battery problem and floating mechanism

wmarsden

New member

Equipment
B21
Oct 17, 2011
10
0
0
montreal, quebec
I have a B21, 2004. Just bought it used three weeks ago and works great. Saturday it started up perfectly. Sunday I turned the key and NOTHING. Tested the battery, which is the original factory installed battery (905 hours), and it seemed weak. Can the battery just work one day and not the next?

Also, how do i engage the floating mechanism on the frontend loader?

best
Bill
 

re54drider

Member

Equipment
L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
66
28
18
Goldston, nc
7 year old battery? I would think its time for it to die. If you FEL is like mine, to float the bucket just push the lever all the way forward until it stops.
 

bruceatlam

New member

Equipment
B20, FEL, box blade, flail mower
Aug 20, 2009
410
4
0
Camarillo, California
More data could help. What's the voltage at the battery terminals at rest? Should be 13.2 - 13.5 or so. Leave your meter attached to the battery terminals and turn the key to the start position --- voltage should hold at 12.0 or better. And, yes, the battery can work one day and then just not work the next day. Anotehr key is nice, clean tight terminals.
 

wmarsden

New member

Equipment
B21
Oct 17, 2011
10
0
0
montreal, quebec
Thanks very much, fellas.
The meter had the battery around 12.3. And the charger showed it initially at low, that at 90 per cent but then it soon started falling.

But I think you're right. 7 years on this battery means it's just about done.

As for a new battery, is it necessary to go out an buy a tractor battery, which get kind of expensive? What would you guys recommend?

As for the float mechanism, the chart on the FEL hydraulic box clearly shows the float is strait forward, but when i push the joystick straight forward, the FEL lifts up the whole front end of the tractor. I must be doing something wrong with this maneuver.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions.
best
bill
 

bruceatlam

New member

Equipment
B20, FEL, box blade, flail mower
Aug 20, 2009
410
4
0
Camarillo, California
To get the loader into "float" you need to push past the point at which the loader lifts the front ---- you should feel a little resistance and then a soft "snap" when you get to "float". Now, it is possible to have a worn gimbal --- worn so badly that you can't push the joystick into float ----