JD Strongbox or Optima

GoodGuy · Feb 27, 2015

Getting ready to buy a new battery for my JD4210 & wondered if John Deere fixed the leaking acid situation from when I bought my tractor in 2004. I would prefer the Strongbox but am timid that they might still leak? Any experiences? Thanks

jenkinsph · Feb 28, 2015

I was wondering if the Optima batteries had improved? Several years ago most of my local suppliers dropped the Optima batteries because of too many problems with them failing.
I will change out my JD battery in my 4520 this spring and hope to find an Odyssey battery or the rebadged DieHard platinum battery that will fit.

TomSeller · Feb 28, 2015

I have Optimas in 3 tractors and my pickup. No issues

dirt ditch · Feb 28, 2015

This subject was talked about not long ago in this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john deere owning operating - jd455 battery go optima JD

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 28, 2015

This past summer I need to replace the strong box on my 110. I went with the an optima yellow top. So far it's been as good as other optima's I've owned in the past. I did drain it while trying to crank and use the glow plugs but it was -6 so and I had run the tractor in a month.

The issue's I have are self inflicted as I don't run the tractor enough in the cold weather to allow the alternator to charge the battery. And then I get lazy and don't pull the battery to recharge it. The optima was more CCA than the replacement stong box and also cheaper since I had a coupon at the auto parts place.

Matt

oosik · Feb 28, 2015

I put a JD Group 31 Strong Box in my Kubota 3 years ago and its worked fine. No leaks, no drips, no cracks, no spills. I was looking at a Group 31 Odyssey but then I found the price - Wow. The JD Strongbox was $195 - the Odyssey was $395.

TomSeller · Feb 28, 2015

Optimas if deeply discharged below 10.5V need a special charger to recover them or parallel a good battery. A standard old time charger won't recover them. The link above has a post in it talking about that. Some people think they are bad and they are not.

Also see tech tip 2 and 3 (mostly 3) in link below

Support - Battery Care - Tech Tip Articles | OPTIMABATTERIES

Gary Fowler · Feb 28, 2015

oosik said:
I put a JD Group 31 Strong Box in my Kubota 3 years ago and its worked fine. No leaks, no drips, no cracks, no spills. I was looking at a Group 31 Odyssey but then I found the price - Wow. The JD Strongbox was $195 - the Odyssey was $395.

I had one Optima battery, it came in my RTV900, and it went bad in the second year of life. I replaced it with a NAPA battery since I was at NAPA (authorized Optima dealer) and they didn't have any Optima batteries. He said they didn't stock them because of the price and most folks wouldn't pay the high dollars for them. The NAPA is going great over 3 years now with lots of starts and quick less than 5 minute runs.

TomSeller · Feb 28, 2015

Gary Fowler said:
I had one Optima battery, it came in my RTV900, and it went bad in the second year of life. I replaced it with a NAPA battery since I was at NAPA (authorized Optima dealer) and they didn't have any Optima batteries. He said they didn't stock them because of the price and most folks wouldn't pay the high dollars for them. The NAPA is going great over 3 years now with lots of starts and quick less than 5 minute runs.

Was an attempt made to recover the Optima per the link above? Normal battery chargers can't charge them if they drop too low.

jenkinsph · Mar 1, 2015

TomSeller said:
Was an attempt made to recover the Optima per the link above? Normal battery chargers can't charge them if they drop too low.

That is a good question^^^^
I use three stage marine battery chargers on my batteries designed to work with agm and other deep cycle batteres including gel type. It could be the reason some people are experiencing problems with the Optima agm batteries is they have the cheaper chargers.

I have had good service for everyday use from Walmart ever start batteries where these are not expected to sit for long periods of non use. Fpor my boat and camper I prefer the odyssey and die hards much better for storage and longer intervals between use. My small truck camper has the NAPA gel batteries and these work out great for it.