
2. Bring battery to full charge.
DO NOT EXCEED CHARGE RATE of 1/10 AMPERE
for every ampere of battery rating! CONSULT
BATTERY MANUFACTURER for CHARGE REC-
OMMENDATIONS. Overcharging may cause battery
failure.
a. Use a taper charge (automatically reduces
charge rate).
b. Fill battery cells with distilled water or tap
water after charging (for batteries that have
been in service).
NOTE: If battery gets "Hot" to the touch or is
spitting acid (gassing), unplug charger
periodically.
3. With battery fully charged, check specific gravity
readings of each cell with a Battery Hydrometer
and record readings, Fig. 42. Readings should be
above 1.250 (compensating for temperature). If
specific gravity readings varied .50 or if all cells
read less than 1.225, replace battery.
CHECK ALL
CELLS AFTER
CHARGING
Fig. 42 – Checking 12 V Battery Cells
(Lead Acid, Wet Cell, With Fill Caps)
14
6

Testing Battery

Use Digital Multimeter, Tool #19357 or #19390.
Set meter to read DC Volts.
Attach RED meter test clip to positive (+) battery
terminal. Attach BLACK meter test lead to negative (-)
battery terminal. With ignition switch "OFF," press
starter button. If ignition switch and starter switch are
the same switch, disconnect wires from spark plugs
and ground ignition using two Ignition Testers, Tool
#19368. Turn switch to "START." METER SHOULD
DISPLAY 9 VOLTS OR MORE WHILE CRANKING
ENGINE. If less than 9 volts, replace battery.
DO NOT CRANK STARTER for more than 15
SECONDS without allowing starter to COOL at least 2
MINUTES. The starter motor could be damaged.

Battery Recommendations

These battery size recommendations are based on
minimum temperature expected and correct weight of
oil being used. See Section 1.
30 Amp. Hr. -6° C (+20° F) or higher
40 Amp. Hr. -20° C (-5° F) or higher
50 Amp. Hr. -26° C (-15° F) or higher

Battery Cable Recommendations

These cable sizes are based on total length of cable
from battery positive post to starter switch or solenoid,
and to starter plus ground return to battery negative
USE TEMPERATURE post.
COMPENSATED
HYDROMETER
#6 AWG – 4 ft. (1.21 m) or less
#5 AWG – 5 ft. (1.52 m) or less
#4 AWG – 6 ft. (1.82 m) or less
REPLACE IF
READINGS ARE
BELOW 1.225
OR IF CELLS
VARY BY MORE
THAN .50