Tractor Battery Question

[sms]

I have had success with Walmart batteries. I have one about six years old from my track loader that is parked 750 miles away. The battery is still good, I put it on a maintainer, use it occasionally for my winch or if I travel to the track loader.

 

[Dick L]

The Trusty Cabota, which will be 11 years old in April, is showing signs of needing a new battery. A bit of investigation reveals that it's a Group 51R (anode/cathode reversed to fit tractor wiring).

NAPA would happily sell me one for $260, or WalMart for $150 (after core return). While I'd rather buy once and cry once, I frequently hear Good Things about the Everstart brand from Wally World. NAPA Legend brand has been a little hit-and-miss for me.

Advice/Experience with various brands and sources appreciated.

This and one other Optama battery still on the Farmall C was purchased 15 years ago. They are six volt and both still are in working order. They were expensive at the time.

The battery charge in the picture has brought back 6 wheelchair batteries that would not hold a charge. I just now went out and place the charger on a battery that has been setting since being brought back for two months. It reads 12.8. Two of these batteries set out side all last winter. The set of batteries in the wheelchair would only last on an overnight charge long enough to do one time doing chores. This charger is a 20 amp. I now wish I would have bought the 30 amp.

 

[Russ from MN]

I expect to need one for our JD 4600 this spring, the one that's in it came from Batteries Plus and is 11 years old, the previous battery was a JD Strongbox and lasted 12 years. I plan on buying the $79 WM battery this time. It's never had a maintainer on it, sits untouched in a cold garage in N MN for 5 months.

 

[Blackhole49]

I used to buy all my batteries from Walmart until I switched to Rural king (strictly price) about 5 years ago. I have 40+ in service and have been averaging 10-12 years of service. The 3 deep cycle in my boat are 9 years old and I just replaced the 12 year old Everstart 2 weeks ago. I also put hydrogen peroxide in batteries that have removable caps and use maintainers on those that sit. I'll have a better opinion on Rural king batteries in a few years, but so far so good.

 

[JOCCO]

At this time I am not seeing one battery brand that sticks out as bad. I don't see Interstates much anymore as most independent shops have dumped them. The vehicles I see that have battery problems are those that are not driven much. When I run across a battery I don't stock I tell folks Walmart has the best price I have no problem recommending a Walmart battery. My sales are local most all will wait a day for me to have a battery delivered. A lot of vehicles today are labor extensive to install a battery so the customer will wait on me.

Interstate went out around me for two reasons. Price and warranty was like a war pension! I see you are in NC there is a big difference for people in these cold hass states, on battery life.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Interstate went out around me for two reasons. Price and warranty was like a war pension! I see you are in NC there is a big difference for people in these cold hass states, on battery life.

When Interstate starting branding cheap Costco batteries across the board Interstate batteries went downhill. It may have been a tad before the Costco deal. From what I have read Interstate has no manufacturing. They've always been a distributor and marketer.

 

[john in la]

I never buy a battery based on the warranty. In fact I buy seconds (blemished) batteries from the local Deka store that come with a 90 day warranty.

Let’s say you buy a 5 year battery from the local store. At 4 years it goes bad so you bring it back. They charge you 80% of new cost for the 4 years you used the battery.
But here is the catch.
This new battery that you paid 80% of new price for only comes with a 1 year warranty. IE the remaining warranty of the original battery.

I honestly believe the only difference in a 3 year battery and a 5 year battery is the price.
IE it is the same battery you are just paying for the extra warranty.

 

[Dick L]

I never buy a battery based on the warranty. In fact I buy seconds (blemished) batteries from the local Deka store that come with a 90 day warranty.

Let’s say you buy a 5 year battery from the local store. At 4 years it goes bad so you bring it back. They charge you 80% of new cost for the 4 years you used the battery.
But here is the catch.
This new battery that you paid 80% of new price for only comes with a 1 year warranty. IE the remaining warranty of the original battery.

I honestly believe the only difference in a 3 year battery and a 5 year battery is the price.
IE it is the same battery you are just paying for the extra warranty.

I think you are correct!

 

[Fred Werring]

I used to buy all my batteries from Walmart until I switched to Rural king (strictly price) about 5 years ago. I have 40+ in service and have been averaging 10-12 years of service.

RK batteries work for me as well. And I started buying them for the same reason you did.
Never had a problem in our cars with them, I get 7-10 years out of the tractors.
The dual battery setup in my Massey currently have 9 years on them. Hope I didn't just jinx myself, that's my hay feeding tractor. But I keep a maintainer on it in the winter.
Just have to watch which battery you're buying. Like Walmart, RK may have a couple different CCA ratings depending on which physical size you're buying.
Fawteen's 51R shows 2 different batteries, different CCA's, different $$$

RK 51R

 

[BillinCentralMO]

Walmart max battery in our f150 lasted seven years. I think it was 825 or 850 cca’s. As far as the batteries that come in new vehicles , the FOMOCO batteries have a short life I. My experience.

 

[Farmall m farmer]

My grandpa puts bulldog battery’s in his truck and got 9 years out of a set although they were around $800… for two