Battery for Model 50

[Randy Trentham]

I"m looking for advice about a new battery for my model 50 tractor. It had one twelve volt battery in it. My closest source is a Tractor Supply store. How do you rate their batteries? What size battery should I look for? Thanks

 

[PJH]

Randy - I'd measure the box and get the biggest 12V one that would fit.

Paul

 

[BushogPapa]

A JD 50 cranks easy, you won't need to have a huge battery for it..
Wal-Mart batteries work fine for me and the last one I changed was in 12 years..!
Nearly always for a "78 Buick"....!!!
Anything over 700 cranking amps should be plenty for your 50..

Ron..

 

[buickanddeere]

Group 31 and use a HD cable down to the trans casting. Instead of a flimsy cable to the battery box sheet metal.
The battery is large enough to give a good boost to other equipment if need be. Just mind the polarity.

 

[John T]

Since 50"s arent all that hard to crank Id price shop and if Wal Mart or Sams etc had the best price Id probably buy it there. For a 60 or 70 etc I recommend a 1000 CCA or more battery but for that 50 a 700 CCA (heck even less will crank it) would do the job, but if youre in extreme cold climates and it has to start at sub zero it sure wouldnt hurt to go ahead and get a big honkin 1000 CCA.

For sure I would use the felt washers that go on the posts under the terminals and then once the cables are attached use that red anti corrosive spray that way you can go trouble free for yearssssssssssss.

Good heavy cables (at least No 2 better yet No 1) and clean bright shiny connections at each n every battery n ground n starter switch ARE A MUST

Another thing many neglect is a good battery hold down/secure system so the battery cant move n slide around in the box.

Some use heavy duty shock n vibration rated batteries but I just dont see that as absolutely necessary for your use.

She was originally POSITIVE ground (unless yours got changed) remember so hook her up correct.

John T

 

[GlenT]

I have found that the higher CCA batteries are not nearly as rugged as the smaller CCA batteries for the same size case. I asked someone about this a few years ago and they said the plates and/or seperators (insulators) are smaller and more fragile with the higher CCA batteries. The batteries for tractors are heavier duty inside but do not have as good a warranty, at least at our Fleet Farm store.

 

[Mike Aylward]

Randy, your tractor has very nearly the same engine as in a late B tractor and they would start just fine with a 6-volt battery (as long as everything was in good condition). A heavy duty battery is always a plus but you don't always have to kill a fly with a battle tank.. Mike

 

[Randy Trentham]

I wanted to thank everyone for their advice and help with my battery issue. I forgot to ask about the difference in using one twelve volt battery as opposed to using two six volt batteries. Is one option better than the other? Thanks again for the help.

 

[John T]

They used dual batteries years ago on those tractors (had to go with technology and battery capacity then available) to store sufficient energy, but nowadays most use a single heavy 12 volt which is what I recommend. Less batteries to buy, less connections to go bad, and in series the CCA DOES NOT ADD on the old dual battery series set up, ONLY the voltage was additive. The CCA of two sixes in series is no greater then the weakest of the two batteries.

John T

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a model 50. It starts very easy. I use a 500 cca battery I got from TSC. Here TSC price is same as Walmart and others.

Jerry

 

[55 50 Ron]

I guess I'm one of those "correct police" guys when it comes to electrical on old tractors. I have a 50 and I use the two-6-volt-battery approach. I buy NAPA batteries that are rated "commercial" and have good results. Don't know if that "commercial" name means anything, but they work good for me. For what it's worth, I don't use it in the winter so it never has to start in cold temps. But I do keep a trickle charger on it all winter to help with battery life.