Got good service out of this battery

[5030]

I believe Everstart (Walmart) batteries are East Penn, I think. Delphi's are East Penn. Delphi is a Freightliner sub brand.

 

[Blue14]

Everstart Walmart Batteries are made by Johnson Controls.

 

[5030]

Everstart Walmart Batteries are made by Johnson Controls.

Didn't know for sure (as I stated).

 

[DK35vince]

My tractors original battery lasted 11 years.
Never had a battery tender on it.

 

[fried1765]

My tractors original battery lasted 11 years.
Never had a battery tender on it.

I understand your battery situation, but that should not be interpreted to mean that Battery Tenders/Minders are not useful!
They most definitely ARE useful !!!!

 

[5030]

I understand your battery situation, but that should not be interpreted to mean that Battery Tenders/Minders are not useful!
They most definitely ARE useful !!!!

Absolutely.

Most flooded cell (and AGM batteries useful life (maximum rated CCA) decreases substantially after 4 years. The issue is always plate sulfatiion and contrary to polular belief, batteries dont fail because of the cold, they fail because of the heat in the summer months. They get week during hot weather and then when it gets cold out and you require more CCA to get a motor started, they cannot deliver it so they poop out.

My only prerequisite for buying ANY flooded cell battery is I always buy them from a volume dealer, in my case my local Freightliner dealer, because the turnover is large so the batteries are very new. Once any flooded cell battery has the electrolyte installed, it's getting old so a battery sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting for you to buy it, is loosing it's useful life. Any battery with a dusty top is a no buy. it's old and getting feeble. Don't matter squat what the date code says when you buy it, the real date of manufacture isn't listed, just the by date and that is meaningless. I get my car / truck batteries at a big box store or Wal Mart because the turnover is always great. the faster the turn over the better the battery is. Or... Buy a dry charged battery and add the electrolyte yourself. That will be the freshest you can get. Finally, always trickle charge a battery before installing it. Bring it up to full charge and then install it for use.

 

[bearthebruce]

Absolutely.

Most flooded cell (and AGM batteries useful life (maximum rated CCA) decreases substantially after 4 years. The issue is always plate sulfatiion and contrary to polular belief, batteries dont fail because of the cold, they fail because of the heat in the summer months. They get week during hot weather and then when it gets cold out and you require more CCA to get a motor started, they cannot deliver it so they poop out.

My only prerequisite for buying ANY flooded cell battery is I always buy them from a volume dealer, in my case my local Freightliner dealer, because the turnover is large so the batteries are very new. Once any flooded cell battery has the electrolyte installed, it's getting old so a battery sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting for you to buy it, is loosing it's useful life. Any battery with a dusty top is a no buy. it's old and getting feeble. Don't matter squat what the date code says when you buy it, the real date of manufacture isn't listed, just the by date and that is meaningless. I get my car / truck batteries at a big box store or Wal Mart because the turnover is always great. the faster the turn over the better the battery is. Or... Buy a dry charged battery and add the electrolyte yourself. That will be the freshest you can get. Finally, always trickle charge a battery before installing it. Bring it up to full charge and then install it for use.

@5030, Its obvious you know your stuff. Back in the 60's when I first started working at a local service station, we stocked batteries dry. We filled them with Sulfuric Acid and then fast charged them prior to installing in a car. I learned a slow charge was better but in the service business, you ain't got time for the slow... Most places do not stock dry batteries today. Shelf life is an issue.

I keep my personal equipment on battery minders. Can't convince the boss we should do the same for all our machines in the barn. During the winter, we are not on the property often. This year, he said we were not disconnecting the grounds! Shaking my head... Wanna bet I have trouble with batteries this Spring?

Life...

I like the knife switch idea. I should implement that. Ever had trouble with corrosion and bad connection due to the knife? Or do you keep those greased with dielectric grease? How far from the battery do you mount the switch? Certainly not on top of it - right?

 

[5030]

I like the knife switch idea. I should implement that. Ever had trouble with corrosion and bad connection due to the knife? Or do you keep those greased with dielectric grease? How far from the battery do you mount the switch? Certainly not on top of it - right?

Dielectric grease always on everything including all the Molex connectors on the machines and even on the bulb bases in the running and head lights. Use that stuff all the time. Knife switches directly connected to the NEGATIVE battery posts on the batteries but no Dielectric grease on the knife part in as much as they are a clamping fit so none needed. You can get terminal mount switches at any discount auto parts store or on Amazon if you desire. Nice theft deterrent too. I leave my tractors in the field often. Most kids looking for a joy ride would never lift the hood if it wouldn't start anyway. Too dumb to look.

 

[PILOON]

Back when I was a sales rep with company car I'd change often so that I was never in need of boosts.
But in those days many batteries sold for near a boost price so management did not complain as I was more productive.
Traveling northern Quebec during cold winters the need for a boost at a motel could cost U a 1/2 day wait.

That was in the days when timed auto starts were popular.
Was annoying to hear 20-30 auto starts all night when staying at a motel.
Chrysler and AMC were the worst in cold weather and my firm were Chrysler lovers.

The win/win for me was that my 'toys' always had recently fresh batteries as I'd keep the pull offs and use a trickle charger to keep them healthy.

Today's modern ignition systems sure have improved cold starting unlike the old coil and points method.
Mind U service stations lost out on annual winter tune ups income.

 

[crazyal]

I like the knife switch idea. I should implement that. Ever had trouble with corrosion and bad connection due to the knife? Or do you keep those greased with dielectric grease? How far from the battery do you mount the switch? Certainly not on top of it - right?

Dielectric grease always on everything including all the Molex connectors on the machines and even on the bulb bases in the running and head lights. Use that stuff all the time. Knife switches directly connected to the NEGATIVE battery posts on the batteries but no Dielectric grease on the knife part in as much as they are a clamping fit so none needed. You can get terminal mount switches at any discount auto parts store or on Amazon if you desire. Nice theft deterrent too. I leave my tractors in the field often. Most kids looking for a joy ride would never lift the hood if it wouldn't start anyway. Too dumb to look.

I had a screw type disconnect on a couple of batteries. The first one was made who knows where but the second was made in the USA. The second one lasted for decades. I don't use it because I don't have a vehicle that needs it.

In the last 11 years I have yet to put my BatteryMinder on the battery that came with my Kubota. One of the keys is if something doesn't start right off don't run the battery down so low it can't turn the engine over. The last battery I had that went bad was from a cell inside it failing. Most likely the jarring from the backhoe did it in. Next spring when I replace it I'll get a gel type (or maybe even a lithium Ion battery).