Optima Batteries-Good or Bad

[5030]

Shady:

This is way off the thread, but I'd think you would like my friends Massey pulling tractor. It's a Massey V8 with water injection. He told me he passed a school bus on a 2 lane road at 60 with it. I bet the driver of the bus- [censored] his pants!!!

 

[timb]

Daryl,

A little late to pile on but I've been running a red top in my Jeep for 4 years now. It sit's outside at all times - and on plenty of single-digit and sub-zero snowy mornings the Optima started it like it was 72 and sunny.

Even without the rest of the positive aspects I'm sold and plan on changing to Optima's anytime and anywhere they'll fit when I need a new battery. (Watching my FIL's JD garden tractor battery slop all over the sheet metal reinforces this.)

Neophyte, Zuiko - I considered the yellow tops but never got a definitive answer as to whether there was a down side in "ordinary" vehicle use. Anyone know?

Tim

 

[5030]

Tim:

I see that Optima dosen't make small batteries like lawnmower or snowmobile applications. That's too bad. The battery in my wifes electric start Arctic Cat has to be replaced every year and the battery in my lawnmower goes the same route. I have tried taking them out of the machines and putting them on the bench, but they still puke on a regular basis. I know that a flooded cell battery will sulphate with non-use, but seasonal equipment sits in the "off season". I'd be better off if the same battery fit the lawnmower and the sled, then it would get almost continous use.

Tim:

I thought I might add this:
Mike, a moderator on this site, has a NH Boomer. He had the battery slop problem. I believe he changed to another battery but I believe it wasn't an Optima as I think it didn't fit. I remember he said the acid gas had eaten his (hood latch?). I'll ask him.

 

[timb]

Daryl,

Yeah - the Optimas are fairly compact but there are cases where they don't fit. I'm wasn't sure of the exact group # of the battery in my FIL's JD 265 or my JD 318 but they looked roughly like an old traditional group 24. (i.e. big) I'm pretty sure in those cases an Optima will fit - but I've never pulled out the tape measure yet.

The JD Parts site lists different part numbers for each battery but lists both the 265 and 318 as using a "22F" (9.4x6.8x8.3 LxWxH) and the basic red tops are close (maybe a little long). Ought to be one that fits there but these are certainly bigger than a "motorcycle" battery style.

I think the Optima's would be ideal for a CUT - a shame they don't fit in all cases (I remember the Boomer thread).

Tim

 

[Hambone]

I also had heard they are good and put one in the dragster this weekend. I had a Genisis sealed and worked good till it shorted. I used the yellow top.

 

[zuiko]

cbh,

You are right about over-charging and over-discharging being really bad for batteries. Overcharging is mainly what gave NiCad's their bad name. A NiCad can last a very long time with no capacity loss if charged with a decent charger, but there are a lot of junk chargers out there that keep charging after the battery is full.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">Mike, a moderator on this site, has a NH Boomer. He had the battery slop problem. I believe he changed to another battery but I believe it wasn't an Optima as I think it didn't fit. I remember he said the acid gas had eaten his (hood latch?). I'll ask him. </font>
Here's a link to the thread with the details.

At the time, Optima didn't make a battery that would fit my TC25D. They do now.

 

[centex]

I have bought three Optima battries in the last three years and all have been bad. The last one was yesterday. It was bad off the shelf. Another almost exploded in the car. The third will not hold a charge after one year. I will not try another one.

 

[AndyMA]

Don

I see your an EE as I am. I'm curious what was wrong with your batteries. One I can see but 3 seems like quite a lot when the comments in this forum except yours seem to be 100% positive and the ones I have used have preformed great. I have also been told that the Army is using them in many of their vehicles without problems. Is it possible that you bought batteries that were not stored correctly? It seems like that might be the case if you picked one up recently and it was dead.

Andy

 

[5030]

Andy:

I hope I didn't buy a lemon too. I just put the Group 31 Blue top in my lance's battery compartment. It's pretty heavy. It's rated at 900 cca. The flooded cell I took out was rated at 650 cca.

I'll keep my fingers crossed. What really sold me was the fact that I have a buddy who shot a hole in his Optima by accident. He is still using it in his welder and that was 3 years ago!!