Battery deal?

[lhfarm]

The battery on my '06 TC40DA died this past weekend. I called the closest dealer earlier this week and he didn't have a battery in stock and suggested I go to the local Interstate dealer. The counter guy, who appeared to be the manager, who said the battery was a German automotive size/design and he had the same size for $135 or one 3/4" shorter for $95 or a "blem" for $35. All the same amperage (he didn't state what it was).

I'd done a search here and had read that some people are using an Optima group 51 battery. I ask about that and he said they aren't making that size now. I don't believe that is true, but the $35 sounded much better than $100 at this point.

Bottom line is I'm trying the $35 battery and will see how it works. It is shorter and there is no vent, but otherwise the same physical size. Anyone else gone this route?

 

[CurlyDave]

I have seen mixed results with blem batteries from Interstate. One neighbor has been using one in his car for years, certainly got more than his money's worth.

A different neighbor bought a blem deep cycle battery for his gate opener and it lasted less than a year.

For my own purposes, I have pretty much decided that the lowest cost per year on batteries is to head down to Wally World, and just hold onto the receipt for possible warranty replacement.

If it is for my wife or my daughter's car, top of the line name brand.

 

[lhfarm]

I normally buy top of the line for my cars and trucks, discount (Wally/Sam's) for my old jeeps and older tractor. I started with the dealer, since I want this tractor to start in the winter. So going with the "blem" was not what I started out to do. I caculate my "bargins" to include a "grief" or "was it worth a few extra bucks?", but this discount was too tempting.

I guess time will tell if it really was a good deal.

 

[Reg]

Size doesn't seem to matter.
I just got a very small motorcycle battery from Autozone and it was $96.
I think just about all of them are AGM (absorbed glass mat) these days, which sounds hi-tech, but just means there is fiber-glass wadding between the plates.
The nice thing about it was that it came as a fill it yourself package with almost zero risk of acid spills or burns.
I had no worries about new old stock or not fresh.
Heck, it was so intuitive that I could do the "guy thing" and read the instructions AFTERWARDS with low/no risk.
Place on a flat level surface, Rip off the seal, insert the 6 segment funnel, invert the 6 section acid bottles into the funnel, press lightly to pierce the bottle seals with the funnel's internal spouts. watch the bottles empty, remove funnel and bottles, discard responsibly, insert strip of 6 plugs, done, suit up, RIDE !

I gave up on the Sears Die Hard warranty scam a long time ago.
Basically I think they are all the same batteries with different logos on them.
What you PAY for is an obligation to get your next battery from THEM in order to redeem some trivial pro-rated percentage of what you paid for the last one.
The more you pay the longer the obligation - gee, how was THAT ever a good deal ?
(-:

PS Wally World might have been cheaper, they MIGHT have had that size, but I went to Autozone first and taking an old battery into the MallWart to match it up by opening cartons would probably have led to a hassle.
Their listings at my local store only go up to 2003 or so, or I would probably have gone there first.

 

[SteveInMD]

A lot of people went to Optima batteries because their wet cell batteries were spitting acid everywhere making a huge rusty corroded mess of the front end and radiator. I have no idea why this happens on some machines and not others. If you aren't having this problem with your wet cell then I don't see a reason for it.

 

[jinman]

A $35 battery that works is hard to beat. If it doesn't leak and starts your tractor as needed, just put a "I saved a bunch smile" on your face and keep on tractorin'.

 

[rayikeo2]

I bought a auto battery for my 1700. I got the highest amperage and cold cranking amps for around $60 at walmarts. Just meaure the case height & length & width plus write down all the specs and buy one the same size or higher specs at walmarts. I got the 6 year battery. Works perfect.

 

[PILOON]

For many years I'd change my car or truck battery every 2 years or so and install the old one in the tractor.
That way my car always started (was a sales rep then) and my tractor had a 'recent' good battery.
Used to tell the boss that a new battery was cheaper than a AAA boost when I was on the road in northern Quebec
Was lucky in that my little mitsu had a large battery space that even took the big 1000 CCA battery, plus no matter how big a battery the Mitsu still wants to be plugged in to start.
Mind you I am in Quebec where winters see -30 degC at times.
I have seen winters where maybe 20 sales reps were still in a motel parking at 10:30 waiting for AAA for a boost. Not me, I was out filling my order pad! (and my 'toys' had nice 'recent' batteries)

 

[The Dougster]

A couple of years ago, I purchased a quality battery at WallyWorld and a couple of months ago, it died on me.. I went back to WW without a receipt... they actually had my purchase on their computer, discovered it was still under warranty and simply replaced the battery... The Dougster was a happy camper!