Have to buy 2 batteries today...

[jeffinsgf]

Both my tractors' batteries won't hold a charge anymore. I've had it with JD batteries -- leaky and too short-lived.

Is Optima still the ultimate choice? Other things I should consider? The $189 price makes me hesitate a bit, but I'm tired of jumping tractors and cleaning up battery trays.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Are you sure it's the batteries themselves? Such as poor charging systems? Or bad connections? I would think JD batteries are made by some other company that JD puts their name on. Cruddy connections, cold weather storage can affect pretty much any battery..

 

[jeffinsgf]

4 year old tractor better not have a poor charging system or rotted connections! It all looks good, and the one on the 4410 shows strange readings when connected to an external charger. Pretty sure it is the batteries.

 

[MrJimi]

Take your batteries to your local auto parts store, they should check them free

 

[ToadHill]

I'm not a battery expert by any stretch of the imagination but I've never had any luck with using a batter designed for autos on my tractors. They never last worth a darn. I don't know if the travel over rough ground does them in or what but unless the Optima is made for use in a tractor, I'd stay away from it.

 

[AlanB]

I think Sam's had the Optima's a bit cheaper then that if it is an option where you are at.

I would say that would be the premeir way of doing it.

 

[Superduper]

Saw Optima yellow tops (group 51R, very hard to find) at Costco a couple weeks ago for $129. You simply can't beat that.

 

[wushaw]

I'm not a battery expert by any stretch of the imagination but I've never had any luck with using a batter designed for autos on my tractors. They never last worth a darn. I don't know if the travel over rough ground does them in or what but unless the Optima is made for use in a tractor, I'd stay away from it.

Off roaders like to use the Optimas since they can be mounted in any method.
I have had the red top in my Jeep for five years now and have run it completely dead three times now.

I would not hesitate to install one in my tractor.

 

[Farmerford]

I have had good experience with Optimas in tractors. The Kubota L2900 has one that is nearly six years old, and Kubota B2400 has one that is three years old, and the Cat D3B is on a two year old parallel pair. It seems that the cost per year is probably less than those Champion brands the local Sam's has, which often don't recover from the second or third heavy discharge. Plus you avoid the hassle of manual recharging, jumper cables, or booster batteries.

Some of my equipment can sit for two or three months between uses, and Optimas clearly hold a charge well during that time, whereas the cheaper batteries are usually too weak to start after sitting three months.

Both Kubotas use batteries with odd dimensions that only Kubota (at least it seems that way) carries. The dealer charges almost as much for an exact replacement as the new Optima costs at the local Advance Auto Parts.

 

[john_bud]

A few of the things that harm batteries are

1) Deep discharge
2) Heat
3) Vibration

If the charging system is good, #1 isn't a problem. You may want to think about #2 &3.

If you go Optima - get one for Ag or marine as they are built for more vibration. And yes, they are about the best thing you can get outside of a $5000 custom Li-ion.

jb