"AGM Car" batteries for less used tractors?

[Sid Post]

I have a pair of Kubota tractors that don't get frequent use so, now that their batteries are at the "end of life", I am thinking about replacements. I know vibration from the motor and field can knock the plates over in car batteries and kill them, so, I was thinking about AGM options on the cheap side that don't suffer this problem and have low 'self discharge rates' as well, which is nice.

AGM batteries from Sam's Club (Duracell) or Walmart (Everstart) run ~$200 so, not necessarily the cheapest option. Local farm stores want a lot more than that, though, so, perhaps I need to shop real tractor batteries somewhere else like at a Construction Machinery dealer.

The engines in question are small Kubota options.

TIA,
Sid

 

[AaronD81]

I switched to AGM for my tractor, got it at Costco. You should be fine with a normal battery. I found that a direct replacement was hard to find so I took the battery and some measurements to the store and bought a bigger common size that was cheaper than the odd size I replaced.

 

[5030]

Have no idea what you mean by 'plates knocked over'. The plates are secured in the case with a lead buss across the top and the plates 'index' in the case and cannot het knocked over.

The only difference between an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery and a flooded cell is the price difference. In an AGM battery, the electrolyte is suspended in a spun glass mat, same electrolyte as in a flooded cell battery. Same chemical reaction, same sulfation characteristics, same end result.

Not sure what you mean by 'end of life' either. What renders a battery's end is when the plates become so coated with lead sulphate, they can no longer except a full charge or the sulphate collects in the bottom of the case and shorts the plates at which point the battery won't accept a charge anymore and both conditions are gradually getting worse as the battery ages, on the shelf or in your application, why I always buy my starting batteries from a volume seller because once the battery is charged with electrolyte, it's lifetime begins.

Of course you can buy a 'dry charged' battery where you add the electrolyte but today, those are rare.

In reality, you don't need an AGM battery with the newer 'sealed' conventional batteries which are nothing but non vented caps that return the electrolyte to the cells, instead of letting it 'gas off' into the atmosphere.

 

[LouNY]

We have been using "automotive" batteries in most of the farm tractors my Branson is on a group 31 and the NH 8160 has a pair of group 31's.
A few of the tractors use a size that is not commonly available in some "automotive" stores but I don't believe many OEM tractor batteries are any better then off the self batteries.

Added; Yes I like and am using "AGM" type batteries as I have to replace them. They do not cause corrosion on the terminal ends as the so called sealed batteries do.

 

[5030]

Really no such thing as a 'car or truck or boat battery. Batteries are rated by cold cranking amps and physical size or 'group' numbers. All the same basically except Li-Ion or 'solid state' batteries but none of those are good for starting applications because they are unable to deliver the high amperage required to start an engine.

 

[Cycledude]

I have been using car battery in my Ford 8N for the past 30+ years, the first one lasted 18 years, it was a Walmart battery and when it finally failed I replaced it with another Walmart battery. AGM batteries are a very good option but I have never used one in a tractor.

 

[WranglerX]

Have ODYSSEY brand battery in my Jeep, it runs very little, but always there... Big CCA as it is used for winching at times... AGM batteries (not necessarily brand specific) are probably more robust than standard plate batteries, well worth the extra cost.... Had one actually last about 20 years in "show" car rarely driven....

 

[sixdogs]

I use AGM in everything but my 6V tractor and never an issue. I put what I believe were commercial or "super duty" in some things but a couple tractors got plain old AGM batteries destined for cars. I bounced all over the fields with them and nothing ever went wrong. I got the same normal long-term life as the commercial type batteries. I bought the commercial ones at Sam's Club but the last one is a few years back.

Note here is that I keep my batteries charged. They get an early winter full charge and then another in March. I feel this helps.

 

[RjCorazza]

I'm also a fan of AGM batteries for their low self discharge rate, vibration resistance, and no fumes to corrode components outside of the battery.
I've tried different AGM brands, and my experience is that Odyssey batteries are top notch (but $$$). That's what will go into my tractor when the OEM battery needs replacing.

 

[5030]

AGM batteries idle discharge at the same 3% per month as flooded cell batteries do and hot weather will kill a battery faster than cold weather will. It always seems like cold weather kills them when in fact cold weather starts require much more starting amperage consequently, a flooded cell or AGM battery that is getting older won't be able to provide the required cold crank amps so people deem them shot when in fact they aren't totally.