Batteries

[farmer boy]

We need to get 2 batteries for 2 different tractors. The cold has been presenting some problems for the last few days. Have tried quite a few Vitalife's but they don't hold up too well and you can't add water to them. What water batteries have you had good luck with in the past?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I hate to admitt this but: I buy a lot of my batteries at Wal-Hole. They have a good waranty and never ask any questions when I take one back for replacement. The better ones have a three year 100% waranty. A lot of mine go bad during the three year period.

 

[UncleTom]

A guy over on KL said that battrys are to go up 20% next month.

 

[Leland]

buy gel batterys they out last acid batterys 2-1

 

[Anonymous-0]

NAPA gel batteries for me! They're priced competitively (compared to Optima) . I've always had great luck with NAPA if I had to make a warranty claim.

 

[El Toro]

I get mine where "no name" gets his. I have one in my 1981 Mercury Cougar that going on 6 years old and one in my garden tractor the same age. I like the 3 year free replacement. You need to use a battery so you discharge it some and recharge it some. It takes a good many amps to crank my garden tractor since it uses the generator as a starter too. You don't get the benefit of the mechanical advantage like you do
with a gear type starter. So that makes the generator & regulator increase the charging amps.
Hal

 

[LenND]

I buy my tractor batteries at a local farm store(Home of Economy). They are a truck-tractor battery and have a 40 or 42 month guarantee and I have never had one that hasn't lasted at least 4 years. And that is being used on a 900 case diesel. They cost about 50 some dollars or sometimes on sale for 40 something.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree. No more lead acid batteries for me. I've lost one cruise control in a Dodge truck from acid. Almost had to replace a radiator in a tractor from the same thing. So no more battery corrosion and for me.

 

[Anonymous-0]

For a "wet" battery where you can add water, I am about ready to change the second set of batteries in my 20 year old JD 4450. The original JD's ran 9 years and the Interstates that replaced them are now 11 years old and failing.

You asked for Wet battery recomendations, so thats what you got.
For my own stuff, I will only replace the old flooded cell batterys with AGM sealed spiral cell batteries from Optima or Exide Orbital. No corrosion,little self discharge and very long life If you do not overcharge them. Of the 9 AGM spiral cell batteries I own, none have failed, with the oldest(an Optima) being 16 years old.

To you guys saying you like the GEL cell batteries for automotive applications, are you sure their GEL cell and not AGM non spillable batterys ? The gel cells have big problems in high charge / discharge situations,(bubbles in the gel electrolyte) while the AGM's do not.

 

[Walt Davies]

If you have a problem with batteries going dead all the time then change to Deep cycle they will take this kind of punishment where the other batteries will only do this a few times before going belly up. They need to be kept at full or near full charge to
last.
Walt

 

[farmer boy]

The one battery being replaced is a GS out of a Kubota that is over 9 years old. The other one is in an Allis that had it's smaller battery taken out and put in a van. The one in the van went dead. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the original battery in that van which is 13 years old.

 

[Dairy Farmer in WI]

for diesels, strong box seems to be the best i have. exide and others don't hold up as well
Df in WI

 

[HENRY E NC]

I want to add my .02 on the batteries. First, this should be well covered in the archives but I will put my vote on the AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries. They will last forever if you want them to and not charge them over 14.4 volts. I have had both gel cells and AGM's . Gel cells will bubble if charged much hhigher than 13.8. Had 8 of them in my large sailboat when we lived aboard and they lasted 12 years. I changed them to AGM just because they were 12 years old and they all went into other boats in the marina and worked fine for at least 2 years before we left. I had my alternator set right at 13.8 and my shore power charger the same. When I installed the AGM, we reset everything to 14.4. They will give anyone the same outstanding service with no worries for years. If you accidently discharge them to 0 , no problem, just charge them up.

 

[HENRY E NC]

Forgot, they will never need liquid. Why would anyone want to mess around with wet batteries anymore?

 

[Anonymous-0]

So I can use a hydrometer to check cell condition.A low cell will break down soon.