Battery type

[JRR Ca]

I have read this wonderful forum for eight or more years and finally have a question. What is the size or number of the 6 volt battery for my 50 8N? None of the local auto parts stores stock them but if I had say an Interstate number they would order one.
My manual tells me everything I ever wanted to know but it only says the battery is 6 volts. Wow.
Thanks in advance. JR

 

[Bruce (VA)]

The N takes a Group 1 battery.

When I purchased my 1951 8N, in October, 2002, it came w/ the above battery, a Deka, model 901MF. The date code on the battery was April, 2000.

I'm not sure how the PO maintained the battery the first two years of it's life, but given the overall condition of the tractor when I purchased it, my bet is it sat unused most of the time.

Lots of places stock 6v batteries....NAPA, Autozone, Carquest, Sam's Club.

I always run the N's to operating temp every 3 or 4 weeks if they haven't been used. To make sure the battery doesn't discharge, all 4 N's now have float chargers.

I also keep everything "clean, bright & tight", use the braided strap & 00 gauge positive cables.

So, in addition to it being a well made battery, doing everything else right probably helped this battery to make it 8 years & 6 months!

It finally refused to turn the 1951 over last September, so I replaced it w/ a new one. Another Deka, model 901MF; cost w/ exchange was $69.

50 Tips

 

[Anonymous-0]

Sams Club has 6 on the rack.35.00 last year.

 

[Duner Wi]

AFAIK it is a group 1. I would be surprised it was not.

 

[JRR Ca]

Thank you guys so very much. Found a dealer with batteries within 40 miles of me so my problem is solved. Yup, all I needed was the group 1.
Bruce, I printed your 50 Tips a few years back and it hangs on the shop wall. You're a winner.
36 Coupe, I'm in the middle of Calif with no Sams Club. You're my kind a guy. I have a 36 Ford Conv. in mint condition. Like the one I had in high school.
Duner, Thanks for the info.
Now I gotta get the dam thing out and the new one in. LOL I'm 84 yrs old.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

You're 84 & had a 36 Ford in HS? That was a new car then! I'm 60 & my HS car was a 47 Chevy.....it was 20 years old when I graduated in 1967.