Club 80-90 Forums

Hello,

I would appreciate your collected wisdom concerning prolonging the life of lead acid accumulators (car batteries).I was rather disappointed that the battery on my tractor (1953 Massey harris pony) gave up the ghost after only three seasons. Its a 6 volt, with removable bungs. When I checked the voltages I am getting only 3.2 v. The plates look ok, no deposits of sulphate. What really hurt was that the price for batteries seems to have increased by about 20% recently. In my younger days there was a product called Granville bat aid,consisting of pills to put in, one per cell. The pills were made of EDTA, (I think; ethylent di amine tetra acetic acid. This was supposed to be the only chemical compound capable of working in acid conditions for prevention of sulphate build up. Looking around on internet, I found several you tube videos proposing different answers. The first was to make up a circuit with a volt meter, a load, a diode and a vario volt source. The video showed that the circuit delivered up to 38 volts in order to charge the battery at 12v. Other solutions were to use epsom salts (magnesium sulphate), and distilled water solution then charge the battery. A more radical one was to drill a hole per cell at the base of the battery case and flush through, The hole was eventually sealed with a hot melt glue gun. The last, and most intriguing one is the electronic gadget featured below.

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Looking at how batteries are made, I suspect that if you tinker about too much, bits of red paste and so on will fall to the bottom causing a shorted cell.

What chemical reaction will precipitate sulphate from lead . I tought lead was pretty well inert.

What do you think about resonant frequencies......

Right. I am now going to fill my battry with H2sO4, and fire up henry before the day gets too hot.

Cordialement.

going to say that we used to tip a bit out in the old days and as youve said put a bit of fresh in not too much mind
mike

There are some very clever chargers for sale these days.... particulary the leisure chargers.
Some will reverse the charge to clean and de sulsphate the cathode during their regenerative progammed process.

Salut

Once a year take the battery out. Check water levels and top up if needed with distiled water. Put on charge for a night. Clean battery posts. Reinstall.

Your tractor is quite old... It's even older than our vans and look at the electrical problems with these!
Are you sure it's not over or under charging your battery?
Have you checked the dynamo and regulator for correct output?

Hello,

Thanks for your replies, I used to have a 66 splitty FBN 364 D and a 62 Karmann 5103KD, all with 6 volt batteries.

The voltage regulator, Ducellier or Paris Rohne runs at 7.2 volts. It has a dynamo, so I have to top up with distilled water once monthly, especially when it is hot weather.

In winter the tractor (henri) is barn stored, and frost free.

I did notice that the battery case was slightly bulged, but I could see nothing else, the plates look very nearly clean, but it will take no charge, it will not make a 6v bulb glow.

I bought a new 80 ampere/hour battery yesterday, 95€, and had to fill it with acid this morning. One point to mention as well as the usual precautions, the battery fizzes a bit on filling, and the fumes are quite strong. Avoid breathing them in. I then left it to settle 1 hour. Full power on restarting .

Does any one use the gadget in my first post , is this for real technology, or are we looking at the lawnmower that runs on water

Cordialement