Battery questions

[Katharine]

I've read on the forum that the F4DLT is the correct battery for my tractor, but that it doesn't come with a warranty. If the cranking amps are the same or higher, does it matter as long as it fits? I ask because Sears has a higher cold cranking amp one with a warranty for 100 months, it does cost more, but.....

 

[Greg_Ky]

Are you talking about the P-4? It is half the physical size of the F4DLT.
<a href="http://www.freesmileys.org">

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[Anonymous-0]

Don't know who told you that the 4DLT had no warranty. At our N.H. dealership the battery is pro rated 36 months. If you divide 150.00 by 36 this is approx what it would cost you per month to us the bat. The first year is free replacement. Keep your bat clean and charged and you should get 5 yrs. are so out of it. The smaller,high amp batteries do not have the reserve capacity to start a hard starting diesel.The Exide truck delivers our N.H.and J.D. batteries and goes on up to NAPA and Big A and delivers there's,so buy a good battery.

 

[old]

All the really matters is that the battery has the right voltage and will fit into the battery box. Other then that CCA is important but if you buy one the has the same or higher CCA then it will work just fine for you
Hobby farm

 

[RodinNS]

I may have made mention of them having "essentially no warranty", which I see to be true. I don't think I've ever seen an Exide that didn't last the 1 year out, and not too damn many that lasted much more than the warranty period. I've had a good number that died before the pro-rated warranty expired... so I'm not a big fan of Exide batteries. That "warranty" is basically a trap to keep you coming back to their batteries to get the few dollars adjustment from your expired battery.... and it takes a years worth of poor starting to get that.
I'm after firing them all away and going with Delco. For what it's worth at this point, it's easier to buy the Delco anyway since my nearest NH dealer is 250 miles away.

I would certainly agree with you that a 4DLT is required in this application. I would not want a lesser battery, and the 4DLT is the largest that will fit without removing the hood.

Rod

 

[Anonymous-0]

The 4dlt is a large battery but has a short height . most batteries with the correct cranking amps are too tall and will short out on the hood when the cover is closed, so be careful, don;t blow it up.................

 

[colekicker]

To shed a little light, Exide makes the battery for NH. It IS NOT the same as a regular Exide battery.
The epoxy is poured from the top of the plates on a standard battery and hopefully it gets to the bottom to hold the plates in place.
The NH factory specs, are that the epoxy is poured in the bottom and then the plates are placed in. This insures that the plates stay in place.
I can testify that I have seen the NH batteries last 5-6 years in our 6610.

Also, Interstate buys their lead from Exide.

 

[paul]

A Ford diesel needs a lot of reserve to fire up in winter. I don't know where you live, but here in MN there in no way anything but the 4DLT will work for my Fords. Size does matter. Might work in summer, but you will be dead in winter.

You are wound up pretty tight about your tractor. Maybe an old one that needs a little work wasn't the best choice - a new compact mighta done you better. Just sit & ride.

Folks that don't read every post will not know what tractor you are dealing with. You need to mention that with each new thread - really helps people to help you.

--->Paul

 

[Traditional Farmer]

36 months pro rated on a $150 battery is the same as no warranty in my opinion.I can buy a heavy duty 1000
CCA battery from Advance Auto for less than $90
and comes with a 3 year replacement and 7 year warranty.And I have several of the batteries that are going strong in diesel tractors over 5 years old.

 

[buickanddeere]

Factory and parts counter battery specs are best ignored. Purchase the highest CCA vibration resistant battery that can be fitted to the battery mounts. Making the battery box larger is not considered tacky if it allows a higher CCA battery.

 

[RodinNS]

Won't argue that point....

but the 3000/3400 already has the largest battery that can physically be fitted in the available space, and it needs a shoehorn to get that in there. Removing the hood is the only way to get a larger battery in there. If I didn't mind doing that I'd throw a standard group 31 in there in a heartbeat since they outlast the 4DLT nearly half as long again....

Rod