I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

..


--
We must change the way we live
Or the climate will do it for us.

On Jul 20, 3:27*pm, clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

* ..

--
We must change the way we live
* * * * Or the climate will do it for us.

Ive bought car batteries that went completly bad in 6 months, 2 from
one place, on the second one they used a different brand and stopped
carying the junk brand, so junk is sold. Did you check voltage before
starting, running, and after its shut off, Cables connections if loose
can corrode fast. Id believe 12.2- 12.8v or more after it sits, 13.5v
when running and charging, and near 12.8v just when its shut off would
be right. www.batteryuniversity.com might help. It could just be
something loose or alot more. If voltage is low try a charger on it
for overnight, but your Deere dealer would know more and may cover
part or all the cost. Most auto parts stores fully test batteries
free, as one bad cell would make it near worthless and for that you
need a load test to figure it out.

clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?
....
A) Many small engine batteries just don't last more than about a year ime.

B) Is charging system working properly; electrolyte level correct, etc.,
....???

C) Perhaps you have a leakage path causing discharge.

--

dpb wrote:
clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and
find that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly
dead. Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?
...
A) Many small engine batteries just don't last more than about a year ime.

B) Is charging system working properly; electrolyte level correct, etc.,
...???

C) Perhaps you have a leakage path causing discharge.


Will a regular auto battery charger work in my gas golf cart, which I
figure has a similar motor? Cart was built in 1987.

Lou

On Jul 20, 3:27*pm, clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

snip

With the battery fully charged, disconnect one terminal. With engine,
key off, connect an ammeter between the terminals and measure the
current flow. If it is over 30 milliamps, you may have a bad battery.
If it is 150-500 milliamps you probably have an alternator with a
shorted blocking diode or similar malfunction. If you lack the test
equipment, take the alternator and battery to Autozone or other store
that has test equipment and have them check it for you.

Joe

LouB wrote:
dpb wrote:
clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and
find that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly
dead. Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could
be?
...
A) Many small engine batteries just don't last more than about a
year ime. B) Is charging system working properly; electrolyte level
correct,
etc., ...???

C) Perhaps you have a leakage path causing discharge.


Will a regular auto battery charger work in my gas golf cart, which I
figure has a similar motor? Cart was built in 1987.


Sure. You just have to match the voltage (a 12v charger on a 6v battery is
not good - likewise a 12v charger on a 24v system).

HeyBub wrote:
LouB wrote:
dpb wrote:
clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and
find that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly
dead. Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could
be?
...
A) Many small engine batteries just don't last more than about a
year ime. B) Is charging system working properly; electrolyte level
correct,
etc., ...???

C) Perhaps you have a leakage path causing discharge.


Will a regular auto battery charger work in my gas golf cart, which I
figure has a similar motor? Cart was built in 1987.


Sure. You just have to match the voltage (a 12v charger on a 6v battery is
not good - likewise a 12v charger on a 24v system).


Thanks

On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:57:09 -0230, clouddreamer
wrote:

I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

A mower/tractor battery was short lived for me. Using jumper cables
from the truck it would start.

Once it is started and running, remove the positive cable from the
battery post. If it continues to run, the alternator should be okay.

If it has head lights will they light without running the engine? If
not I suspect the battery needs replaced. YMMV.

"clouddreamer" wrote in message
m...
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

..


--
We must change the way we live
Or the climate will do it for us.

It's the climate gods trying to tell you to practice what you preach and mow
your lawn with a goat or not at all...LOL... ; )

On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:14:38 -0400, LouB wrote:

Will a regular auto battery charger work in my gas golf cart, which I
figure has a similar motor? Cart was built in 1987.

Yes, and a 12v system can be "jumped" from the truck with cables, same
as another car with a 12v system. I have not seen a 6v system since my
former 1936 Chevy truck..

Oren wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:14:38 -0400, LouB wrote:

Will a regular auto battery charger work in my gas golf cart, which I
figure has a similar motor? Cart was built in 1987.

Yes, and a 12v system can be "jumped" from the truck with cables, same
as another car with a 12v system. I have not seen a 6v system since my
former 1936 Chevy truck..

Thanks

ransley wrote:
On Jul 20, 3:27 pm, clouddreamer wrote:
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

..

--
We must change the way we live
Or the climate will do it for us.

Ive bought car batteries that went completly bad in 6 months, 2 from
one place, on the second one they used a different brand and stopped
carying the junk brand, so junk is sold. Did you check voltage before
starting, running, and after its shut off, Cables connections if loose
can corrode fast. Id believe 12.2- 12.8v or more after it sits, 13.5v
when running and charging, and near 12.8v just when its shut off would
be right. www.batteryuniversity.com might help. It could just be
something loose or alot more. If voltage is low try a charger on it
for overnight, but your Deere dealer would know more and may cover
part or all the cost. Most auto parts stores fully test batteries
free, as one bad cell would make it near worthless and for that you
need a load test to figure it out.


Yeah. When I charge the battery, it works fine for that day. I can stop
the tractor and start it again repeatedly for hours with no problem, so
I'm guessing it's not the alternator and is just a battery that won't
hold its juice.

Does that make sense?

Thanks

..

--

We must change the way we live,
or the climate will do it for us.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oCYW4ScUnw

Oren wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:57:09 -0230, clouddreamer
wrote:

I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and find
that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly dead.
Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

A mower/tractor battery was short lived for me. Using jumper cables
from the truck it would start.

Once it is started and running, remove the positive cable from the
battery post. If it continues to run, the alternator should be okay.

If it has head lights will they light without running the engine? If
not I suspect the battery needs replaced. YMMV.



Yeah, after I let it sit for a couple weeks, I try to start it. Lights
and display come one and I might get a few seconds of cranking, but know
immediately that I'm not going to get enough out of it to turn the
engine over. If I keep trying to crank it, it just dies...lights and all.

Once I charge it for a few hours, it works fine for the day. Turning on
and off repeatedly. So, I'm guessing the battery is done.

Thanks



--

We must change the way we live,
or the climate will do it for us.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oCYW4ScUnw

benick wrote:

"clouddreamer" wrote in message
m...
I have had a JD ride on mower for a year now (LA165 I believe) and
find that every time I go to start it, the battery is dead or nearly
dead. Surely, this is not normal. Any idea what the problem could be?

TIA!

..


--
We must change the way we live
Or the climate will do it for us.

It's the climate gods trying to tell you to practice what you preach and
mow your lawn with a goat or not at all...LOL... ; )


sigh There's one joker in every crowd.

Sorry, don't find it funny. And for your information, the tractor
replaces my workhorse ATV, lawn mower and snowblower.

Three machines replaced by one. I call that practicing what I preach.

..

--

We must change the way we live,
or the climate will do it for us.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oCYW4ScUnw