46 www.ferrisindustries.com
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting, Adjustment & Service
BATTERY SERVICE
Checking Battery Voltage
A voltmeter can be used to determine condition of
batter y. When engine is off, the voltmeter shows
batter y voltage, which should be 12 volts. When
engine is running, the voltmeter shows voltage of
charging circuit which nor mally is 13 to 14 volts.
A dead batter y or one too weak to star t the engine
may not mean the batter y needs to be replaced. For
example, it may mean that the alter nator is not
charging the batter y properly. If there is any doubt
about the cause of the problem, see your dealer. If
you need to replace the battery, follow the steps
under Cleaning the Batter y & Cables in the Regular
Maintenance Section.
Charging a Completely Discharged
Battery
1. Be aware of all the safety precautions you should
obser ve during the charging operation. If you are
unfamiliar with the use of a batter y charger and
hydrometer, have the batter y ser viced by your
dealer.
2. Add distilled water sufficient to cover the plate (fill
to the proper level near the end of the charge). If
the batter y is extremely cold, allow it to war m
before adding water because the water level will
rise as it war ms. Also, an extremely cold batter y
will not accept a nor mal charge until it becomes
warm.
3. Always unplug or tur n the charger off before
attaching or removing the clamp connections.
4. Carefully attach the clamps to the batter y in
proper polarity (usually red to [+] positive and
black to [-] negative).
5. While charging, periodically measure the
temperature of the electrolyte. If the temperature
exceeds 125° F (51.6° C), or if violent gassing or
spewing of electrolyte occurs, the charging rate
must be reduced or temporarily halted to prevent
batter y damage.
6. Charge the batter y until fully charged (until the
specific gravity of the electrolyte is 1.250 or higher
and the electrolyte temperature is at least 60° F).
The best method of making cer tain a batter y is
fully charged, but not over charged, is to measure
WARNING
Keep open flames and sparks away from the
battery; the gasses coming from it are highly
explosive.Ventilate the battery well during
charging.
the specific gravity of a cell once per hour. The
batter y is fully charged when the cells are gassing
freely at low charging rate and less than 0.003
change in specific gravity occurs over a three hour
period.
Jump Starting With Auxiliary (Booster)
Battery
Jump starting is not recommended. However, if it
must be done, follow these directions. Both booster
and dis-charged batteries should be treated carefully
when using jumper cables. Follow the steps below
EXACTLY, being careful not to cause sparks. Refer to
Figure 47.
1. Both batteries must be of the same voltage.
2. Position the vehicle with the booster battery
adjacent to the vehicle with the discharged batter y
so that booster cables can be connected easily to
the batteries in both vehicles. Make certain
vehicles do not touch each other.
3. Wear safety glasses and shield eyes and face
from batteries at all times. Be sure vent caps are
tight. Place damp cloth over vent caps on both
batteries.
4. Connect positive (+) cable to positive post of
discharged batter y (wired to star ter or solenoid).
5. Connect the other end of same cable to same
post marked positive (+) on booster batter y.
6. Connect the second cable negative (-) to other
post of booster batter y.
7. Make final connection on engine block of stalled
vehicle away from batter y. Do not lean over
batteries.
8. Star t the engine of the vehicle with the booster
batter y. Wait a few minutes, then attempt to start
the engine of the vehicle with the discharged
battery.
9. If the vehicle does not star t after cranking for thirty
seconds, STOP PROCEDURE. More than thir ty
seconds seldom star ts the engine unless some
mechanical adjustment is made.
10.After star ting, allow the engine to return to idle
speed. Remove the cable connection at the
engine or frame. Then remove the other end of the
same cable from the booster battery.
11.Remove the other cable by disconnecting at the
discharged batter y first and then disconnect the
opposite end from the booster batter y.
12.Discard the damp cloths that were placed over the
batter y vent caps.