"AGM Car" batteries for less used tractors?

bdhsfz6 · Mar 20, 2025

Whether it's flooded cell or AGM, I buy the cheapest automotive battery I can find that will fit. Using a desulfator / maintainer, I usually get 6 or 7 years out of a battery with just a 12 month warranty.

I've done this for 40 years with all my tractors and found it to be the most economical way.

aircommuter · Mar 20, 2025

jigs_n_fixtures said:
Trick my daddy taught me: Glue a couple of copper pennies to the battery adjacent to the terminals. They are more reactive than the terminals and clamps and will corrode first.

I was putting a new battery in mom's Volvo, and had bought a pair of the felt washers the parts houses sell. I was putting in and dad came out and asked what the felt washers were for. I told him and he asked how much they cost. When I told him, he laughed, and said next time save $1.48. He proceeded to glue two pennies to the battery and explain the chemistry.

Sure enough the pennies corroded, but the terminals were clean. Every time I did a tune-up, I'd pop off the corroded pennies and install new ones.

Not much copper in a penny these days. I knew a guy that every time he checked his oil he let it drip on the battery terminal.

mapper · Mar 20, 2025

Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

John_Mc · Mar 20, 2025

mapper said:
Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

Some AGM batteries are calcium. (which I guess is why some AGM batteries call for a slightly higher charging voltage.)

Not sure what your Massey dealer is charging, but I'd go with either that or a quality AGM battery.

I had "sealed" flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor at one point (purchased from the New Holland dealer). It still vented corrosive gas at times, taking out the ends of my battery cables. I've not had the problem since switching to AGM.

aircommuter · Mar 20, 2025

mapper said:
Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

https://cantecsystems.com/products/batteries/lead-calcium

aircommuter · Mar 20, 2025

There are also VRLA batteries often used in locations like the cars that have the battery in the passenger compartment.

mapper · Mar 20, 2025

John_Mc said:
Some AGM batteries are calcium. (which I guess is why some AGM batteries call for a slightly higher charging voltage.)

Not sure what your Massey dealer is charging, but I'd go with either that or a quality AGM battery.

I had "sealed" flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor at one point (purchased from the New Holland dealer). It still vented corrosive gas at times, taking out the ends of my battery cables. I've not had the problem since switching to AGM.

Thanks, another bit of information. My battery seems to still be going strong, I don't know what the life expectancy is for this type of battery. I have had this tractor for about 11 years now and bought it new in the first year it came out. The dealer uncrated it and delivered it straight to me, it never sat on their lot.

aircommuter · Mar 20, 2025

Batteries can function even though they would fail a conductance on a tester like a Midtronics. However when the situation comes up like a very cold morning or something else that puts more of a strain on the battery it may show that it is not so good. Those testers will show the actual cranking amperage capability of the battery compared to the rated number on the battery.

RayIN · Mar 20, 2025

mapper said:
Anybody know anything about calcium batteries? My tractor came with one, I've had it now a bit over 10 years now and it is still going strong. I did a bit of research about them, they seem to require a bit higher charging voltage and are supposed to discharge at a slower rate when sitting idle.
I've never had to charge it, it's sealed and so doesn't need to have water added.
I dread having to replace it if the only source is my Massey dealer $$$$$!

Today you have choices from which to buy calcium-air or lead-calcium batteries.