DR Power Walk-Behind Pro (1985 - 2000) - Manual (Page 28)

26 DR
®
TRIMMER/MOWER
™
Assembly & Operating Instructions
Battery Care (Electric-Starting Models Only)
Proper care can extend the life of a battery. Follow these recommendations to ensure your battery's
best performance and long life:
·
Do not continue to crank the engine with a low battery.
·
Try to keep the battery at full charge to maximize its life. If the machine is not used, the battery
should be charged every three months. See page 26 for charging information.
·
Store an unused battery in a dry area that does not freeze.
·
Do not charge an already charged battery. In theory, our battery cannot be overcharged with a
trickle charger; however, when a battery is fully charged and the charger is still on, it generates
heat that could be harmful to the battery.
Automobile batteries last for years because they are recharged every time you drive your car—
usually on a daily basis. An Electric-Starting DR
®
TRIMMER/MOWER™ will recharge its battery
while you operate it. However, if you run your DR
®
infrequently or let it sit during the off-season
without recharging, the battery life will be dramatically shortened. If the battery loses its charge, use
the DR
®
Battery Charger or other trickle charger, to recharge it. The charger should have an output
of 12 Volts at 1-2 amps.
· At 1 amp the battery may need to be charged for as long as 48 hours.
· At 2 amps the battery may need to be charged for as long as 24 hours.
Note: Using the recoil starter and then running the engine will not recharge a dead battery.
To Connect the Battery Charger
1. Detach the two battery wires going to the wiring harness on your DR
®
TRIMMER/MOWER
™
.
2. Next, attach the black (-) battery charger wire to the black (-) wire on the battery. Then attach
the red (+) battery charger wire to the red (+) wire on the battery.
3. Plug the battery charger into an outlet.
4. When the battery is charged, disconnect the charger from the battery before unplugging it from
the outlet.
Battery Troubleshooting
Symptoms of a battery needing a charge:
· The engine won't start with the key but will start with the recoil starter.
· A whirring noise coming from the starter.
· A grinding noise coming from the starter.
· No noise at all.
What to do:
· Check that the battery is fully charged. A fully charged battery should read 12 volts under load.
Manually start the engine and then put the tester on the battery. If you need to charge the
battery, follow the directions above.
· Check all cable connections.