Gonna toss my 2 cents worth again, lol. When you run multiple batteries, best practice is to run your circuits off opposite ends of the buss bar. Say bats "A, B, and C" are your 3 bat bank. Hook your positive lead the A end of the pos buss, your ground to the C end. Hooking both to the same end can result in a single battery handling most of the load. Another often neglected test when you get charging problems is to check for ac leakage in the alternator diodes. Charge your bat(s), fire up the engine, then hook an ac voltmeter between your hot and ground. If you get ac, any ac, it's killing your bats nice and slow. It's also a "slow leak" drain on your bats. A single diode being "just a little reverse bias leaky" can make you spend dough on bats better spent on groceries, lol. Some ac meter schemes will show a reading when hooked to DC however. To eliminate false reading, check both running and engine off. Should read the same on ac scale. If you see a volt or more difference, guaranteed leakage. Love the channel Gordon!
@thevikig4202 жыл бұрын
Holy truck this comment literally saved my life brother. Thank you
@ludditeneaderthal2 жыл бұрын
@@thevikig420 you're very welcome, glad it was useful
@gvannaman Жыл бұрын
CLR and hot water cleans all that stuff off quickly.
@dannymcnamara25544 жыл бұрын
Excellent video’s Gordon.Educational and informative.Thanks so much from Edmonton, Alberta!!
@57bagre4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Glenn.
@Pete-from-Tn7 жыл бұрын
Every time I had to reuse an old battery. It would shorten the new battery's life. I did it a few years ago. My truck took 4 battery's, and by using 2 of the old ones that tested good. The 2 new ones, only lasted 14 months. But when I would put all new ones in place. I would get 3 to 5 years out of them.
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
This is true if you leave a weak battery in with a new one but if you check the batteries often enough to catch one getting weak it won't have a chance to hurt the new one. In my case that hasn't been a problem for me because I do a lot of electric work and usually catch it before it has a chance to hurt anything. It's saved me a lot of money over the years.
@josecarlosarmentaperez35115 жыл бұрын
Sr. Gordon excelente video y sobre todo me fue de mucha utilidad para cuando conecte mis baterías, que Dios lo bendiga, un abrazo.
@57bagre5 жыл бұрын
Gracias Jose, bueno que te ayudo.
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
With good batteries and a gear reduction starter and good cables and ground connections. That Detroit would spin over in 0 degree weather.
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
Wrap the red cable on the negative side with black electrical tape
@alexshortsplus4 жыл бұрын
Watching your classic vids💲📺❤
@g41thomas4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your excellent videos
@57bagre4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching.
@ivanvasik41702 жыл бұрын
Good information
@cwj92027 жыл бұрын
The spark at 10:30 when connecting the ground strap to the middle battery negative post indicates there is a parasitic draw, which can cause the batteries to go dead over time, if the truck is not run.
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
The parasitic draw you are referring to is the ECM (electronic control module) (the engine computer) it always has a slight surge when reconnected, also the power inverter does that too. Thanks for the comment.
@cwj92027 жыл бұрын
I would be interested in the combined key off amperage draw for the two components. In the 47 years and since ECM's were introduced that I have been changing out group 31 batteries, I haven't seen such a big spark unless there was excessive draw somewhere.
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
I went back to that place at 10:24 to see that spark and it looks like a 15a spark like headlights would be, but I've been driving this truck for 14 years and I have seen that surge many times when reconnecting the batteries, it doesn't drain them, it might if it were parked for a couple months but I doubt it, if you touch the cable and get a spark and pull it away and touch again within a couple seconds, there is no spark, so I don't think you'll get any measurable amp draw after the surge, it probably would barely light a test light. Thanks.
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
I think if I remember, probably 90% of that surge is the power inverter, it's a big one and I have had it in there since I bought the truck in '02
@cwj92027 жыл бұрын
That makes sense to me.
@jeffreymoore77294 ай бұрын
anybody else see the sparks fly when The starter kicked? your youtube timeline indicator may be in the way.. ? (min:17:02)
@thereviewer41736 жыл бұрын
Keep the videos coming!
@57bagre6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Tom.
@48estados585 жыл бұрын
Gordon, how do you test an alternator? Can you do a video please. Thanks for sharing.
@57bagre5 жыл бұрын
If you have a volt meter on your dash, just look at that and turn on a few accessories and kick your idle up a little (800 - 1000 rpm) and see if your volts stay between 13 and 14 volts. If you don't have a volt meter on your dashboard then clip a handheld meter on the battery. Good subject for a video.
@48estados585 жыл бұрын
@@57bagre Thank you very much, I will do that.
@ClassicTrucker3 жыл бұрын
Have a question Gordon. My truck sat for awhile and my inverter ran the batteries down I have driven a few days now and mostly been starting ok but sometimes when I try to start it the starter locks up just makes a clunking instead of rolling over is it the starter? Or are my batteries still low? I never had starter problems before it's a detroit like yours.
@Mike-ub1tc7 жыл бұрын
to check battery should have each one unhooked the way u did was pulling from other one on + side
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
I did it right, I have a lot of experience with electric.
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
Every three to five years you wanna replace the batteries. Doesn't matter if it's a semi or a car
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
Well you keep saying this old truck. Well that old truck will last longer then this new crap. Last winter I had to run down to erie pa from buffalo in the wrecker to do a tractor swap for yrc. The unit I was bringing back from pa went into derate mode. Well I showed up and the driver asked me. That wrecker got def on it. No sir that's a 93 kenworth with a 60 series and a 13 speed. We buy or build order stuff without the def. He said lucky you lol. It was freezing cold that night lucky the tractor stayed running to keep him warm
@57bagre5 жыл бұрын
I have no intention of getting a newer truck, I used to be a car mechanic a long time ago but I was never a computer technician. Thanks for watching.
@57bagre5 жыл бұрын
I think I remember you from a couple years ago, were you following me then?
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
@@57bagre I don't blame ya. I need to catch up on your video's
@feeneysmechanical62155 жыл бұрын
@@57bagre yes sir
@Austin22763 жыл бұрын
Question sir, when I check my batteries while connected parallel it shows a lower CCA than when they are individually tested. Am I doing something wrong or are my cables bad? Voltages on both batteries are the same.
@57bagre3 жыл бұрын
Sorry, I can't answer that without testing it myself.
@jbrown59395 жыл бұрын
Gordon can you explain how a non-mechanic truck driver can jump start a 3 battery setup? Is there a way to do it with a $600 pro mechanic style jumper? Got a dead kenworth right now and in-lieu of trickle charging each battery with a 12-volt charger I'm looking for way to jump start. Any help appreciated, thanks
@jbrown59395 жыл бұрын
Sorry, Meant is a way to do it WITHOUT $600 pro mechanic style jumper?
@57bagre5 жыл бұрын
Just hook up cables from a car the same as you would jump any other car and let the car run for maybe 1/2 hour to charge the truck batteries before trying to start it.
@jbrown59395 жыл бұрын
@@57bagre thanks Gordon. I like your approach to things. People always quick to jump on somebody sharing their knowledge at the slightest difference. You know the correct way my friend. Keep it up.
@tomchristopher712 жыл бұрын
Where do you buy the battery nuts with the open threads?
@57bagre2 жыл бұрын
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S10JMBO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Also any truck dealer or farm supply.
@tomchristopher712 жыл бұрын
@@57bagre The link took me to the closed top battery nuts. The battery nuts that you use are open top with threads. I've never seen those type of battery nuts. I found some on ebay. Thanks.
@EduardoSilva-xe3gp7 жыл бұрын
you mentioned that the original 9/16s nuts that go originally with the batteries tend to get loose and thats my case big time any suggestions on how to eliminate that problem budd?
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
Try twisting the cables to the counter clockwise side while tightening the nuts, hold them far enough to that side so they will not turn all the way back to their natural position while you tighten the nut, then the cables are pulling slightly to the tightening direction when they are relaxed. Thanks for the question.
@EduardoSilva-xe3gp7 жыл бұрын
+Gordon Robertson Actuality thank you makes sense and i wouldn't though about it in a 1000 years
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
Very welcome, I hope it helps.
@rickray58846 жыл бұрын
That a Boy Gordon
@KeithRa688 жыл бұрын
I think you need to look at the ground on the frame it shot out sparks at 17:02
@57bagre8 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I'll have a look next time the truck is at home and make sure everything is tight.
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
Did you see my new video (Brazing, and repairing broken ground stud) on fixing the loose ground that you brought to my attention? the nut was tight but the threads were bad.
@KeithRa687 жыл бұрын
I watch that video i'm glad you found the problem.Their nothing i hate worse then turning off a truck and it won't restart.
@gerrykehoe98076 жыл бұрын
hoooopi.
@dougankrum33287 жыл бұрын
...Those 'Continental' batterys....how good are they....what kind of $$$ and life do you get....nice job cleaning all the 'semi-conductor' dirty stuff.....!
@57bagre7 жыл бұрын
they cost about $130 each, they last about 5 to 7 years.
@diptarajbiswas71784 жыл бұрын
I can charge Solar panels
@gmiasbriada50608 жыл бұрын
Gordon - where do you live?
@57bagre8 жыл бұрын
Illinois, near St Louis, Missouri
@gmiasbriada50608 жыл бұрын
+Gordon Robertson in the Video you mentioned that you have more Machines Standing around - what Kind of Machines? also: would you recon the life in america? here in Germany its so... ruled by the goverment. best regards, Martin
@57bagre8 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by recon, maybe we use that word differently here in the U.S. My other machines are bobcat, mimi excavator, and a number of small engine machines for landscape work. As for the government, we have our share of problems, if you're lazy and have no discipline, the government will meet all your needs at the expense of those who work hard, and we are taxed out of almost everything we don't need to eat. How then did I buy all this equipment? If I wasn't a mechanic before I was a truck driver, I could not have bought this old junk and repaired it all. Yes this is the land of oppertunity but you have to know how to defend yourself from the government or they will eat you alive. We can continue this on private msg. If you want. Thanks for your comment.