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Posted by TD on November 13, 2007, 12:24 am
>
>>I have a 24 hp 48" deck Craftsman lawn tractor, model 917.275702,
>>just over two years old.
>>
>> I have always (until this past month) started it at least weekly
>> to maintain the charge. I let that go for about the last month,
>> and now the engine won't turn over. If I switch the headlight
>> switch on, there are no lights.
>>
>> My guess (but not certain) is the battery is now undercharged.
>>
>> If that's the problem, I need to recharge it or replace it. The
>> manual says don't jump start the 12V battery unless your source is
>> 12V. Dumb question - is a regular car battery 12V? Can I jump
>> the tractor battery with a car battery?
>> Should I buy a charger? The manual instructs to recharge at 6 to
>> 10 Amps for 1 hour.
>
> First of all, your mower headlights are not run off the battery.
> There is a separate generator for them, so the engine has to be
> running before headlights will work. (At least this is the way it
> works on most mowers I have seen.)
>
> Second, instead of starting your mower to charge the battery, I
> suggerst buying a battery charger - a very cheap one will do fine.
> Then, once a month, attach the charger to maintain a full charge all
> winter. After the battery is initially fully charged, it should
> take less than five or ten minutes to top it off, using the lowest
> setting on the charger (trickle charge). A battery charger will
> save $$ over the gasoline it takes to run the engine just to charge
> the battery.
>
> I do this summer and winter and my batteries last a long time. I am
> still on the original battery on my tractor which is 11 years old.
> I have a trolling motor battery that will be fifteen years old next
> spring and still works, although not as peppy as when it was a teen
> ager.
>
> Bob-tx
>
>
>
Yup, battery charger is the way to go. It's not an instant start, but it
only takes about an hour.
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