Well, that was fun and interesting.

[dngrous]

So I'm borrowing my Dad's riding mower to FINALLY get the grass cut for the final time this year, since my Wheel Horse's motor decided to go boom.

I didn't realize that regular vibration would cause a battery hold-down bolt to come loose... When it came loose and the battery slid sideways, the positive terminal welded itself to the frame of the mower. This overheated the battery, and it went BOOM.

It literally felt like getting kicked square in the buttocks, except with a lot more smoke, sparks, noise, and general mayhem.

Guess I need to replace the battery. This is turning out to be an expensive yard.

The entire top of the battery is blown apart, and I got to see inside one of those things for the first time, plates and all.

I can try to get pics later. lol

[oneokie]

Ahh, just another of the small pleasures of home/property ownership.

Keep you fingers crossed that you did not also fry the alternator...........

[Bluecometk]

dngrous you need to neutralize that acid ASAP as in tonight. If you do not you will have a royal mess and a ruined tractor. Go to the food store and buy 3 or 4 boxes of baking soda and sprinckle it on the acid and then wait a few minutes and was it off with fresh cold water. Use safety glasses and rubber gloves while doing this.


These are just my opinions
Bluecometk

[dngrous]

It's being rinsed by rain right now, and I believe the store is closed until tomorrow.

[Harry Chickpea]

Bluecometk is absolutely right. Even with the baking soda and a serious washdown (30 min or more with a hose) there may be acid in crevices and places that will cause damage. How do I know? Never buy a car that looks great but the battery has exploded. nuff said.

I'd plan on selling that mower within a year, tops.

[dngrous]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Bluecometk is absolutely right. Even with the baking soda and a serious washdown (30 min or more with a hose) there may be acid in crevices and places that will cause damage. How do I know? Never buy a car that looks great but the battery has exploded. nuff said.

I'd plan on selling that mower within a year, tops.

I doubt it'll last another year, anyway. It's Dad's mower, and he already has another Cub Cadet that's going into the shop to get fixed up. This was a stopgap mower to get us through the summer after my Wheel Horse kicked the bucket.

[dngrous]

The battery as I first saw it.

What's LEFT of the battery.

The victim.

[travis91]

ahh old murray with a walmart battery..