What are the tips for the safe maintenance of a tractor battery?
- Wear protective gear
- Prevent battery explosion
- Be aware of acid burns
- Know the symptoms of battery acid contact
- Learn basic first aid
- Follow the proper maintenance
Tractors are important farm equipment in the Philippines used for plowing, cultivating, fertilizing, and harvesting crops, and hauling materials. With their versatile uses, tractors should be maintained to work optimally when needed. Tractors are made up of numerous components and batteries are one of the most important. Here is a complete guide for the safe maintenance of the tractor battery. Continue reading on.
Wear Protective Gear
Most tractor batteries are lead-acid type, which contains a series of cells. The lead alloy plates are separated by plastic or glass fiber and also suspended in an electrolyte or sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and can burn your skin or permanently damage your eyes. While charging, it produces hydrogen gas, which can be explosive in high concentrations.
Thus, the most important tip for those performing battery maintenance on a tractor is to wear protective gear. You will need to wear goggles and gloves while servicing the battery.
Prevent Battery Explosion
To prevent the tractor battery from exploding, there are a few things you need to do. Before servicing the battery, you will need to disconnect the negative (-) battery terminal first. And after the service work, you need to connect the positive (+) battery terminal first.
Remember that a battery emits explosive and flammable gasses, so be very careful when handling them during service. Ensure that you keep cigarettes, open flames, and sparks far away. Lastly, don’t place metal pieces across the battery posts.
Be Aware Of Acid Burns
A tractor battery contains sulfuric acid, which can burn your skin and damage your eyes. For this reason, you need to know how to prevent this accident from happening.
When you’re servicing your tractor battery, make sure to do it in a well-ventilated area — especially if you’re filling electrolytes or charging the battery. Avoid inhaling fumes, and make sure that you’re wearing protective goggles and gloves. The most important thing to do is to avoid letting your skin touch the electrolyte.
Know The Symptoms Of Battery Acid Contact
If your skin touches the battery acid, you should immediately seek medical assistance. Battery acid will typically cause damage to the area where the acid has made contact. The severity of the damage will depend on how long the acid is in contact with your skin. Be aware of the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Itching
- Redness
- Burning
- Irritation
- Blisters
- Blackened skin
Once the battery acid makes contact with your lips or eyes or is inhaled or ingested, other symptoms can also occur:
- Impaired vision
- Loss of vision
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Dizziness or fainting
- Headache
- Muscle spasms
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Cardiac arrest
Learn Basic First Aid
When you come in contact with sulfuric acid from a tractor battery, the first thing you need to do is to make a solution of warm soapy water. Wash the affected area with this solution to completely remove the acid. Remember that battery acid needs to be flushed from the skin immediately, even if it doesn’t cause damage.
If the eyes come in contact with the acid, flush them with running water for 15 to 30 minutes. For swallowed acid, it’s recommended to drink plenty of milk to neutralize the acid.
Follow The Proper Maintenance
To perform proper battery maintenance, it’s important to read the manual of the tractor. Ensure that you read the instructions to know how to care for them. This also ensures that you know the safety protocols to follow when handling tractor batteries.
If your tractor has been idle for a long period, the battery can be discharged. If the battery juice is low, it’s beneficial to use a high-powered charger. Take time to examine connections for corrosion, fractures, or grease residue. Perform a cleaning if needed.
Key Takeaway
It’s important to learn about the safe maintenance of the tractor battery, so you can protect yourself while ensuring that this component is in the best condition!
When handling tractor batteries, remember to wear personal protective equipment, and make sure to keep electrolytes away from your eyes, hands, skin, and clothes. If you get into contact with the acid, perform first aid and get medical attention immediately. Other than that, make sure to keep sparks and flames away from the battery, because the gasses produced can be flammable.
If you’re interested in a tractor, or tractor maintenance, you can send us a message here at Ford Tractor! We can help you choose the right tractor that matches your needs on your farm.
