Battery Questions: FAQs & Troubleshooting

Translated on 13-10-2026, 20:47.

Hello and have a pleasant evening!

I need some advice from you regarding a battery.

I also have an old tractor that I want to move into my garage and take a look at. I need to decide whether to scrap it, sell it, or get it back in working order.
Since the battery is no longer in good condition after 13 years,
I borrowed a new battery from a friend.

However, I am hesitant to use them.
It probably is some kind of storage battery.
So, probably not suitable as a starter battery.

The tractor may only have 45 horsepower, but it has a huge, long-stroke engine. The starter motor is also a powerful piece of equipment and requires a lot of electricity.

Take a look at the battery:

That's very kind of the friend.
"But I don't want to return it to them in a defective condition either."

dieselschrauber · Translated on 13-10-2026, 20:49.

Hi Steffen,
Are there any specifications for the cold-cranking current listed here?
The manufacturer (or supplier) also sells starter batteries with the corresponding specifications.
hg
Herbert.

dieselschrauber · Translated on 13-10-2026, 20:50.

Hi.

Just to be on the safe side, connect another car with good jumper cables and a running engine.

I often managed to start my father's IHC 353 from 1967, even in sub-zero temperatures, using a 36Ah battery. I would pre-glow the engine and, if available, use a cold start accelerator.

"But that's a direct injection engine. IHC was a leader in the agricultural machinery sector back then (they even had a reversing system similar to the Vario system on Fendt tractors, but controlled by hydraulics). An older pre-chamber diesel often takes longer to start. A little bit of starting fluid in the intake manifold can also help."

dieselschrauber · Translated on 13-10-2026, 20:52.

Hi!

That was a good idea!
I took another look at the battery, and it doesn't mention anything about starting currents on it.
I'm familiar with this from regular car batteries; it's always printed on them.

No, I will not use the battery for that.
Even if it would be more convenient.

I can still get the tractor started, even when it's cold.
Charge the current battery, then pre-warm the engine with a garage heater, and it should work.

By the way, this is also a direct injection model, manufactured in Poland in 1968.
Interestingly, it doesn't have any jump start capability.

If I keep it, I'll install an electric motor pre-heater on it; I have one lying around.