4010 3ET Battery

[sitiakab]

I have a 1960's 4010 / gasoline. I have owned it for 20 years. It uses one battery - 12 volt - 3ET. I have tried batteries from a local battery retailer, Strongbox from JD, batteries plus, tractor supply etc. No matter whose brand I try, it seems the batteries only last a couple of years. Charging system, cables, etc. all fine. Can a more modern 12 volt battery be used with some sort of custom made battery box? Mine appears to have room for a more square box vs the standard rectangular box. If anyone has done this, or knows of a source for boxes, or has any knowledge, I would appreciate the comments or help.

 

[Tx Jim]

Yes a regular 12 volt battery should be fine.

 

[DeltaRed]

Yes,you can change battery types. just build a box and hang it on a convienent place. I see the frame rails used frequently. A neighbor hung 2 batterys under the oil pan on his 3020 loader tractor

 

[Steve@Advance]

By all means, change it if you can!

I used to have to run those in forklifts. Total junk!

Tried every brand I could find, same as your story, last a year or 2 at most.

 

[onefarmer]

I just took some angle iron and a plate of steel and made a battery box to hang on the frame rail.

 

[SVcummins]

My first set of strong box hibernators lasted 12 years then the next couple sets only lasted about 3 years at the most

 

[Mike M]

IIRC I'm pretty sure our 4020 gas in on it's 3rd battery since 1992 ? 1st one an interstate, then either a tsc or rural king that thing seeped fluid all the time ! yuck. The one in it now I'm not sure if it is a rural king or from a local guy who sells no label batteries. One time I was having trouble with it going dead and I still think it was from those little felt washers Dad stuck on it under the terminals. I think we only put 3 batteries in it so far, but the one that was in it when we bought it I bet lasted a few years or so ? So lets go with a total of 4 in 25 years. So 6 + years each isn't bad.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

Make yourself a nice box and mount out of the way. A 3et is only a 450 CCA battery no matter what brand. Get yourself a 1000-1200 CCA battery and big cables. You can not have to much battery. Tom

 

[Kent Petersen]

If it was mine i would change over to an alt battery life is much better

 

[Tracy Brown]

what I have done is built/mount a battery box on frame rail as close to starter as possible. Then get a battery for a semi truck with the studs. They seem to corrode less and most have high CCA. Bought my last ones at the Mack truck place for around $70-80 each

 

[stonerock]

the tractor has been that way sence new, fix the problem dont modify the tractor, you start hanging batts on the side of it and it takes away from the value of the tractor. got 3020 and 4020 sence new [66] they are just fine starting in the winter, keep your maintenance up on your eq and then there is no problem

 

[Bob in SD]

"Me too". If you search the JD forum here there are pictures of similar erections. I built mine right next to the starter and used a Walmart plastic battery box. Maybe 2 feet of cable (times 2). Also put an alternator on.

Bob

 

[Bob in SD]

Mine's an 3020. And I meant "[b:654c4848f0]I [/b:654c4848f0] also put an alternator on" -- not telling you what to do!

 

[Bob in SD]

What is "winter"? My 3020 is basically a 15 gpm hydraulic pump with a couple of wheels thrown in for good measure. At -20 F it's not cranking fast. Even if de-stoked, but I guess you'd also be against that non-factory modification?

 

[3020G]

(quoted from post at 17:03:12 12/05/17) the tractor has been that way sence new, fix the problem dont modify the tractor, you start hanging batts on the side of it and it takes away from the value of the tractor. got 3020 and 4020 sence new [66] they are just fine starting in the winter, keep your maintenance up on your eq and then there is no problem

I agree here.

Our '67 4020 with M&W Turbo (Turned up, harder to start) has had the original battery box setup from new and turned up since '68. Lot's of cold starting being a loader tractor. Battery's are marked 09/10 so several years. I think you have a problem, not junk batteries. FWIW the batteries in it and my 4230 are Deka's.

 

[Duner Wi]

What I did on my IH with a battery like yours I have a tray so I made it
wider in the middle on the inside by less than an inch. 4 3/8 inch to 5 1/8 inch.
I used a 51 or 51R battery. This was about 10 years ago and same battery in it.
If I put a 3EE or 3ET back in it nothing is visible unless you take the battery out. I do have a tank heater for the cold weather.