What did you buy this week?

[jjeff]

My wife bought me a new shirt this week maybe as a hint to start disposing of my favorite trashed articles of clothing, maybe as a thanks for starting to build her visions in a remodel. Idk however I do like wearing clothes that serve other purposes or have handy things I use built in this Ariat brand short sleeve button up shirt comes with chest pockets I usually don't buy shirts anymore with out them but more importantly comes with a microfiber cloth sewn in the inside flap to clean glasses. Since I always wear cheaters these days it is very handy. If I don't break them they need to be cleaned frequently when I attempt to do things wearing them.

 

[Runner]

Bought a new AGM battery to replace the POS jet ski battery that came as original equipment in my Kawasaki Mule. The original battery lasted exactly two years with less than average use and always on a Battery Tender.

Hopefully the new one will do better......

 

[Camofurever1]

Bought a new AGM battery to replace the POS jet ski battery that came as original equipment in my Kawasaki Mule. The original battery lasted exactly two years with less than average use and always on a Battery Tender.

Hopefully the new one will do better......

I don't like spending all my money at John Deere on over-priced green and yellow colored parts, but I have found over the decades, John Deere Ag batteries seem to last 8 to 10 years before they start getting weak. Not sure which battery company makes them for Deere. You might look at that battery option two years from now for your Mule.

 

[WM75Guy]

Headed to Kubota dealer for a new battery for the ZD1211. Bought it new in 2016 so not too bad.

 

[Runner]

I don't like spending all my money at John Deere on over-priced green and yellow colored parts, but I have found over the decades, John Deere Ag batteries seem to last 8 to 10 years before they start getting weak. Not sure which battery company makes them for Deere. You might look at that battery option two years from now for your Mule.

I have heard differing opinions on JD batteries. My experience with their "Strongbox" batteries has not been good. JD original equipment batteries in both my 185 lawn tractor and my 2520 compact tractor went bad about 2 years from purchase.

Edit: In fairness to JD, that was based on batteries purchased years ago. Perhaps they are better now.

Regarding the Mule, I knew the original battery was probably junk, so I have been researching a replacement. It seems to be fairly easy to substitute a regular lawn tractor battery with slight modification of the battery tray. However, in the interest of expediency and simplicity, I decided to go with the AGM of original size (even though it's probably twice the price of a lawn tractor battery).

If the AGM doesn't hold up, I will probably do the mod and go to a lawn tractor battery next time.

 

[t1kilo]

Just spent $670 on Kubota oil, fuel, and hydraulic filters, along with 15 gallons of udt2. Good thing labor is free.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

$42 for tires
They were white and all less than 3/4"
I inherited my uncle's toy collection from 1930s-1950s, mostly cars, trucks, airplanes and some farm equipment.
Some the rubber tires were disintegrating and there's we just returned from a week Pennsylvania vacation.
Everyone should see Carver's toy store on Rt.30 in Gettysburg. Don is 83 now and it's in his house. I'm sure some toys and parts he has are 100 y.o.

 

[jjeff]

Bought a new AGM battery to replace the POS jet ski battery that came as original equipment in my Kawasaki Mule. The original battery lasted exactly two years with less than average use and always on a Battery Tender.

Hopefully the new one will do better......

Have you tried mitigating the vibration on battery tray Ion top of securely fastening battery mounts ive grown accustomed with good results I think by putting a thin rubber sheet under battery in tray to further mitigate vibration on top of using battery maintainers over extended periods of non use definitely cut my new battery purchases by more than half. Also throw a thin sheet of heat deflecting wrap on side closest to exhaust. Five extra mins doing little things repurposing left over materials from other projects I feel have extended battery life pretty significantly. Do you know how to check for parasitic battery draw? It's easy with a cheap simple pin light. Even if electrical system might fluster you.

 

[Runner]

Have you tried mitigating the vibration on battery tray Ion top of securely fastening battery mounts ive grown accustomed with good results I think by putting a thin rubber sheet under battery in tray to further mitigate vibration on top of using battery maintainers over extended periods of non use definitely cut my new battery purchases by more than half. Also throw a thin sheet of heat deflecting wrap on side closest to exhaust. Five extra mins doing little things repurposing left over materials from other projects I feel have extended battery life pretty significantly. Do you know how to check for parasitic battery draw? It's easy with a cheap simple pin light. Even if electrical system might fluster you.

It actually came with a rubber pad under the battery and rubber under the top hold-down strap. Good Idea though, I could definitely add another layer under it for good measure.

The thing is basically new (2 years old) with no modifications, so let's hope it didn't come from the factory with anything causing "parasitic losses" (other than the hour meter), but maybe?

I even went so far as to unplug the tail light (which was wired to be on anytime the ignition was on) because it seemed like extra, unnecessary draw on the electrical system.

 

[jjeff]

It actually came with a rubber pad under the battery and rubber under the top hold-down strap. Good Idea though, I could definitely add another layer under it for good measure.

The thing is basically new (2 years old) with no modifications, so let's hope it didn't come from the factory with anything causing "parasitic losses" (other than the hour meter), but maybe?

I even went so far as to unplug the tail light (which was wired to be on anytime the ignition was on) because it seemed like extra, unnecessary draw on the electrical system.

Your battery maintainer should definitely mitigate any parasitic draw when not in use or stored.

 

[Runner]

This week, I bought a Rubbermaid dish rack.

All I wanted was one exactly like the one we have, but not peeling and rusty . Searched all over, including Amazon, but no joy. It shows on Rubbermaid's site, but unavailable. Not at Blows or Home Creepo. If it were available at one of the above places, the price was listed at anywhere from $24 to $40 (which is crazy).

Finally found ONE (the last one they had, missing a foot) at the local At Home store. Since it was the last one they had (and quite possibly, the last one in existence) and because it was missing a foot, they sold it to me for $10. I just popped the four good rubber feet off of our existing rack and "fixed" the new one.

Why does this stuff happen? Seems like nothing can ever be easy.

 

[grsthegreat]

This week, I bought a Rubbermaid dish rack.
View attachment 4117191

All I wanted was one exactly like the one we have, but not peeling and rusty . Searched all over, including Amazon, but no joy. It shows on Rubbermaid's site, but unavailable. Not at Blows or Home Creepo. If it were available at one of the above places, the price was listed at anywhere from $24 to $40 (which is crazy).

Finally found ONE (the last one they had, missing a foot) at the local At Home store. Since it was the last one they had (and quite possibly, the last one in existence) and because it was missing a foot, they sold it to me for $10. I just popped the four good rubber feet off of our existing rack and "fixed" the new one.

Why does this stuff happen? Seems like nothing can ever be easy.

My lowes sells these for $8.99



Edit: shows no longer available. They have a new style, but thats $17.00 . Looks more like metal than plastic

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

That's the one I ordered from Amazon in May.
$25

 

[grsthegreat]

The white plastic one is what we had for years. My wife wanted a new one, and its metal. Now i know why she didnt get another plastic one. Guess the ones out there for sale will be the last there is of them. This chepo metal one is already starting to show some rust. The plastic one lasted over 10 years

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Bought a new AGM battery to replace the POS jet ski battery that came as original equipment in my Kawasaki Mule. The original battery lasted exactly two years with less than average use and always on a Battery Tender.

Hopefully the new one will do better......

My OG mule battery lasted about 12 years. Never put it on a tender, just drove it every day or two. We use ours for farm during the year and then during hunting season. Love my 4010 Transaxle Diesel Mule...

 

[Runner]

My OG mule battery lasted about 12 years. Never put it on a tender, just drove it every day or two. We use ours for farm during the year and then during hunting season. Love my 4010 Transaxle Diesel Mule...

That's AMAZING! Was it the little teeny jet ski battery or a lawn tractor sized one?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

That's AMAZING! Was it the little teeny jet ski battery or a lawn tractor sized one?

It was a car sized battery. Don't remember the group number.

 

[scootr]

Why is it OEM batteries last 4-10 yrs and the replacement lasts only 2 yrs!? Errr

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

There a fellow in Texas I talk with occasionally who has a mid-'70s AMC Hornet with a 1979 J.C.Penny battery. The battery he said is now a conversation piece. For 46 years it still starts and runs fine.
Batteries are really strange.
Sort of like the light bulb that was turned on in 1901 in Livermore Ca. Still working for 124 years.

 

[Engineer42]

There a fellow in Texas I talk with occasionally who has a mid-'70s AMC Hornet with a 1979 J.C.Penny battery. The battery he said is now a conversation piece. For 46 years it still starts and runs fine.
Batteries are really strange.
Sort of like the light bulb that was turned on in 1901 in Livermore Ca. Still working for 124 years.View attachment 4117518

Is that the one that's in a firehouse?