Battery Alternatives for Ford 2N?

[lastcowboy32]

Around here, the 6V battery type that I've used for our 2N is getting more and more rare.

I used to be able to go to a Tire n Battery shop owned by my high school Earth Science teacher, who has since retired from both teaching and his Tire n Battery shop.

When I needed a battery, he would say... "oh you need a (insert magic word for form factor and voltage) battery..." Then he would order it and I drop by and pick it up in a day or two.

I need a new battery and I've lost my source... He warned me that this particular battery type, voltage and form factor would be getting harder to find.

Are there alternatives that fit and work? Maybe a big 6V lawn tractor battery that is commonly used?

adTHANKSvance

 

[Mad Farmer]

(quoted from post at 06:31:58 05/02/23) Around here, the 6V battery type that I've used for our 2N is getting more and more rare.

adTHANKSvance

I'll be in the same bat as you when my current battery dies.

I used to get the largest battery I could shoehorn in, from Carquest, with most CCA/best warranty. Both of the last two lasted 8+ years. The one in it now is 9 years old and held charge all winter moving snow. I'll have check the size? It's a PITA to get under the hood.

Carquest got bought out by Advance and they only seem to have Diehards. Warranty does not seem to cover tractors.

 

[lastcowboy32]

Mine hasn't lasted nearly as long, even with a maintainer on it most of the winter.

It's an unsealed battery, and last spring, when it didn't seem to have much punch, I popped the caps and found that two of the three cells needed quite a bit of water added.

It lasted through the summer, for the most part, but was needing a jumpstart when temps got down into the 30s in the fall.

I tried putting the maintainer on it, for winter storage again, but the maintainer was giving me bad indications (it didn't stay at green), so I just disconnected the maintainer and relegated myself to a new battery this spring.

I start the tractor every so often with a portable jump box. Tractor is still starting like a champ, but the battery is not holding charge...

It's time. Must be it just plain lost too much water for too long and I didn't notice.

 

[lastcowboy32]

Forgot to specify... I just said it "didn't last as long"... anyway, the battery I have now was purchased three years ago. I had the generator rebuilt at the same time. Worked great for one summer. Did well on the maintainer over the winter... worked great for another summer... then something seemed to go south over the next winter on the maintainer... that's when I noticed that it needed water.

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 10:31:58 05/02/23)

I need a new battery and I've lost my source... He warned me that this particular battery type, voltage and form factor would be getting harder to find.

Are there alternatives that fit and work? Maybe a big 6V lawn tractor battery that is commonly used?

jmo, but i won't buy those little batteries anymore - they are pretty much guaranteed to **** me off. i added a tray to the back of my riding mower where a 12 volt automotive battery now sits.

many 12 volt batteries fit fine in my 2N. would you consider changing over for this reason?

This post was edited by HFJ on 05/02/2023 at 08:01 am.

 

[lastcowboy32]

Heavy sigh... the 12V solution is a viable one. Just not a time/expense that I was planning on for this year.

I really had the opportunity to do it six years back or so when I rebuilt the engine. I bought all new harnesses and ignition components... why I stuck with 6V then? I don't know... the 12V alternators and the aftermarket brackets look clunky. I just like how that old generator looks... dumb... I know.

The old beast is only 20 years from its centennial... We have two new tractors and we really only use the 2N in the summer... I figured I was just going to leave it as it was built. And the 6V battery, when it's good, will start the tractor in the coldest weather, as long as it's on a maintainer.

Yin... Yang...

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 12:19:48 05/02/23)
Heavy sigh... the 12V solution is a viable one. Just not a time/expense that I was planning on for this year.

I really had the opportunity to do it six years back or so when I rebuilt the engine. I bought all new harnesses and ignition components... why I stuck with 6V then? I don't know... the 12V alternators and the aftermarket brackets look clunky. I just like how that old generator looks... dumb... I know.

The old beast is only 20 years from its centennial... We have two new tractors and we really only use the 2N in the summer... I figured I was just going to leave it as it was built. And the 6V battery, when it's good, will start the tractor in the coldest weather, as long as it's on a maintainer.

Yin... Yang...

i feel ya. i didn't rebuild my worn out engine when i first got it because neither the time needed nor the cost were a good fit for me at the time. would it have helped? lol, of course. but it wasn't my only option. not even knowing the capabilities of my new tractor yet, i went the much cheaper/much quicker route, made it usable, and then did the engine a couple of years later once i knew i had something i was comfortable putting another $400 or 500 into (didn't drop the crank, it had and still has 20 PSI hot).

i needed to adjust the upper bracket (read - flat piece of steel with 4 holes and a slot) that came with my kit with spacers to get it to line up properly. the lower bracket looks like it was made by a 2nd grade class, but it works fine. there's also a third one - an angle bracket that bolts to the head - it was the union of that one and the flat piece that needed to be adjusted.

the look of an alternator doesn't bother me, but i know it does with many. i saw a post the other day - someone had a 6 volt alternator. i mention this not because of the voltage but because it was painted black. i thought it looked good.

 

[Jim L WA]

If you decide to shop around auto supply stores or an Interstate battery supplier or Tractror Supply in your area, you want to ask for a Group 1 6 volt battery. They may not have one sitting in a shelf but should be able to order one.
Just out of curiosity, where are you located? I ask, because I have an extra 6 volt battery that is kept charged and is healthy.

 

[Jerrycpp]

I am closing in on 20 years with a 6 volt Optima battery. I bought it when they were first introduced, and it's still going strong. They run about $250 on line, but the payout is they last a long time.

 

[lastcowboy32]

I almost bought a high reliability 6V battery the last time. But the cost seemed prohibitive. But if they last that long, the cost would be worth it. Especially since the Group 1 6V (thank you Jim L Wa for remembering what they are called) battery I did get was about 100 bucks anyway.

 

[Bill(Wis)]

Looks to me like John Deere Standard duty battery either TY217318 or TY278008 would fit just fine. Made by Exide but say John Deere
on them.

 

[lha]

If You can find a dealer that sells Deka batteries,they make a good one. I have had the battery in my tractor[6v+g] and both of my
trucks for years now without probs. I think Bruce mentioned it,and of course,he was right.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

No problems around here finding 6, 12, 24 V batteries. Where are you at? East Slobobia or BFE? GRIN... ; > ) NO! For your tractor (not your garden tractor) you
don't get an RV, GOLF-TYPE, Motorcycle, or boat Deep Cycle battery. As Jim said, your tractor requires a GRP-1 AG battery for 6V and a GRP-25 or GRP-35 AG Battery for
12V. The cheap brands, Bargain House (tsc, wally-world, Bobs Auto Parts) places sell poor batteries; they have poor lifespans, 2 years maybe, has been my experience. I
advise a good quality brand like DEKA, INTERSTATE, EXIDE, EAST-PENN/DURACELL, and a few others. You might get by with a budget brand but will be looking to buy again
in a few years so it depends your urgency and availability, and how deep your wallet is. I can't comment on the OPTIMA brands, Ive never used them, refuse to spend
$250 on a battery when my INTERSTATES have given me plenty of satisfaction for half the price. The last one I my bought for my 8N was in 2012. I have been using
INTERSTATE batteries in my tractors, cars, and trucks for 40 years and always are reliable and have long-lifespans. I get my INTERSTATES at my buddy's GEN/ALT/STARTER
shop and pay about $140 each. I see 6V batteries everywhere though - wally, tsc, Auto Zone, OReillys, even all the Tire Centers, et al. A lot of folks do not
understand what and how a battery works. Do a key word search for SPECIFIC GRAVITY and the importance of keeping a battery at a full charge under load. Know the
difference between a trickle charger and a float charger. The power source/battery is the heart of any machine. When a battery sets idle for a week or more it starts
to deplete the lead cells and lose electrolyte. If you ever overfilled a battery and/or boiled it out as a trickle charger will do if left unattended and it doesn't
have an auto-shutoff feature, it is junk. You can't just add more electrolyte - physics doesn't work that way. You can test Specific Gravity with an Hydrometer. It is
a large syringe-type device with 5 or 6 small colored balls in a suspended solution of Acetone. It comes with a chart that defines how many and what each color means.
They can be found at most Auto Parts stores, usually right on the counter. The worse thing for battery life is the constant draining and recharging. Each time it
drains down, your cells get weaker and weaker. Most basic garage-type chargers are the trickle type and many think all they have to do is connect it when they need to
run their tractor. Wrong. If a battery is weak or dead, the usual indication is when the Start Button is pressed, the SOLENOID will just click. You need to get the
battery to a reliable shop and have it tested on their machine under load. This is usually a no-charge service. The 2nd best investment you can make for long life in
your vehicle (a good battery is 1st) is a good float charger. This unit gets connected to the battery whenever the vehicle is parked, at idle, and going to set for any
length of time from a few days to a few months. It keeps the battery at a full-charge under load so it's ready to go when you are. I've been using the DELTRAN BATTERY
TENDERs for years and none have ever failed. Lastly, and most importantly, for optimum battery life, you MUST have a fan belt tensioning device attached to your
Generator or Alternator otherwise you will never charge your battery. Period. This point is often a major culprit for a dead battery. Original FORD Tractors GENS had
a belt tensioner. 12V conversions sold aftermarket today vary by suppliers and not all come with a belt tensioner. In addition, fan belt tension is needed to keep the
water pump functioning correctly. Without proper cooling, your radiator can overheat and cause more problems. Have your Owners Manual around to read on PM
procedures.

DELTRAN BATTERY TENDER JR 6V FLOAT CHARGER:

Tim Daley (MI)

 

[lastcowboy32]

That is a very detailed answer, and I thank you for that.

It's also a level of detail that tells me exactly why I'm looking at alternatives. If I can find something that the 2N can charge, that will hold charge and stand up to vibration... and if something like an optima battery fits the bill, I like it.

I don't have a specific gravity tester because nothing else that I have has a battery that depends on specific gravity testing or adding water.

I would only resign myself to the level of maintenance listed in the original manuals as a last resort. Because, I've already shown myself that I will get about two years out of a battery if it's up to me to perform that level of maintenance.

 

[Olliejunkie]

I ordered a 6v deka battery a few years back from my auto electric guy. You can order batteries online too.

 

[Leeland07]

My twopennies in this 12v-6v debate is thus, I like having a streamlined workshop. I have 6 on the road,
tax paying cars and trucks for various jobs and reasons, three tractors, two N series tractors now, and
one modern red tractor with a FEL, and three motorcycles. Keeping track of all of that is a nightmare I
have created for myself. But I have to have somthing to do, right? Back to it. I run maintainers on
everything. The bikes get stationary units that plug in, all the cars get on board units with extension
cords going to them, as do the tractors. I plug everything in almost as a religion. I have found they my
batteries last nearly double the time I used to get out of them. Even the cheap batteries from Wally-
World do so much better on the maintainers. We do not have the killer winters you folks get up north,
but we do get a freeze now and then and it kills more than a few, mine dont die then. This also usually
gives me a little bit of a heads up when the tractors or the like gives me a slow start when out working
with them. Oh, I forgot to mention, one of my Ns has a EI in it, the others dont. I love the simplicity of
the EI, but the points are certainly more fun for me. The simple act of opening it up and cleaning it once
or twice a year helps keep me in touch with the machine, and I like that as much as anything. I also find
12 v more reliable in the over all. But that is my personal experience. No generator issues, no issues
finding parts or having to wait for a part is more like it, MTP.... all its worth... have fun...

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 15:27:39 05/03/23) I ordered a 6v deka battery a few years back from my auto electric guy. You can order batteries online too.

Thanks.

I am going to say, though, that I am starting to develop a certain level of skepticism even for brands historically known to be "good."

Mainly because so many brands are trading on their reputation, while rebranding the same stuff that people think is inferior.

Fortunately, Deka, unless the internet is lying, makes their batteries in Pennsylvania and still has a high reputation.

 

[lastcowboy32]

Leeland07, sounds as though you have a good handle on your maintenance schedules.

We have gotten better about some of these things ourselves, especially since we bought the new tractor and the new-ish tractor.

We do try to do some of the things that the 2N likes, for instance I turn the gas off when I park it for more than a day or two. We change its oil and hydraulic fluid. And we tune up the ignition as needed.

Even with the battery dead, the last time I started it, I gave it a little boost with a jump pack, and it started at the first sniff of starter action. But... battery is a dud.

This is even with using a battery maintainer for the winters.

What I will say there is, we started with three battery maintainers from TSC a few years back, and we're down to one... and I'm not sure that I trust that one anymore either.

So... even the concept of battery maintenance charging is only as good as the chargers that you buy.

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 15:16:16 05/04/23)
What I will say there is, we started with three battery maintainers from TSC a few years back, and we're down to one... and I'm not sure that I trust that one anymore either.

So... even the concept of battery maintenance charging is only as good as the chargers that you buy.

on a recommendation from Hobo, i got a batteryMINDer from northern tool for $20. in retrospect, i wish i had bought 3 or 4 of them at that price. i've been very happy with mine, and i think i'm going to order another one from Wally, since northern's site says they're backordered for a month.

if anyone wants to go that route, look for the model number 12117TC (the 12 is the voltage, not sure if there's a similar 6 volt product). the TC on the end is important - it means temperature-compensated. that's a model upgrade from a few years back, but some people on ezon and amabay are still selling the model without the TC. that older model has other bugs too, avoid it. if it gets unplugged from the wall or your power goes out, it can discharge your battery :shock:

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 12:01:50 05/04/23)

(quoted from post at 15:16:16 05/04/23)
What I will say there is, we started with three battery maintainers from TSC a few years back, and we're down to one... and I'm not sure that I trust that one anymore either.

So... even the concept of battery maintenance charging is only as good as the chargers that you buy.

on a recommendation from Hobo, i got a batteryMINDer from northern tool for $20. in retrospect, i wish i had bought 3 or 4 of them at that price. i've been very happy with mine, and i think i'm going to order another one from Wally, since northern's site says they're backordered for a month.

if anyone wants to go that route, look for the model number 12117TC (the 12 is the voltage, not sure if there's a similar 6 volt product). the TC on the end is important - it means temperature-compensated. that's a model upgrade from a few years back, but some people on ezon and amabay are still selling the model without the TC. that older model has other bugs too, avoid it. if it gets unplugged from the wall or your power goes out, it can discharge your battery :shock:

Tim the Ploughman recommended a Deltran tender earlier in the thread. I haven't had time to check that out yet.

You bring up a great point about temperature compensation.

I'm actually embarrassed to think that I never checked the TSC chargers for their intended temperatures of operation. We park our three tractors in the hayloft. It's definitely unheated, and perhaps those battery tenders don't operate well down to -20F like we get in Upstate NY.

Kind of embarrassing, because after 30 years of being an electronics engineer, I'm now doing reliability engineering... I deal with de-rating electrical components for temperature and other effects all day... but I just assumed that the battery tenders would work in an unheated hayloft.

Probably not a good assumption... Next time I buy chicken feed at TSC, I'm going to look at the packages on those battery tenders to see if they specify an operating temperature.

The other possible issue with the TSC chargers is that they are dual 6V/12V units. They've never really given me problems on our 12V tractors...until they start giving me problems on the 2N and I then put them on one of the other tractors as a sanity check. Whatever trouble they have with the 2N seems to stay with them... but they have never started to be goofy on either of the other 12V tractors that I've used them on.