How To Winterize and Maintain The Battery on a Riding Lawnmower
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- čas přidán 15. 11. 2018
- Battery care and preventive maintenance is essential when it comes to the off season and winter months, when your lawn tractor or ride on lawnmower will not be used for several months. Take precautions like I show you in this video and you will save some money when spring time comes around because you won't have to buy a new battery.
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Easiest Way To Winterize Or Store A Weed Eater ➜ • Easiest Way To Winteri...
How To Winterize A Lawn Mower, Pressure Washer, Etc. ➜ • How To Winterize A Law...
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Learn how to properly fix or repair your own outdoor power equipment if it won’t start, bogs out, won’t rev up, chain or blade is dull and doesn’t cut good, needs sharpened, or simply just runs poorly. Simple and basic, do it yourself (DIY) tutorials to help you with your broken lawn and garden equipment. I do my best to teach you how I easily diagnose problems the fastest, quickest and most efficient way.
Whether it be a handheld, two stroke, two cycle engine like chainsaws, weed eaters, string trimmers, grass trimmers, line trimmers, hedge trimmers, strimmers, brush cutters, leaf blowers, or four stroke, four cycle units like lawn mowers, pressure washers, generators, ride on mowers that need parts installed or replaced, I’m your guy.
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Easiest Way To Winterize Or Store A Weed Eater ➜ czcams.com/video/hdleYDvm9BY/video.html
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Best Way To Clean Under the Deck on a Riding Lawnmower ➜ czcams.com/video/RpURLWPNI1o/video.html
Make sure to check out the Saloon here too…
Click here for my website ➜ www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/
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Follow me on Facebook ➜ facebook.com/stevessmallenginesaloon
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If you don't have any distilled water, R-O water is also OK.
Instead of battery tender I installed the battery inside the fender well on my truck and hooked up a couple of jumper wires for the winter. It seemed to work okay for me; do you see any problems wtih this idea?
Sadly my 12V is reading 8.5 v so is it a Dead aka Boat Anker?
I really don’t like beer but I really like this guy!
Fair enough! Thank You...
Back in the 1970s, I was the chief machanic for a large retail distributor. This distributor (center) had hundreds of electric order picking carts that were always on the move. One of my duties was to maintain these carts including their batteries. So, hen I first got this job I reached out to a few battery manufacturers with my questions. I agree with everything you said except for one thing which was the level of the fluid in the battery. What I was told told back then was that each battery cell should be filled with distilled water so that this fluid just touches the battery's plastic case in the cell. That will ensure your battery will not be damaged by low fluid level when in operation. However, I really enjoyed this video and all of your other videos. They have taught me (an old timer) a few things.
I charged my battery to 14.1 volts. Still won't crank the mower. I figured it's toast. Bought a new battery and all is well. I'll try Steve's tips and hopefully the new battery will last longer. Thanks, Steve.
Here in SW Florida the battery is not going to freeze, but the grass growth does slow to a crawl as the weather gets dryer (and I don't water my lawn). So my riding mower doesn't get used very often in the winter. What I've done to keep the battery charged is bought a small solar panel that keeps it charged up.
Excellent video as always Steve, quick tip, use your Hydrometer filled with distilled water to top-up the cells - easier to control than pouring from a bottle. Regards from Germany!
Excellent tip my friend, Thank You...
Or dollar store turkey Baster
@@drizler great idea. Just make sure you dont baste your turkey later on. Lol! But seriously ... great idea. I keep mine in the shop on a peg board. Peeps dont ordinarily think about a turkey baster in the shop but there are a 1000 uses for it. I cut a bit of the tip off but not too much. It will suck up heavier fluids such as oil a bit better. I can then use it to suck up heavier oil or remove the suction ball and use the tube as a small long stem funnel as well. I just put a hazard sticker on the tube so there is never any confusion.
Battery cells are separated so don't forget to check each of the 6 cells with the hydrometer. You may find one or more cells with lower specific gravity than the rest.
@@drizler Turkey Basters are great in the shop ,find a lot of handy stuff for shop in Dollar Stores .
Love your tips. Why it's important to disconnect the negative terminal first is because if you touch the frame with a wrench on positive side first it will cause a short. Disconnect negative first as Steve said and remove that safety hazard.
I've seen cases, especially in hoopty old John Deere mowers with no hood where a dirty battery top causes the battery to discharge. That junk between the terminals can get soaked in electrolyte residue around the vents over time, then you have a very small amount of current flowing through it, discharging the battery as it sits. Keep your battery clean.
excellent comment. i was gonna say the same but you had beat me to it! Lol!
8:50 I use a small wire brush to clean the terminals and posts; it removes the corrosion better and more thoroughly than sandpaper, doesn't gouge up the surfaces so much, and doesn't leave grit behind.
Thanks Steve :-) a couple of notes about voltage. This goes for any and all flooded lead-acid starting 12 volt batteries. If your multimeter reads 12 volts, the battery is actually at about 50% discharge. And some damage has been done. At around 11 .5 volts, severe damage has been done. Flooded lead-acid batteries should absolutely never be discharged any farther that is absolutely necessary. The farther discharged, the more damage is done do to sulfation, potentially cracked plates and a whole bunch of other nonsense that usually only Engineers understand :-) a fully charged 12 volt battery should read approximately 12.6 volts plus or minus a tenth of a volt. If it reads above that, as yours does that's called a surface charge and is basically a false charge that is a good indicator of a fully charged battery. Not trying to be a know-it-all, this is just something I happen to have extensive experience with. (Battery nerd). Hope this helps somebody :-) I'm drinking a blue Foster's oil can while typing this BTW
Good info Jon, Thank You...
Depends, more acidic solutions in SLA chemistry, mean greater voltage and output, with greater corrosion.
I like mine to be around 12.9 on the shelf, when I buy them new. (about 3 months old)
The older ones will be all over the lower side of the map in voltage.
DarkLinkAD
Haha! I thought I was the only one that brought my multimeter to go buy a new battery :-) the guys behind the counter always look at me like I'm up to no good while I'm testing the batteries on the shelves
@@jontheroofer1968: Don't forget to check the date code for freshness, You do not want to buy a 2 year old battery when the one behind it was made last month!
Steve always a good idea to have a container of baking soda and water mix incase of a spill on body parts and clothing.
The colder my beer the faster it disappears, can’t figure it out.
Flying Bob It's yor belly button,plug it!
Steve, I love the subject. I have practiced putting my lawn tractor battery in my heated garage on a piece of plywood away from the cold floor every winter. I make sure it is fully charged after it is removed and use a cheap HF trickle charger. The first battery lasted almost 7 years before giving up the ghost. I do the same for my Jet Ski. I can honestly say it increases the lifespan of the battery from my experience. 👍👍👍👍👍
Right on
Hi Steve - I'm in the UK and have just come across your channel. I have a couple of ride-on mowers at our holiday home, and we always ensure the electricity is turned off when we leave to avoid any problems, so a 'battery tender' is out of the question. I always remove the batteries from our tractors, and I bought a couple of Solar panel 12v trickle chargers which I hang in the workshop window & connect to the batteries whilst we are away. They don't use any electricity, and they keep the batteries charged up ready for the next visit! Solves a lot of hassle.
That don't fly in Canada, where we get down to -30 C every winter.
Solid information Steve. Fyi, for other Canucks, Princess Auto (our harbor freight) regularly puts 750 mA battery maintainers on for $7.99 Cdn. They work well, and have lasted well so far.
Loved it! Wonderful information.
Greetings from the UK - great tips there Steve, thanks for the indepth explanation!
I have always had 3 or 4 batteries to winterise and like you said top off and fully charged, now here is were i differ , i always left them in unheated garage never had any problems with my batteries and the lowest number of years they lasted was 7years and my optima red top 13 years , now i really don't think the cold is the problem, this is only my opinion but the result are hard to ignore .Richard !!! Love your site !!!
Again I love this channel. All the stuff I need to know or have questions about always answered . Plus the beer thing had me. Great job again Steve your the man.
Thank You...
Glad you cleared up the myth about concrete discharging batteries. I've tried to tell many people and friends that same thing. They won't accept that fact from me. Sharing this vid with folks now. - Keep the vids coming.
Right on John..
I like the video you provided for us and I know about some of the things you mentioned, but not all of them and have to get my batteries in my mower, tractors, and vehicles checked so the equipment will be ready when I need them. Thanks for sharing this information with us all and I hope you have a great week.
Great video. I saw a comment below about using baking soda to neutralize any acid on the outside of the battery that can cause corrosion to the cables. My dad many years ago showed me how to use really hot water and a few tablespoons of baking soda and just dip the ends of the cables and connects into this solution, works great. Then you can clean them with wire brush or emory cloth as you suggested.
You had lots of great information, thanks for another really helpful video.
Good information. Tomorrow I hook up the battery tender. It’s much easier than running the tractor during the cold winter months.
Good luck!
Your videos are awesome. Great information. Much appreciated.
So nice of you
Thanks Steve, for giving us temperatures in °C - most of us in Europe don't do °F 👍
You're Welcome...
Thank you again Steve. A great primer for the at home mechanics. Most all new smart chargers have a maintain level that is automatic. Cycle through that batteries for a couple weeks each and all is happy. The charger also gets the advantage of not drawing damp. Most all electronics are better off staying on continuously.
Great video Steve. Great information and will definitely save a lot of people time and money. Thanks for all of your hard work that guess into these videos.
Thank You...
Thanks Steve for sharing this video with us. Great stuff for the diys guys.
You're Welcome...
Good video, on a tricky subject. Thanks for the research, and taking care of your batteries is well worth the time. Thanks again, Steve!
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
mine goes into the cellar, on a shelf, with a $5 trickle charger from harbor freight. starts the tractor every year so far.
Thank You...
I do the same with my lawn tractor battery and my 3 Harley batteries and I get 10 years life on these batteries.
Awesome video Steve. I learn something new every time I view one of your videos. Keep up the great work. God bless
Thank You...
Steve, you're videos are SUPER informative, concise and entertaining! THANK you for so much for making them. Cheers from Washington state!
Wow, thanks!
Love your videos. Appreciate all the info you share. Keep them rolling.
Thank You...
I found your channel last summer while trying to adjust my trimmer carburator. I love your channel, the humour you put in it, and the running gag with a beer before every job.
Thank You...
Great video Steve , now i am all charged up and ready to tackle my battery with all your great information Thanks for the videos keep them coming . Cheers
Thank You...
Once again, thanks for taking the time to explain these things, I for one, really appreciate it!
My pleasure!
Great tips and video as usual, that is why we watch you !!
Thank You...
Thanks Steve ,again for doing the home work , i like all you're video's !
My pleasure
Steve's channel cheers me up. 👍
Awesome!
Thank you for another great video. Take care.
Thanks, you too!
Well done mate! Very informative 👍🇦🇺😀
Thanks 👍
Well done, Steve. Thanks
Very welcome
Thanks Steve for such great tips. Keep'em coming your well appreciated
You're Welcome...
Great info.well presented.thanks steve
You're Welcome...
Nice job Steve, your a great teacher. Thanks for all the work you do.
I appreciate that!
Man. Thank you brother. Such an informative video. I will literally never forget what I just learned. Very valuable information. Thanks for the piece of wisdom. Keep it up man.
My pleasure!
Steve, if you don't want someone to steal your battery, then put your name on the battery... not the cell cap, which someone will move onto their "dud" battery and leave in your shop after stealing your good one!
Plus, I can't believe folk keep leaving nasty comments on your channel, when you're saving punters, like me, all over the world, heaps of time and money by giving free advice which otherwise takes decades of experience and money to accumulate. Thanks so much!
You're Welcome...
Thank you Steve!!!
It's a VERY good idea to check batteries a couple of times a year. When I took auto shop, they told us batteries were soon to be junk if the plates get exposed at all. We were told to fill the cells until we could see the water touch the bottoms of the caps's sockets. The caps only go about half way down into their sockets. Nice video all the same.
Thank You...
Thanks for the work you put into your videos Steve I learn a lot from watching.
Very welcome
Vaseline works just as good as dielectric grease, when I wired homes we used no-lox with aluminum wire, I use this on batteries too but is messy so started to use vaseline on battery terminals and lightbulbs in cars and my mower.
Reno Raines I prefer anti seize silver based grease,best for conductivity & anti rust !!!
Good information there Steve, I wish you would have gone thru how to possibly bring back a Sulfated battery.
Steve as usual good advice,I have found that for really dirty corroded battery tops boiling water does a good job of cleaning them up.
Love watching your vids man they are well put together
Thank You...
Very good info, easy to understand, and remember. Non believers can go to the battery store in spring and see the pile of dead batteries.
Thank You...
Thanks Steve Great job
Thank You...
Excellent Steve. I need to do this right now Thanks.
You're Welcome...
Steve, I just retired from AT&T after 47 years of working in a central office. We have all sorts of lead-acid batteries. You are spot on. A couple of extra tips. When cleaning your battery, use a little baking soda. That will neutralize any acid that seeped out. For a di-electric grease, we used a product called NO-OX-ID A-SPECIAL. They were using that product long before I started. Really good stuff. I've used it on my cars without any problems for years.
Right On...
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon wondering if reg. greese will work ????
granpa said so
Never let any making soda seep onto the battery cells though. It neutralizes the acid in the cells.
@@okeanakidd5118 I have used regular grease for many years and on many machines. If everything is coated with grease even taking out the tightening bolt and nut and the hole it goes into and even coat the cable if exposed at the connection. I have never had any corrosion or connection problems. Of course you have to clean everything first. I believe what it does is it keeps it from being exposed to the air. Even taking out the battery for winter storage and put back when needed. I do give my batteries a top up charge every couple of months in storage and batteries seem to last a long time. Going dead is the hardest thing on a battery.
Dale in Canada
Thanks Steve, very informative and easy to understand...!
Very welcome
In addition to providing excellent information....you are a great entertainer
WOW! Thank You...
Excellent video. Thanks for the needed information.
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
Thank you Steve great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Thx for busting the concrete myth. One of my favorite channels brother. Keep up the great work Steve. 🍺
My pleasure!!
Excellent video. I love my battery tenders.
Thank You...
Thank you for the education & sharing your research!
Our pleasure!
Great video Steve, and I was just thinking about this the other day. Cheers
Thank You...
Excellent advice as I'm trying to maintain a mower battery and a travel trailer battery over winter.
You can do it!
Grab a beer kick back and relax 🤣 that's what I'm doing each time I watch your videos! Even things I already know some I always learn more because you always go into detail best I've seen on youtube!
Love that!
Always good info! Thanks Steve!
You're Welcome...
Thanks Steve! Getting ready to winterize!
You're Welcome...
Hell, I just remove the battery and bring it in the house till next season arrives.
great series.
Thank You...
Hello from Pennsylvania! Good one Steve. Add a rubber apron PPE, not to get holes in your clothes. I ran a battery shop once. When you have a charge on a battery and the caps are off (you had your on), realize the battery is releasing hydrogen gas, very flammable stuff. I ran a Hydrogen Plant once too. Keep up the good work Steve and thanks for sharing with us. Battery tender, I like that. I bought a Mr Funnel you had on a previous video I viewed. Hey, you're costing me friend. Here's a tip during the COVID19 Pandemic for us seniors viewers; Take vitamin D-3 to help strengthen the immune system. Old guy signing out ...
Another great video !!! Thank you for the info, very helpful !!!
Thank You... and You're Welcome...
thanks steve. great job as usual. have a good thanksgiving.
Thank You...
More great information Steve.
Thank You...
Another great video. Thanks
You're Welcome...
Excellent Video!! Best information about batteries I've heard.Do the maintenance or pay more money.
Great point!
Great video from start to finish.
Thank You...
Steve from Ohio here . Love your vidio's Stevo ! Seriously tho , you did the worst clean up of that battery & terminals & connections I ever seen ! !
I keep all that stuff CLEAN .
Wire brush , Baking Soda , Water , elbow grease .
Good video! Thank you!
Thank you too!
Best Channel . Steve your the man. THANK YOU
You're Welcome...
Great tips, thanks for sharing.
No problem!
Very good info Steve!!!! Thanks!!
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
U were right on the John Deere deck shaft bearings,thanks for the heads up.u da man great vedios here
Thank You...
Outstanding great job Sreve
Thank You...
You taught me a number of things I did not know in this video. We have five batteries ,and it seems that one always is dead. It is almost September now, so I will start getting ready for the winter using this information. Thanks very much for your presentation.
You're Welcome...
Thanks Steve very helpful tips!
You're Welcome...
Great job Steve!! 👍👍👍😎🇨🇱
Thank You...
Awesome job Steve.
Thank You...
Actually learned something this time good video
Right on
Steve, I watched this last year and utilized your advice in our Kubota Diesel tractors. (Work)
In previous years we'd trash a couple batteries a year. We'd do annual service (fluids, filters, repairs) and park the damn things 200 yards from the bay. Winter wind is colder than hell. After doing 20 minutes of additional maintenance to our grass cutters every one of um started this past spring. Saved the Co at "least" a couple hundred bucks!!
You're damn good at what ya do. 👍👍
Right on Buddy! Thank You...
Great point Steve. I've been using battery tenders for decades with no battery problems !
Right on Jimi...
Great video Steve. A little PMI work goes a long way. I know guys that buy new batteries every couple of years because they don't take simple measures like the ones in this video.
Thank You...
Ha! I mowed my lawn two weeks before Christmas and I've been mowing since the end of February.
Thank you for this video. Exactly what I needed to know for my mower. My mower is only 2 years old and I've slacked on battery maintenance, so I wasn't sure what I would find. Luckily, water level was still good, and it measured 12.4 volts. Cleaned it up, hooked it to the battery tender just to get it fully charged, and should be ready to fire up next week. Thanks again!
You're Welcome...
Great information and good camera work.
Thank You...
Thanks Steve very helpful.
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Thanks again Steve!
You're Welcome...
Interesting and thorough explanation, AS ALWAYS. Thanks Steve and I'm gonna take my battery in right now because it 's gonna get cold out here in Quebec as you might know....
Right on...
Great info thank you.
Very welcome