Stock Batteries

[bluefin650]

I tried searching but didn't find anything.

Are the stock batteries junk? I think I am starting my third season with the stock battery. It was low 20*'s this morning and about 36* when I went to start the tractor. It seemed to turn over pretty slow. I have noticed similar episodes when it was warm out. Is it worth just changing it out now?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't know about your battery, but my 2009 Kubota B26 still has the original battery. It has always seemed to turn over slow but it always cranks. I think that is just the way the starter sounds on my tractor.
Now my 2010 LS had to have the battery replaced after 5 years but it gets used seldom. I was able to get another year from it by keeping it on a trickle charger but on the 5th year, it no longer charged. I replaced it with a NAPA 84 battery which I have had good luck with on my RTV 900.

It seems to me that most of my equipment (cars, trucks, tractors (except the Kubota) have about a 4 year battery before they start to get weak and die. Lawnmower batteries might get 2 years tops from them.

 

[fried1765]

I tried searching but didn't find anything.

Are the stock batteries junk? I think I am starting my third season with the stock battery. It was low 20*'s this morning and about 36* when I went to start the tractor. It seemed to turn over pretty slow. I have noticed similar episodes when it was warm out. Is it worth just changing it out now?

The secret to getting the most possible life out of a battery is to always keep a trickle charger on it, when the vehicle/tractor is not in use.
Buy (and use) a quality trickle charger, such as "Battery Minder", " NOCO Genius", or "Battery Tender".
Best prices on these can often be found on Jet.com, or E-bay.
Amazon is usually pricey for these.

 

[RNeumann]

The only way to know for sure is to have the battery tested. If it’s bad you won’t have to pay the cord charge as you already brought in the old battery.
I say that because what is common on the Mahindra tractors is bad battery cables. Folks report they look good but are causing all kinds of issues- some like you describe. I’d start with the cables and then drag the battery down to the parts house. They will test it for free.

 

[DavesTractor]

I tried searching but didn't find anything.

Are the stock batteries junk? I think I am starting my third season with the stock battery. It was low 20*'s this morning and about 36* when I went to start the tractor. It seemed to turn over pretty slow. I have noticed similar episodes when it was warm out. Is it worth just changing it out now?

Of course cold weather causes the battery to have less cranking power, at the same time the engine cranks harder when cold so it needs more cranking power. Cold weather will certainly point out a battery that is getting weak. To answer your question, the factory Mahindra Exide batteries are certainly nothing special. Just an average battery, no better. 3-5 years is generally the lifespan of the factory battery. I'd consider cleaning the cables well and perhaps putting in a hot-rod battery with lots of cranking amps for you folks in cold weather.

 

[bluefin650]

The only way to know for sure is to have the battery tested. If it’s bad you won’t have to pay the cord charge as you already brought in the old battery.
I say that because what is common on the Mahindra tractors is bad battery cables. Folks report they look good but are causing all kinds of issues- some like you describe. I’d start with the cables and then drag the battery down to the parts house. They will test it for free.

The bad battery cables has me thinking. I recall a couple times this summer where I would let the glow plugs go through their cycle, and then when you turned the key, there was nothing. Reset the process and then the tractor would turn over and start. I just put a load tester on the battery. The tester is the style that has the heating element in it. The needle did not drop after 15 secs under load. I think for this winter, I will leave it on trickle charge all the time and plug in the block heater prior to snow storms.

 

[burzynsr]

My stock battery went 5.5 years, when it was done there was no resurrecting it. It was an Exide and Tractor Supply had the exact same battery. Replaced it and have had zero problems since. Since I am a high voltage electrician I have always kept an eye on the cables, and yes, if I had ignored them it would have caused issues. Check the cables on both ends and then look toward the battery itself. Or you can move south and forget about the cold weather! Good luck.

 

[texxfletch]

7 yrs on my original.

I forgot my hazards were on last year, and killed the battery dead.
I thought for sure the 6yr old battery was a goner.
I slow charged it up, and she is still going, as of today.

I don't know what brand is in there yet,but it has been a trooper.

 

[oosik]

The OEM battery in my 2009 Kubota M6040 "sounded strong" until the fall of 2016. I changed it out for the largest AGM battery I could find. I also keep a battery tender on the Kubota - year round - NOW. Surprisingly the OEM battery still accepts a full charge and I use it for non-critical jobs around the property.I've found from 35+ years of experience out here on the property - its better to be safe, with fully operational equipment - than to be stuck when equipment goes down. It NEVER goes down in a convenient place or on a non-critical job.

 

[burzynsr]

oosik is dead on with this statement!

"I've found from 35+ years of experience out here on the property - its better to be safe, with fully operational equipment - than to be stuck when equipment goes down. It NEVER goes down in a convenient place or on a non-critical job."

 

[ultrarunner]

The secret to getting the most possible life out of a battery is to always keep a trickle charger on it, when the vehicle/tractor is not in use.
Buy (and use) a quality trickle charger, such as "Battery Minder", " NOCO Genius", or "Battery Tender".
Best prices on these can often be found on Jet.com, or E-bay.
Amazon is usually pricey for these.

Costco is having a Holiday Special on Tenders... last year I was too late... buying 3 this year!!!

My little BX23 battery will soon be 14 years old... amazing and by far the longest lasting battery I have ever had... Mom did get 12 years from her OEM Corolla Declo Green Eye battery... it was still good but I could here is slowing down...

The SF Bay Area Climate is very mild here... we rarely heat and no one in the neighborhood has A/C... so mild climate and keeping the BX indoors is factor.

 

[DavesTractor]

It's the smaller Exide batteries in the Mistu built Mahindras that seem to have a short lifespan. Those are such good tractors, but the battery cable connections are pretty light duty and the Exide batteries tended to leak or gas off enough to promote corrosion on the cables. The larger batteries in the bigger tractors were much better. We also sell Branson, and we have seen quite a few of their batteries go over 10 years in our climate.

 

[ultrarunner]

My brother bought the kids a buggy and the battery was shot after a couple of months...

He called the distributor and learned they are junk...

Thanks a lot was he could say.

Bought a Power Sonic had 3 years no issue.

 

[fried1765]

Costco is having a Holiday Special on Tenders... last year I was too late... buying 3 this year!!!

My little BX23 battery will soon be 14 years old... amazing and by far the longest lasting battery I have ever had... Mom did get 12 years from her OEM Corolla Declo Green Eye battery... it was still good but I could here is slowing down...

The SF Bay Area Climate is very mild here... we rarely heat and no one in the neighborhood has A/C... so mild climate and keeping the BX indoors is factor.

I had 5- Battery Tenders, and bought 3 more at COSTCO last year.
I currently am using 7-12V Battery Tenders (1.25 Amp),1- 6V Battery Tender (1.25Amp.) and 5 - Battery Tender Jr's. (.75 Amp)
I also have 2 -Battery Minders, and think I do like the 1.3 Amp Battery Minders better. As the Battery Tenders die off, I am going to replace them with Battery Minders.
Three of my Battery Tenders have died within the 10 year warranty period, but the warranty return shipping & replacement charge is about the same or more, than just buying a new replacement; thus the Battery Tender warranty is essentially worthless.
I do not have any of the NOCO Genius units, but have heard they are excellent.

There are many cheaper units available, but I am afraid of them, for the cheap electrical components short circuit potential.
A burned up/fried battery charger could conceivably take your machinery, and building with it.

 

[4get gto]

There are many cheaper units available, but I am afraid of them, for the cheap electrical components short circuit potential.
A burned up/fried battery charger could conceivably take your machinery, and building with it.

I have couple of the cheap HF ones. Seem to work ok but after reading those two sentences it makes me want to throw them in the trash!

 

[ultrarunner]

I had 5- Battery Tenders, and bought 3 more at COSTCO last year.
I currently am using 7-12V Battery Tenders (1.25 Amp),1- 6V Battery Tender (1.25Amp.) and 5 - Battery Tender Jr's. (.75 Amp)
I also have 2 -Battery Minders, and think I do like the 1.3 Amp Battery Minders better. As the Battery Tenders die off, I am going to replace them with Battery Minders.
Three of my Battery Tenders have died within the 10 year warranty period, but the warranty return shipping & replacement charge is about the same or more, than just buying a new replacement; thus the Battery Tender warranty is essentially worthless.
I do not have any of the NOCO Genius units, but have heard they are excellent.

There are many cheaper units available, but I am afraid of them, for the cheap electrical components short circuit potential.
A burned up/fried battery charger could conceivably take your machinery, and building with it.

Have not had a bad Battery Tender... but none are of the 6-12 and I have just as many 6v as 12v... I believe the Costco offering is 3 amp.

I still go to my old commercial car lot battery charger from the 1960's... all of the newer style chargers I have need to sense come current to work... and I do come across parked antique cars that have been stored long periods and the 50% the old charger will bring it back... often it only takes a few minutes and then I can switch... I also have Minders and no issue.

I would buy a Genius if needed.

With 50 vehicles... I have a lot of batteries... probably 30?

 

[bluefin650]

I left my battery on the trickle charger overnight. I went to start it this morning, 35*. HUGE difference in how well and strong it turned over.

 

[DK35vince]

The secret to getting the most possible life out of a battery is to always keep a trickle charger on it, when the vehicle/tractor is not in use.

My original tractor battery lasted 11 years. Never had a trickle charger on it.
My motorcycles set for months at a time through the winter. My 2007 Honda dual sport was 10 years old when I sold it, still had the original battery in it.
My 2009 Kawasaki street bike still running original battery.
My pickup truck battery is 12 years old and still going strong.
None of these batteries have ever had a trickle charger on them.

 

[Garandman]

My stock battery went 5.5 years, when it was done there was no resurrecting it. It was an Exide and Tractor Supply had the exact same battery. Replaced it and have had zero problems since. Since I am a high voltage electrician I have always kept an eye on the cables, and yes, if I had ignored them it would have caused issues. Check the cables on both ends and then look toward the battery itself. Or you can move south and forget about the cold weather! Good luck.

Bought a tube of dielectric grease. Every connector on the boats and motorcycles gets it, but hitting the connectors on the tractor battery is probably a good idea. Any auto parts store has it.

Our new shed does not have AC power, so I bought a Battery Tender controller that is used with a solar panel. Pretty slick. Did not use their solar panels, which are extremely expensive.

Battery Tender Solar Controller

 

[fried1765]

My original tractor battery lasted 11 years. Never had a trickle charger on it.
My motorcycles set for months at a time through the winter. My 2007 Honda dual sport was 10 years old when I sold it, still had the original battery in it.
My 2009 Kawasaki street bike still running original battery.
My pickup truck battery is 12 years old and still going strong.
None of these batteries have ever had a trickle charger on them.

With your battery life luck, you need to take a trip to Las Vegas!