12 Volt Battery Replacement

[Tobyone]

Gents,

I have a 2012 Kubota B3200 series tractor with FEL. The original battery that came with my tractor is not holding a charge and is only 2 years old. The original Kubota battery has a 1 year warranty? There is also no name on the battery, just a product number 55B24LS (51R-430). I am looking for a recommendation on a replacement battery other than Kubota. Your assistance and expertise is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Tobyone

 

[Tx Jim]

I'll bet the battery is a 55 AH group 24

 

[BeezFun]

I measured the battery enclosure and hold downs on mine and went to the local NTB battery place and asked them to get me the biggest battery that would fit in those dimensions.

 

[number two]

Your B3200 takes a Group 51R battery,typically about 450-475 cold cranking amps(CCA),it's a common size for Honda automobiles.

Many here have had fantastic luck with their Kubota batteries.
Interstate batteries are well respected.
Carquest,NAPA,and Parts Plus sell East Penn batteries which are also very good.

Good Luck!

 

[number two]

Awesome member Ductape replaced his B3030 battery with a Group 34 battery with a little modification.Many more CCA's.May also work for you as they are similar tractors.

I measured the battery enclosure and hold downs on mine and went to the local NTB battery place and asked them to get me the biggest battery that would fit in those dimensions.

 

[2458n]

My Kubota L245DT has a 1000 cca battery from Auto zone that has the top and side posts both on it. The side mounts make great hook-ups for all your accessories. Prior to that I ran a Cat battery that came from work with lo voltage. My little tractor ran on it for five years. Lower cranking amps are supposed to require a smaller number of plates cramped into the battery box allowing longer life. Makes sense but I have never tried it. Small little Nissan Frontier is really neglected and gets the twenty dollar junk yard exchange battery every 4 or 5 years. Truck used every day so battery must be working.

 

[Ductape]

Awesome member Ductape replaced his B3030 battery with a Group 34 battery with a little modification.Many more CCA's.May also work for you as they are similar tractors.

One of the best things I've done to my tractor. I was fed up when my second group 51R (an Interstate) took a dump. The change gave me 800 CCAs and was pretty straight forward. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Hugenpoet]

Have gotten good service out of the OEM battery that came with my tractor when I bought it new in 2007, but not sure I want to take a chance on another winter. Anyone know the group number for an M7040HD? Thanks.

 

[George2615]

As mentioned, any auto parts or battery store can match up your battery. It would hurt to get the biggest battery with the most CCA that will fit in your battery case. Having top and side posts would be a plus. I deal with a store called Battery World, their prices are lower than the auto parts stores because that's all they sell.

 

[oosik]

Hugenpoet - your owners manual will tell you. Your M7040 will take the same battery as mine - Group 31. I replaced mine last fall with a unit having 1050 CCA.
I was going to get an Optima AGM until I saw the price - WOW.

 

[Hugenpoet]

As mentioned, any auto parts or battery store can match up your battery. It would hurt to get the biggest battery with the most CCA that will fit in your battery case. Having top and side posts would be a plus. I deal with a store called Battery World, their prices are lower than the auto parts stores because that's all they sell.

Thanks

 

[Hugenpoet]

Hugenpoet - your owners manual will tell you. Your M7040 will take the same battery as mine - Group 31. I replaced mine last fall with a unit having 1050 CCA.
I was going to get an Optima AGM until I saw the price - WOW.

Thanks

 

[Chaldaean]

One of the best things I've done to my tractor. I was fed up when my second group 51R (an Interstate) took a dump. The change gave me 800 CCAs and was pretty straight forward. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Ductape, I also have a B3030HSDC and live in NH. My battery is getting tired and I'm wondering what sort of modifications are required to fit a 34R battery in a space intended for a 51R. Would you be willing to snap a few photos of your setup or provide some additional written detail?

For reference, I've attached images of the stock setup. The end portion of the exposed tape measure is about the depth of a 34R as compared to the stock 51R.

 

[Qapla]

We have had good success with our tractor batteries getting them from Tractor Supply. If there is a problem, (we even put a hole in one) they replaced it, no questions asked!

 

[100 td]

You can always try CAT Premium High Output Batteries.
CAT PHO batteries exceed industry standards in all five of the following stringent tests:
100 hour vibration test
72 hour deep discharge/recharge cycle test
30 day complete discharge test
Heavy-duty life cycle test
Cold soak test

Vibration and heat are two of the biggest killers of batteries. You may find something here that fits. No affiliation to CAT, just worked in the heavy electrical industry for 30 years.
caterpillar.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C338971

 

[dickfoster]

You can always try CAT Premium High Output Batteries.
CAT PHO batteries exceed industry standards in all five of the following stringent tests:
100 hour vibration test
72 hour deep discharge/recharge cycle test
30 day complete discharge test
Heavy-duty life cycle test
Cold soak test

Vibration and heat are two of the biggest killers of batteries. You may find something here that fits. No affiliation to CAT, just worked in the heavy electrical industry for 30 years.
https://caterpillar.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C338971

A Odyssey AGM battery will be my choice when it comes time to replace my battery. Good for all of the stated reasons, shock, vibration, heat, cold etc. AGMs are just much better batteries for vehicles of all types, tractors included. If it's good enough for an A1 Abrams tank, it's good enough for my stuff.

 

[100 td]

While they are good, they are expensive, and sometimes paying double or more for a battery doesn't go down very well. Each to their own, I have had a few different AGM's before, and many other brands as well as CAT.

 

[MHarryE]

Unless Cat has changed their battery warranty policy lately, it was 5 year full replacement no pro-rated cost like so many have.

 

[100 td]

While they were great warranties, they have changed, Agricultural use 18mth replacement, +18mth prorata, car use 2 yr replacement, +4 year prorata.
http://www.stowerscat.com/default.php?w=pdf&id=232
Still good batteries, not sure how they compare on price in the US. Like all batteries, there will always be a dud one, and you may get it!
Just another option if you are interested, and you may or may not find something that suits, size wise, anyway!
EDIT: Just had a look, nothing small enough or similar to a group 51 there, will suit some other tractors though.

 

[buickanddeere]

The one thing that AGM batteries can not tolerate is over charging. A flooded cell battery can tolerate over charging longer with a steady supply of distilled water to top up the cells.