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Battery?

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    Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 3:08am
I have a 1948 CJ2A with a 6 V charging system with original generator and I am having an issue that I cannot seem to figure out normally my Jeep cranks great right now is cranking slowly so thinking the battery might be low I put it on the charger and the charger seems to cycle on and off repetitively every couple seconds maxes out the apps and then drops to 0 and repeats over and over every few seconds at 1st I thought my old charger that's really old might have an issue so I bought a new charger and it's a new Schumacher brand was over a $100 it's doing the same thing so I started thinking maybe who is the battery like it had a bad cell or something so I went today and bought a new battery at Napa that was made 3 months ago and the new charger is doing the same thing on the new battery I'm not sure what is going on here the battery is connected correctly these switch is set to 6 bolts it seems to charge fine when I said to manual charge but any time I put it on automatic it switches on and off over and over is this just I can't use an automatic setting on a 6 V battery or is something else going on has anyone had this issue 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote minnow1193 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 11:55am
Most modern chargers that I've seen don't have an auto setting for 6v. At least mine doesn't and when I was shopping for a charger, I couldn't find one that did. 

It should mention that on your charger or in the instructions. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WorkInProgress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 2:53pm
the instructions don't say anything about not being able to use auto setting on 6v.  Charger only has 2 switches. 1 switch is 6v or 12v. The other switch is manual/automatic conventional/auto deep cycle
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rus Curtis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 5:09pm
WIP,

Have you verified your battery is discharged??  When you hook 2 different chargers to your battery and then hook a new battery to the charger and get the same results, not knowing what is going on, I make the assumption that you're fully charged and the chargers are cycling in a "maintenance" or trickle charge.  Since your charger has a 6V setting, we can rule out incompatibility.

 

You should have a volt meter and a hydrometer (allows you to check fluid in each cell)! 

 

I've often observed bubbling in one cell only (or all bubble and one doesn't) when charging to identify a bad cell.  This isn't fool proof and can be dangerous as all acid batteries produce Hydrogen and can explode and spray acid all over the place (I've had 2 batteries explode on me -both times it was a short inside the case).  It's painful and unhealthy.  So, using a hydrometer to check the specific gravity is much, much safer.  Google for info including a stock number for one at your local auto parts store.

 

The voltmeter will tell you if you have a discharged battery.  Remember that a fully charged battery will read higher than its rated voltage, i.e. 6.3-6.5 for a 6V battery.

 

If your battery is fully charged, the chargers are very possibly functioning correctly.  If your battery is low, i.e. below 6.25, then one of two things is happening:  Both chargers are simultaneously not working or your battery and the new battery won't take a charge.  Since you've used 2 different chargers, I'd assume they work.  Since you've hooked up a new battery, I can also assume (at least for the new battery) that the batteries are probably ok.  Testing the battery will confirm or rule out bad.

 

And now, just in case....

 

The most overlooked problem (IMHO) I've seen are the cables.  When's the last time you inspected and cleaned?  Have your cable ends ever been replaced?  It's easier to inspect those as you can actually see the wire.  You're looking for a white powdery build up that literally acts as an insulator.  I use a wire bristle post cleaner but you can use a knife or even a screw driver - anything to scrape off the contact surfaces of both the posts and terminals.  If there is swelling or visible powder under the insulation on the wires, you may need to replace them.  Remember that 6V needs a larger gauge than 12V wires (1/0 IIRC).  You can sometimes repair cable ends by dunking in a saturated solution of water/baking soda and let it fizz.  If it's under the insulation, you'll have to slit it open far enough to see clean wire and neutralize all the corrosion.  I always try to disassemble when cleaning like this - lets the solution get into all the nooks/crannies.  If it goes deep, you may be looking at all the cables from battery down to your starter (that's at the extreme end).

 

A word of caution.  I've seen batteries destroyed by sprinkling baking soda on top to control the acid buildup.  Likewise, pouring the baking soda solution over a battery will do the same.  If there's a buildup on the battery case, I dip, squeeze (a paper towel) and then carefully wipe the battery down.

 

This is way too much information but hopefully it helps.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WorkInProgress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 5:14pm
The cables replace 2 years ago when I did a full frame off restoration on this Jeep using USA made cables for walks 4 wheel drive and they are a very heavy thick gauge made just like the originals I have cleaned the terminals on the battery and cable terminal at the top at the battery I guess my next step is to measure voltage at the battery and it probly won't hurt to clean the ground at the starter and other ground places 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WorkInProgress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 5:22pm
The old battery is 6.3 V the new battery is 6.4 V 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WorkInProgress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 5:22pm
The old battery at 6.3 V has not been charged in a couple weeks and it still sounds weak when cranking so maybe I just have dirty connections somewhere 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WorkInProgress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 5:44pm
So I just went out and I check the connections I started with the battery connections clean the posts in the cables at the top no change then I moved down to the starter removed and clean their positive cable next to the starter and then tried again and it cranks much better so my cranking issues must have just been dirty connections my battery must have been fine so apparently I just bought a new battery for no reason I will try and return it i never even connected it to the jeep but I don't know if you can even return a battery at Napa.

And for my original question about the charger cycling on and off and on and off over and over again I'm thinking I just can't use the automatic setting on 6 volt but the instructions didn't say anything about that 1 way or the other But the chargers must be fine 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rus Curtis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct. 2017 at 7:12pm
Excellent job chasing down your connections!  What you did is what I would've done - go down the line checking each connection. Be sure to check the negative where it attaches and the engine ground strap if you have one for the same thing.
 
Good luck on returning the battery.  Hopefully they'll take it back (or give you store credit).
 
A starter can also wear out and begin pulling more amps than it's supposed to (sometimes referred to as dragging) and may feel like a bad battery.  I've always taken my starter/generator into a reputable electrical store to have them checked and repaired. 
 
Nowadays you can pretty much find anything on the 'net.  Using Make/Model you may be able to either find a manual or at least a description of what the chargers are doing during a charging cycle.  Worse case maybe contact the manufacturer.  Hopefully, you'll find you have a trickle or maintenance stage.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Oct. 2017 at 11:32am
Originally posted by WorkInProgress WorkInProgress wrote:

The cables replace 2 years ago when I did a full frame off restoration on this Jeep using USA made cables for walks 4 wheel drive and they are a very heavy thick gauge made just like the originals I have cleaned the terminals on the battery and cable terminal at the top at the battery I guess my next step is to measure voltage at the battery and it probly won't hurt to clean the ground at the starter and other ground places 

Scott I have bought the same cables from Walks  and mines were loose at the  connector,I had to resolder the ends to have a good connection .You can check your ends to see if they are  tight .
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