Deuce cold weather starting problem!!!!!

[FASTFISH]

Well, I went out to start the deuce yesterday and all I got was a clunk when I pushed the start button. It didn't turn over, just clunked, any ideas??? It was REALLY cold yesterday!!!

 

[TenTires]

Batteries good? It doesnt get that cold here in VA but when it starts to get below 40 my batteries start acting funky. Check your electrolyte (should be fluid under all your little caps on top of the batteries) and make sure its not frozen. Put a multimeter across the leads of each battery and make sure youve got 12v across each one and 24 across both. Worth a shot......

 

[FASTFISH]

There was alot of snow on the hood so I cleaned it off to get some sunlight on the solarizer to see if that will help charge the batteries!!! I even cleaned the ice off of the solarizer, I figured I would let it sit a week with the sun blasting on it and try again next weekend!!!

 

[jasonjc]

The solarizer is NOT a battery charger. It's a battery condtioner. If the batts are low it will not help any. Put a chager on them.

 

[98hd]

I had trouble starting mine after it say for 2 weeks. My 5 ton wouldn't start either. Ended up pushing them close together, and slaving them. All 6 batt's together started the deuce w/ some starting fluid pretty quick. Once that was running, the 5 ton quickly started also. I guess I need to park them close together all winter.

 

[jwaller]

a dead clunk is a dead battery. charge them and you'll be fine.

 

[FASTFISH]

Can I jump it with a 12v car battery???

 

[gat53]

I used to work for a remote mine in Northern Alaska. We would take the batteries out and keep them inside the mess hall so they would stay warm. The next morning we would take them to the Deuce and it would fire right up. We ran 20 weight engine oil with some Marvels Mystery Oil mixed in to help out. We are talking 40 to 50 below, cold!

 

[dburt]

Jumping with a 12volt car battery will not help because your system on the deuce is 24volts. Just unhook the center cable that ties the two batteries together in series, and put a 12volt charger on each battery until you get a full charge on each one. If they don't take a full charge, then one or both may be bad and need replacement.

 

[TenTires]

Can I jump it with a 12v car battery???

Jumping with a 12volt car battery will not help because your system on the deuce is 24volts. Just unhook the center cable that ties the two batteries together in series, and put a 12volt charger on each battery until you get a full charge on each one. If they don't take a full charge, then one or both may be bad and need replacement.

Thats exactly what I was going to recommend........

 

[jdmcgowen]

I have jumped my deuce with my f350 several times just hooked jumper cables to one of the batteries. Not trying to disagree with anyone, but is this a bad thing? Worked well.

 

[5.0fox]

I have jumped my deuce with my f350 several times just hooked jumper cables to one of the batteries. Not trying to disagree with anyone, but is this a bad thing? Worked well.

We have done this many times with ours too. Like you say it has worked well. I am interested to hear if this is a bad thing

 

[cranetruck]

There are still lots of scientific discoveries to made.

 

[dburt]

Jumping off of a 12volt system could work in certain limited circumstances. Such as- the deuce batteries are low, but not totally dead. Or the temp is not too cold and the deuce batteries are in poor shape but with some charge left in them, etc. But if they are totally dead, and the temp is low enough, it won't work very well, just not enough volts to crank over the engine. You won't do any damage, it just won't crank over. And if you try and jump your deuce from your 12 volt system and there are more then, say 18 volts in the batteries in the deuce, you could get some interesting feedback into your 12 volt system. Best bet, unless it is an emergency, is to put a proper charge into the deuce batteries.

 

[98hd]

Jumping off of a 12volt system could work in certain limited circumstances. Such as- the deuce batteries are low, but not totally dead. Or the temp is not too cold and the deuce batteries are in poor shape but with some charge left in them, etc. But if they are totally dead, and the temp is low enough, it won't work very well, just not enough volts to crank over the engine. You won't do any damage, it just won't crank over. And if you try and jump your deuce from your 12 volt system and there are more then, say 18 volts in the batteries in the deuce, you could get some interesting feedback into your 12 volt system. Best bet, unless it is an emergency, is to put a proper charge into the deuce batteries.

If your only hooked to one battery how can you get a feedback greater than 12v? I know I've put a meter on each individual battery while hooked up and they read 12V. Not trying to sound like an ass, just curious.

 

[m139h2otruck]

Have jumped 24 volt construction equipment using two 12 volt trucks many times. Just have to be carefull how you hook things up.

As an aside, my son started the 5 ton Mack tractor yesterday in 10 degree temps using just a single 12 volt jump to help and the on-board hot start manifold heater. Have not started it for over 2 months. Fired right off and ran fine for two hours.

 

[m16ty]

I've jumped 24v construction equip many times with a 12v truck. Alot of times it's just one battery that is low. Sometimes you will try it on one battery and it won't work but can switch to the other battery and it works.

 

[deuceman51]

I just lost a truck today because I blew out the gaskets on the oil canisters and one seal up on the manifold that splits into the 3 port on the head. I guess the oil was just too thick in this cold in SD. Looks like I have a fun winter maintenance job ahead.

 

[SasquatchSanta]

I used to work for a remote mine in Northern Alaska. We would take the batteries out and keep them inside the mess hall so they would stay warm. The next morning we would take them to the Deuce and it would fire right up.

I've got 60 watt heating pads under each battery. It keeps them warm and therefore strong. I've also got a float charger that is always plugged in then parked.

With the twin block heaters and oil pan heaters it takes a total of 1925 watts to warm Rosie up and get her started. When the weather is colder than 20 below it takes about 5 hours to get everything warmed up.

 

[bpj911]

cold starting

I must be lucky. I have had 3 deuces and currently have two. All the trucks started fine down to -20 here in NW Iowa. Luckily, I haven't needed to try them any colder. Of the 3, 2 were/are N/A. The turbo truck starts fine too but not as quickly as the N/A's. The trucks sure makes a lot of interesting noises at -20.