Batteries

[kenmac]

What is it with batteries these days ? Many yrs ago, a battery going bad would turn the engine over just enough to start it. Now, when they go, they seem to just go all at once.
I sometimes wonder if the battery companies have a switch to kill a battery when the time is out ..
Yanmar started fine yesterday. This am, it's a no go.
I look on the battery and it's stamped 9/13. it's a 4 yr battery.
They knew when the 4 yrs were up. They flipped the switch and turned my battery off !

Yanmar now has a fresh new battery. My bet is it will be turned off in 4 yrs ! LOL

 

[FleetMan]

Did you clean the battery posts and cable ends before replacing the battery? Mine died a few years back with no warning, I tried everything I could think of before finally cleaning the connections. Wa La, it started right up. I have had to clean those connections al least once since then. The fine layer of corrosion is not readily visible but it was enough to inhibit a decent electrical connection. The ground or negative post was the culprit both times.

 

[Neat 1500]

They do tend to do that, the Optima that's in my Yannie is 13 years old and still going. The one in my YM14 is about 8 and still going too (wet cell supercharge). I've probably now put the moz on them both.....

 

[kenmac]

This is the 2nd battery I have put in this yanmar. After the original went, I installed one from carquest auto parts. When It went bad, It really went. It exploded ! I replaced it with a deep cycle. Now this one

About the connections.Yes, I keep them clean. One would never find any corrosion on any of my batteries.

this one was so dead, My 200 amp jump starter wouldn't make it budge ! LOL

 

[the old grind]

Deep Cycle? Most are not rated as 'cranking' batteries. RV and Marine batteries may be both. All 'wet' batteries will self-discharge over time, and SLA/AGM/Gel do at the lowest rate. They will also dry out over time, but some can be topped up with water and charge if you can pry open glued or welded access plugs/caps.

Time spent below full charge ages all 'wet' batteries, why the more frequently used (car truck) batteries last the longest and mower, blower, motorbike, and boat batteries die soonest w/o a regimen of topping up during off-seasons.

Worst case I know is a neighbor that, when a vehicle won't start, declares "I'll fix that this weekend". A mistake is walking away from a near-dead condition and then waiting days while lead sulfate accrues within. Batteries don't need topped up just before you use them as much as they needed it when stored/parked. Some have a shorted cell and can't be recovered, but some can be brought back to say 50-70% of what they once were.

I did some looking (for the team) and condensed good advice from British and Gold Wing groups online. I tried, and agree, that Battery MINDer, and Accumate will indeed help desulfate batteries. Trick is that the charging cycle 'patterns' end with a 'float' charge (self regulating). Simple solution is to disconnect/restart the maintainer/desulfater several times. We're watching for the 'charged light' on the worst batts, then allowing to 'soak' o'nite before reconnecting. t o g

 

[clemsonfor]

I had I think a power start battery (looked them up and if that's the right name I just pored they were in Atlanta). It lasted 7 years. I got a $49 walmart battery thus time not sure how the cheap one will last but past walmart batteries I have had lasted 7 or 8 years. I do keep one of those harbor freight solar trickle chargers on it.

 

[void777]

the old grind
Like you I use a battery minder got 2 from northern tool $ 5.00 ea on sale keep it hooked up to the tractor works great.

 

[Thomas]

Like a lot things today they offer good and cheaper have to read closely.

 

[fried1765]

the old grind
Like you I use a battery minder got 2 from northern tool $ 5.00 ea on sale keep it hooked up to the tractor works great.

2 "Battery Minders" from Northern Tool @ $5.00 each?
Maybe some sort of trickle chargers, but the "Battery Minder" brand?
Really?

 

[kenmac]

I had I think a power start battery (looked them up and if that's the right name I just pored they were in Atlanta). It lasted 7 years. I got a $49 walmart battery thus time not sure how the cheap one will last but past walmart batteries I have had lasted 7 or 8 years. I do keep one of those harbor freight solar trickle chargers on it.

$49.00 battery ? LOL I couldn't find one that cheap at walmart. I bought 750 cca @ walmart and paid about $125.00 for it

 

[clemsonfor]

$49.00 battery ? LOL I couldn't find one that cheap at walmart. I bought 750 cca @ walmart and paid about $125.00 for it

Yea I think there new this year. In my toyota I bought the $100 or so 3 year free replacement Max battery. The $48.88 battery is a 1 year free replacement. I saw several good reviews for them. They have sold them at certain stores for many years but my area just got them. Maybe yours does not have them yet?

 

[clemsonfor]

Here is the link. It's actually $49.88
ValuePower VP-24F Battery

http://www.walmart.com/ip/ValuePower-VP-24F-Battery/47308797

They have several sizes. I put one in the old k10 this year too. We will see how long they last.

I have those HF trickle chargers on somethings but I am suspect they may let the voltage climb too high. I like the solar tenders they put a lot less charge in the battery and I don't think let the voltage climb as high.

I use to buy all batteries at Advance Auto as I could always find a $40 off coupon which made them the best deal on a quality battery but their discount has been cut back to $20 and their batteries are so o er priced it still is not worth it.

 

[kenmac]

to be honest, I didn't look for anything less than 700 cca. I think I bought 750 cca. I believe it's 2-3 yr free replacment

 

[California]

Just don't make the mistake I did.

The kid at Autozone told me he was raised as a farmworker, and he knew that large harvest equipment that is used only seasonally gets the best results from Dual Purpose marine deep cycle (lighting) / starting batteries because the chemistry is different (I verified this) and they don't self-discharge as much if left idle for months. (likely true too). So with a large capacity 900 CCA (?) one priced the same as a good automotive battery, I bought it.

Don't Do This. It only lasted into the third year. My theory is it wasn't designed to stand up to the vibration of a tractor, or at least to the YM240's 2-cylinder thumper, so the coating on the plates fell off and crudded it up. At least the warranty paid a little toward the next, proper battery. That replacement has several years use now, hassle-free.

 

[rScotty]

I use the basic Optima round cell red top batteries in everything. Haven't had one leak yet and they tend to last 12 to 15 years before slowly getting old. I tried the more expensive Optima batteries - the yellow top industrial and the blue top marine battery and only got a couple of years from those. The red tops cost less & last better. I do try to put the BatteryMinder on each battery a couple of times a year.
rScotty

 

[California]

I tried the more expensive Optima batteries - the yellow top industrial and the blue top marine battery and only got a couple of years from those.
rScotty

Couple years -more- ??

 

[careyo63]

I've had the same 650CCA. since I bought the 2000. It will be 10yrs. old come Feb.. Still stays 12.55amps even after sitting. I haven't seen the Manufacturer anywhere around me. Spalding put it in so if or when it ever goes bad I'll be calling.............

 

[clemsonfor]

Just don't make the mistake I did.

The kid at Autozone told me he was raised as a farmworker, and he knew that large harvest equipment that is used only seasonally gets the best results from Dual Purpose marine deep cycle (lighting) / starting batteries because the chemistry is different (I verified this) and they don't self-discharge as much if left idle for months. (likely true too). So with a large capacity 900 CCA (?) one priced the same as a good automotive battery, I bought it.

Don't Do This. It only lasted into the third year. My theory is it wasn't designed to stand up to the vibration of a tractor, or at least to the YM240's 2-cylinder thumper, so the coating on the plates fell off and crudded it up. At least the warranty paid a little toward the next, proper battery. That replacement has several years use now, hassle-free.

Actually automotive batteries self discharge less than dual purpose or Deep cycle batteries.

 

[clemsonfor]

I've had the same 650CCA. since I bought the 2000. It will be 10yrs. old come Feb.. Still stays 12.55amps even after sitting. I haven't seen the Manufacturer anywhere around me. Spalding put it in so if or when it ever goes bad I'll be calling.............

Its coming 12.55 is only like 85% charged. But that is amazing life.

 

[rScotty]

Couple years -more- ??

I don't know why they didn't last. Should have been a better battery, but the supplier said a lot of people told him that.
The Red Tops are excellent. They are as good as the yellow and blue tops were disappointing.
rScotty