BigBoyinMS
Silver Member
Johnson Controls makes batteries branded Interstate, Optima, Wal-Mart, DieHard, Duralast (Autozone) and many others. In fact, they are the largest battery supplier in North America.
battery opinions
- Thread starter washita
- Start date
- Views: 6021
Johnson Controls makes batteries branded Interstate, Optima, Wal-Mart, DieHard, Duralast (Autozone) and many others. In fact, they are the largest battery supplier in North America.
EE_Bota
Veteran Member
I looked at Optima twice, and each time, I took a voltmeter with me, and the Optima's were down on voltage. So anymore, I take a meter and try to buy a "fresh" battery, though I have yet to buy Optima.
Sometimes batteries get put on shelves and stay there so long, they self-discharge to an extent I dislike for a new battery.
Sometimes batteries get put on shelves and stay there so long, they self-discharge to an extent I dislike for a new battery.
cqaigy2
Super Member
Most, if not all lead acid type batteries discharge if not on a keeper. That's not the problem so much as issues with lead sulfate.
OP
washita
Silver Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2009
- Messages
- 228
- Location
- south western michigan
- Tractor
- pt 425, JI Case, Gravely Comm.10A
installed a ''house brand'' battery from rural king and replaced the positive cable with a 00 cable to the starter (connector was cracked) discovered there was no star washer at the starter terminal on the starter and the battery cable was not making good contact now it starts like a champ
ponytug
Super Member
That's great!
I also upgraded that cable, and added an upgraded ground system when I bought my PT, including a 0 ground strap to the engine, and grounds on the tub, and at the console (i.e. front half). I think you will like the improved starting/performance.
All the best,
Peter
I also upgraded that cable, and added an upgraded ground system when I bought my PT, including a 0 ground strap to the engine, and grounds on the tub, and at the console (i.e. front half). I think you will like the improved starting/performance.
All the best,
Peter
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,990
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Good to hear! :thumbsup:
Clumber
Gold Member
Several months ago, my pt425 was increasingly harder to start. The battery seem to lose power requiring frequent charging and jump starts. It eventually would not charge. I bought a nice smart charger which diagnosed that the battery was heavily sulfated and it would take 12+ hours to restore. The next day the charger said it could not restore it -- a new battery was needed.
I really needed to use my tractor so checked if the battery in my Honda CRV would fit. It did and the PT roared to life without the usual two to three cranks it normally took to start. The cranking amps in my car battery made a big difference.
So I started my quest to buy a new battery for the PT. My ignorance about batteries became apparent. After searching I found a great tutorial (see link below). It seemed like the best battery for the application was to emphasize starting instead of Deep Cycle types. The first choice was the AGM batteries which are specialty batteries that typically cost twice as much as a premium wet cell. However they store very well and do not tend to sulfate or degrade as easily as wet cell. There is little chance of a hydrogen gas explosion or corrosion when using these batteries; these are the safest lead acid batteries you can use. Sealed AGMs can be ordered online. However I could not wait several days for delivery. I could not find one locally, however, so I decided on the second choice, a Starting traditional lead acid battery with high cold cranking amps.
At issue was matching a battery size that would fit and max Cold Cranking Amps (CCAs). My only size restriction on my PT is 6 inches -- the distance between the gas tank and the heat shield where the battery sits. So the depth of the new battery has to be </= 6 inches. I quickly learned that there are hundreds of battery sizes enumerated by a strange code... the BCI size chart link below help me determine that my battery size was 51R. So it was easy searching for that size and picking one on CCAs and price. I decided on one from Tractor Supply that had a depth of 5 inches and has 450 CCAs. (see link). Almost 3 times the CCAs as the old battery. The PT now roars to life without hesitation.
Schumacher SC-10030A SpeedCharge Automatic Charger and Maintainer : Amazon.com : Automotive
BatteryStuff Articles | Guide to Understanding Flooded, AGM, and Gel Batteries
BCI Battery Group Size Chart
Exide Classic Auto/Truck/SUV Battery, 51RC - Tractor Supply Online Store
I really needed to use my tractor so checked if the battery in my Honda CRV would fit. It did and the PT roared to life without the usual two to three cranks it normally took to start. The cranking amps in my car battery made a big difference.
So I started my quest to buy a new battery for the PT. My ignorance about batteries became apparent. After searching I found a great tutorial (see link below). It seemed like the best battery for the application was to emphasize starting instead of Deep Cycle types. The first choice was the AGM batteries which are specialty batteries that typically cost twice as much as a premium wet cell. However they store very well and do not tend to sulfate or degrade as easily as wet cell. There is little chance of a hydrogen gas explosion or corrosion when using these batteries; these are the safest lead acid batteries you can use. Sealed AGMs can be ordered online. However I could not wait several days for delivery. I could not find one locally, however, so I decided on the second choice, a Starting traditional lead acid battery with high cold cranking amps.
At issue was matching a battery size that would fit and max Cold Cranking Amps (CCAs). My only size restriction on my PT is 6 inches -- the distance between the gas tank and the heat shield where the battery sits. So the depth of the new battery has to be </= 6 inches. I quickly learned that there are hundreds of battery sizes enumerated by a strange code... the BCI size chart link below help me determine that my battery size was 51R. So it was easy searching for that size and picking one on CCAs and price. I decided on one from Tractor Supply that had a depth of 5 inches and has 450 CCAs. (see link). Almost 3 times the CCAs as the old battery. The PT now roars to life without hesitation.
Schumacher SC-10030A SpeedCharge Automatic Charger and Maintainer : Amazon.com : Automotive
BatteryStuff Articles | Guide to Understanding Flooded, AGM, and Gel Batteries
BCI Battery Group Size Chart
Exide Classic Auto/Truck/SUV Battery, 51RC - Tractor Supply Online Store
EE_Bota
Veteran Member
Sure...I am well studied on batteries. I don't care to pay premium money for a battery having 10.9 volts. I take great pains with my batteries, and when I ultimately have to buy one, I don't want to pay big bucks for a battery that has self-discharged much. My desulfating chargers MAY recover them just fine, but I want a NEW battery.
EE_Bota
Veteran Member
I have several "smart chargers" and sometimes they are too smart for my wallet. So from time to time, I have to start with a conventional charger, and after that, the smart charger will do the desulfation task without balking.
Marks481
Platinum Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
- Messages
- 978
- Tractor
- Power Trac 422 (2005)
Wish that was true of my 2005 PT-422. Unfortunately, the arrangement PT chose for that version only has room for a garden tractor sized battery underneath the exhaust manifold. That being said, I have not had any starting problems after I replaced my battery last year, even with the smaller size that my PT-422 allows.