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5 Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery & Cable Tests
Figure 6. Testing Cable Continuity
HYDROMETER TEST
1. Check each cell using a hydrometer.
All cells should have a specific gravity of 1.27 or better.
If the cells vary by more than . 050 points, charge the
battery and recheck.
If one or more cells reads below 1.265 charge at 5 Amps
checking hourly. If the low cell or cells do not improve
within 3 hours of charging, replace the battery.
CLEAN BATTERY
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable, then the posi-
tive. See Figure 5.
2. Remove the battery from the battery compartment.
3. Replace the vent cap and remove dirt and corrosion
with a solution of 1 part baking soda and 7 parts
water.
4. Clean the posts with a wire brush until the metal is
shiny.
5. After the battery is reinstalled coat the terminals with
petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion.
C. Clean and Test Battery Cables
NOTE: Be sure to label record where and to which posts
each cable is connected.
1. Remove the negative battery cable from the battery
and from the ground. Clean the cable terminals and
the engine ground with a wire brush until the metal is
shiny.
2. Remove the positive cable from the battery and sole-
noid. Clean the terminals and solenoid post with a
wire brush until the metal is shiny.
3. Remove the cable going from the solenoid to the
starter. Clean the cable terminals, solenoid post, and
starter post with a wire brush until the metal is shiny.
4. Clean the terminal connecting the circuit breaker to
the solenoid.
5. Set the VOM to Ohms and check the cables for conti-
nuity. Replace any cable that has more than 2 Ohms
of resistance or is damaged in any way.
6. Reconnect all cables and terminals to their original
connections.
CAUTION
BATTERY ACID CAUSES SEVERE BURNS
WARNING
FOLLOW BATTERY CHARGER MANUFAC-
TURER’S INSTRUCTIONS.
BATTERY ACID FORMS EXPLOSIVE
GASSES, KEEP FLAMES AND SPARKS
AWAY.
WARNING
ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BAT-
TERY CABLE FIRST AND RECONNECT IT
LAST TO PREVENT SPARKS IF THE POSI-
TIVE TERMINAL IS ACCIDENTALLY
GROUNDED TO THE FRAME BY A TOOL
Figure 5. Battery Cable & Hardware Removal
Positive (+)
Negative (-)
Front
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