Electrical System
74
Service Manual – SC6500
™
Maintenance and Adjustments
Warning! Before performing any machine maintenance or adjustments, make sure the key
switch is off and the key is removed from the machine.
Wet-cell Battery Maintenance
Correct maintenance of electric vehicle batteries can greatly extend their life. Well-maintained batteries may
last up to three years, but failure after one year is common if maintenance has been inadequate.
There are three simple rules for good battery maintenance:
• Maintain the correct electrolyte level (check weekly). Use distilled water in batteries whenever possible.
If batteries are discharged, add just enough water to cover the plates in each cell. If batteries are fully-
charged, fill each cell to the bottom of the filler tube.
Do not overfill the batteries! Do not add acid to
batteries!
• Keep the batteries charged (charge weekly). Batteries should be charged each time that a machine is
used for more than one hour. The battery compartment cover should be open during charging to avoid
a concentrated buildup of hydrogen gas. Operators should follow the instructions provided with their
specific battery charger to determine how long the batteries should be charged. Even when a machine is
stored, the batteries should be charged once a month to prevent the batteries from “sulfating”. Almost all
battery caps are vented, so there’s no need to loosen or remove them for charging.
• Keep the batteries clean (check and clean monthly). Use a damp cloth to wipe dirt from the top of the
batteries. Battery terminals must be clean and tight. If the tops of the batteries are wet after charging,
the batteries have probably been overfilled or overcharged.
Note:
If there is acid on the batteries, wash the tops of the batteries with a solution of two
tablespoons of baking soda to one quart/liter of water.
Checking the Battery Water Level
1. Check the water level of the batteries at least once a week.
2. After charging the batteries, remove the vent caps and check the water level in each battery cell. Use
distilled or demineralized water in a battery filling dispenser (available at most auto parts stores) to fill
each cell to the level indicator (or to approximately 3/8” [10 mm] over the top of the separators).
Do not
overfill the batteries!
Caution! Acid can spill onto the floor if the batteries are overfilled.
3. Tighten the vent caps.
4. Wash the tops of the batteries with a solution of baking soda and water. Use a mixture of two
tablespoons of baking soda to one quart/liter of water).
Charging Wet-cell Batteries
Charge the batteries each time the machine is used, or when the battery indicator is reading less than full.
