Battery Suggestions

Big_Cajun · Nov 27, 2006

A friend of mine has a JD 2020 and was searching for a good battery manufacturer for use with the tractor. Any suggestions?

BC

MikePA · Nov 27, 2006

Optima and Odyssey.

Dusty · Nov 27, 2006

I've had excellent luck with Walmart batteries, and they cost a lot less than the Optima. The Optima is a great battery, but I don't know if it is worth the cost for a tractor. To me, it wouldn't be. I would rather replace a $39 or $battery every 3 years than a $150 one every six.

Bedlam · Nov 27, 2006

I second the wal mart ones. I use a winch too. I replaced mine six years ago with the yellow one they sell about 65 dollars. the dealer wanted 240 dollars.
Ive had good luck, but mine is garaged, that could make a difference.
Still going strong.

Knock on wood,
i will now go out and it will be flat......lol

Farmwithjunk · Nov 27, 2006

Big_Cajun said:
A friend of mine has a JD 2020 and was searching for a good battery manufacturer for use with the tractor. Any suggestions?

BC

NAPA gell-filled like the Optima battery.

Carries a 6 year warranty. Vibration and abuse has no effect on them. I've got them in all my tractors.

slowrev · Nov 28, 2006

Some tractors have the battery next to the radiator and acid fumes from charging can cause corrosion. For these applicatons the gel type batteries are best.
I just use the wally world batteries in everything I have though. Good batteries.

Bedlam · Nov 28, 2006

Wonder who makes the batteries for Wal Mart.?

Highbeam · Nov 28, 2006

I discarded a perfectly good walmart battery to replace it with a NAPA brand AGM (Optima style) STARTING battery that met the owner's manual requirements.

Battery acid sloshing around and pouring out the top of the battery is now a thing of the past. So are vapors and corrosion. I've got one in my pickup too.

Dusty · Nov 28, 2006

Bedlam said:
Wonder who makes the batteries for Wal Mart.?

I was told that it is Johnson Controls...

slowrev · Nov 28, 2006

I think there are only about 3 battery manufacturers that cover the USA market.

MikePA · Nov 28, 2006

slowrev said:
Some tractors have the battery next to the radiator and acid fumes from charging can cause corrosion. For these applicatons the gel type batteries are best.

Odyssey batteries are dry cell and don't create fumes. Since my battery sits in front of my radiator, that's what I have.

Bedlam · Nov 28, 2006

Mine is in front also. for the last four tractors I had.(30 years). Never had a problem, but I routinely wash the engine and the battery.Just some engine cleaner and hot hose water.

KICK · Dec 5, 2006

If your worried about acid spilling out of batteries, let me point out that most maintenance free batteries are vented differently in order to prevent this type of gassing, thats how they get to be called "maintnence free".

then there are the brands of batteries that use AGM technology, they are more or less sealed.

dont just trust yer luck to Odysee. look around.

MikePA · Dec 5, 2006

KICK said:
dont just trust yer luck to Odysee. look around.

randy41 · Dec 5, 2006

how do these gel batteries hold up when not charged frequently?

KICK · Dec 6, 2006

MikePA said:

I know a couple people who have bought Odysees and didn't get any better service out of that particular brand than if they just bought a regular maintnence free lead acid battery.

supposedly AGM ( sealed) batteries hold a charge longer ie.. the self discharge rate is slower.

battery self discharge rate is slower in cold temps than it is in hot climates. the flip side is a lead acid battery supplies less current as it gets colder and it also takes more electrical energy to start a very cold engine.

I've had a Delco Freedom High cycle group 31 battery in my New holland skid steer for about 6 years now, I cant complain about it ..

I look at if from the standpoint that the two pieces of equipment I have are on my property, aren't going anywhere except around that property so why do I need to worry about a dead battery. Its at home, not like I'm going to get stranded, worst case scenario is having to fool around for a few minutes to replace batt or jump start.

OTOH, if I were using these machines to make money and it would cost me in the form of downtime and lost revenue I'd buy what I thought was the best battery for my type of service.
I still wouldn't buy an odysee. I'd buy another Delco or a Deka.

bx23barry · Dec 7, 2006

just my two cents on odyssey batterys. My bothers custom merc (seldom driven) had nothing but dead batterys (two batterys a year) until he put a odyssey in it (three years with no problems). My truck battery (less than 2 years old seldom driven) also went dead a couple of times until I put an odyssy in it (2 years no problems) (just turned 20,000 this weekend). Its pretty clear to me they are great in something that isn't driven much.

Bob_Skurka · Dec 7, 2006

randy41 said:
how do these gel batteries hold up when not charged frequently?

I have a dual Optima set up in my snowcat. The "blue top" Optima batteries are advertised as being able to hold their charge for a year or more in storage and are ideal for lightly used vehicles. The "red top" Optima might be a better choice for colder climates. Both offer 800 CCA at 0 degrees F. And both are highly vibration resistent with 3 year free replacement guarantees and I think they also carry 8 year pro-rated warrenties.

When my current tractor batteries die, they will be replaced with Optima type batteries. In my cars I use maintainence free batteries because they are use far more often they are rarely neglected.

varmint · Dec 7, 2006

I seem to remember that Consumer Reports liked the Walmart batteries, at least a few years ago. I too have had good luck with them, and the price it right. They even have a vinyl pocket on the side to store the warrantee receipt... That and $4 prescriptions, whatelsedaya want?

Bob_Skurka · Dec 7, 2006

varmint said:
I seem to remember that Consumer Reports liked the Walmart batteries, at least a few years ago.

I just tossed out a recent issue of CR that reviewed batteries.

They did like SOME of the WalMart batteries. They liked SOME of the AutoZone DuraLast batteries. They liked SOME of the blah blah blah

Generally they liked the batteries rated for colder temperatures than those rated/designed for warm climates. Their major caveat was that you should buy the battery with the LONGEST FULL TRADE IN warrenty. Typically batteries have a full trade in warranty that is 12, 18, or 24 months. A few have 36 month full trade in warranties. After the full trade in warranty, all battery makers offer a pro-rated warranty, but those are typically deeply discounted and you end up almost paying for a new battery, even if you show up 1 day after the full trade in warranty expires.

So when battery shopping, they basically summed it up by saying get a cold climate battery (even if you live in the south) and get the longest full trade in warranty.