Use a battery tender when the vehicle is not in use for more than a few days. Noco 800milliamp hours or Battery Tender Jr. You battery will last 5 or more years. I use them on everything and get and average of 7-8 years on most batteries even on automobiles.
Battery Info
- Thread starter EddieWalker
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dkmc
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I've got this charger from HF, it has a 'repair' mode. It's actually helped a couple batteries. Then a couple months ago, I connected it to one that has some age, but was doing 'ok' in a forklift. After it 'repaired' that battery, it won't crank anything now. I put the charger back on it for more 'repair' but it just draws lots of amps and has no cranking ability, probably (I suspect) a shorted cell.
2/8/15 Amp Automatic Microprocessor Controlled Battery Charger
Amazing deals on this 2/8/15 Amp 12V Automatic Charger Starter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
nknelsen
Silver Member
I usually get 5 to 7 years. And that's with today's new vehicles.
homey53
Silver Member
My suggestion is to go to Interstate Battery if you have a shop near you? They only do batteries, and they're good at what they do and sell. Just my .02 cents worth.
LouNY
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Used to be my last two didn't hold up very well.
Striker70
New member
My Kubota L 3901 is 7 years old and sits outside, covered, all year and battery is good still. 2002 F 250 with 7.3 diesel gets maybe 4 years and then both batteries need to be replaced. Just did the truck last month when it got colder here. Trying different batteries each time and have not yet found one that is superior for the truck. Now my boats deep cycle batteries seem to like Interstate so far.
1Mech
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As I recall, the life of a battery is mostly determined by the discharge/charge cycles it goes through, along with how well you maintain it.
The number of cycles a battery can endure depends on its quality, usage patterns, and maintenance. According to the search results, the average guaranteed lifespan of a basic lead-acid battery is around 1,500 cycles.
However, poor management, no monitoring, and a lack of both proactive and reactive maintenance can kill a battery in less than 18 months. With proper maintenance, a lead-acid battery can last between 5 to 15 years."
www.batteryskills.com
I recently acquired an old battery, never really used, but it sat discharged for a few years, the build date was in 2018! I put it on a battery recondition cycle a few times( says it gets rid of sulfation) and it now is holding a charge. One of these days, I will put it in my van to see if it will perform well or it is just a surface charge.
"Age and Usage Patterns
The age and usage patterns of a lead-acid battery can also impact its lifespan. The lifespan of a lead-acid battery is typically measured in cycles, which refers to one complete charge and discharge cycle.The number of cycles a battery can endure depends on its quality, usage patterns, and maintenance. According to the search results, the average guaranteed lifespan of a basic lead-acid battery is around 1,500 cycles.
However, poor management, no monitoring, and a lack of both proactive and reactive maintenance can kill a battery in less than 18 months. With proper maintenance, a lead-acid battery can last between 5 to 15 years."
How Long Should a Sealed Lead Acid Battery Hold a Charge? - Battery Skills
Discover how long a Sealed Lead Acid battery should hold a charge, factors affecting battery life, and tips to maintain optimal performance.
www.batteryskills.com
I recently acquired an old battery, never really used, but it sat discharged for a few years, the build date was in 2018! I put it on a battery recondition cycle a few times( says it gets rid of sulfation) and it now is holding a charge. One of these days, I will put it in my van to see if it will perform well or it is just a surface charge.
dkmc
Silver Member
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- Near the cornfields in upstate NY
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- 1957 IH 330, 2011 MF 1529, Mustang 342. Woods & Grasshopper Zero Turns, Forklifts, Machine Tools, Welders, Golf Carts, Polaris SxS
Same experience here. I don't buy them anymore.
isdavyy4u
New member
Have a friend who remanufacters old batteries.
Every wonder why OEM batteries last 5-6 years and ANY new one usually 3 years?
It's the spec they are made to..
Most new battery's have very thin plates which gives alot of CCA, but horrible longevity. The thin plates sulfate and sluff off sulfated material which falls to the bottom of the battery and eventually kills them. Battery saver modes may initially extend life, but it just sluffs off material the eventually shorts them out.
Every wonder why OEM batteries last 5-6 years and ANY new one usually 3 years?
It's the spec they are made to..
Most new battery's have very thin plates which gives alot of CCA, but horrible longevity. The thin plates sulfate and sluff off sulfated material which falls to the bottom of the battery and eventually kills them. Battery saver modes may initially extend life, but it just sluffs off material the eventually shorts them out.
moosetooth
New member
A battery maintainer is crucial for the health of a battery that is only used seasonally. Ask anyone with a motorcycle, snowmobile or riding mower how many batteries they went through before they figured that one out. Your tractor battery should have lasted longer than 3 years. AGM battery in something as simple as a tractor is a waste of money in my opinion, My wife's car has 60 fuses, my pickup truck has about 6. Take the extra money you would spend on an AGM battery and buy a good maintainer. I remove the batteries from my seasonally used machines and keep them charged in a place where they won't freeze.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
I dont know. Ive had 2 interstates fail on my tractor . The first was 1.5 yo, the last was 11 months. Alternator tested good. Both batteries had shorted cells. I went with AGM this time around. Tractor bouncing probably isnt a good thing on flooded cells.
isdavyy4u
New member
The are Battery Tenders and then are the newer battery chargers that have a repair mode. It's the repair mode mode that pulses and knocks off crap on sulfated plates I was referencing in a previous post.
Battery Tenders.......I use them on everything I have in the barn.
Battery Tenders.......I use them on everything I have in the barn.
DarkBlack
Elite Member
Got you beat (so far) , I just changed out the OEM in my 2008 MF 1540 this past summer.
It never once had a trickle charger , or battery tender on it during its long lifespan either.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
On the tractor, i added a 1amp smart charger to keep it topped off. No snow this year, so tractor has been sitting quite a bit. Its hardwired onto battery posts and has quick disconnect outside hood so i dont have to open hood to unhook.
ultrarunner
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We were a jobber going back 50+ years and the local rep was fantastic.
Never a warranty claim in those days… about 10 years ago it got bad and we stopped stocking them… several warranty claims from customers and not one honored…
The only issue with AGM batteries is they NEED - WANT a higher voltage for charge levels to be fully charged. Depending on or where your installing this an AGM might actually be a hindrance and negative over just a regular Lead battery if the alternator charge output is is low voltage wise
On a tractor vibration is a factor as well for life of the battery
On a tractor vibration is a factor as well for life of the battery
LouNY
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I haven't seen that and I have several AGM's in service. There is a ton of misinformation and contradictory so called "facts" out on batteries that it can be hard to wade through all the bull and hype.
I just treat conventional (flooded lead acid) the same as I do AGM batteries I see the same or maybe a bit better lifetimes on the AGM. But to me the major advantage is that the corrosion on the terminal and cables is mostly completely eliminated, and then the advantage of no gassing off of corrosive and explosive gases. And no liquid spilling while carrying or handling even when slinging them up into awkward places.
Here is an interesting search and it just shows how much conflicting information is out there;
charging voltage lead acid or AGM at DuckDuckGo
I just treat conventional (flooded lead acid) the same as I do AGM batteries I see the same or maybe a bit better lifetimes on the AGM. But to me the major advantage is that the corrosion on the terminal and cables is mostly completely eliminated, and then the advantage of no gassing off of corrosive and explosive gases. And no liquid spilling while carrying or handling even when slinging them up into awkward places.
Here is an interesting search and it just shows how much conflicting information is out there;
charging voltage lead acid or AGM at DuckDuckGo
Hay Dude
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Sounds like the bean counters took over from the engineers.
That has ruined more companies than anything I’ve ever seen.
Last edited:
DarkBlack
Elite Member
Agree. In real world applications the charging characteristic of an AGM, or traditional battery is close enough, especially with varying engine rpm’s to essentially make it irrelevant. In either case your simple alternator is simply going to present a voltage higher than the battery’s. What current flow actually occurs at those voltages will depend on the battery, not the alternator.
The alternator doesn’t know if current is flowing in the battery or through pumps or lightbulbs on your tractor.
Lithium batteries, though, are different enough to warrant consideration
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
The weather was nice today and the ground is dried out, so I decided to install the new battery and get the last of my mowing done.
The new battery is identical in size and configuration. It was a simple swap.
I got in my tractor and everything was dead. I tried again and the dash lights came on, but the started didn't make a sound. I put my volt meter on the battery and it read 11.8
I hooked up the jumper cables to my truck and I was able to get some clicking noises from the starter. I let it run for 15 minutes without any improvement. I let it run for another 15 minutes without any improvement.
I decided to try my backhoe battery instead of my truck. The backhoe battery is less then a year old, 950 CCA. After hooking it up, I got the same results as with my truck. I let it run for half an hour and there wasn't any improvement.
With the jumpers on the new battery in my tractor, I'm at 12.08 volts. Without the jumpers, the battery in the tractor is at 11.8 volts.
This is odd to me since I was expecting 14 volts or better with the jumpers. I've had the new battery on a trickle charger for two weeks, and it's odd that my voltage is so low.
Right now I have an old battery charger on it for the night to charge it better than the trickly charger. It's an older Schumaker charger, and the meter isn't showing anything to indicate that it's charging. I don't know for sure if it's working. I probably need to put my meter on it, but I haven't done that yet.
What am I missing?
The new battery is identical in size and configuration. It was a simple swap.
I got in my tractor and everything was dead. I tried again and the dash lights came on, but the started didn't make a sound. I put my volt meter on the battery and it read 11.8
I hooked up the jumper cables to my truck and I was able to get some clicking noises from the starter. I let it run for 15 minutes without any improvement. I let it run for another 15 minutes without any improvement.
I decided to try my backhoe battery instead of my truck. The backhoe battery is less then a year old, 950 CCA. After hooking it up, I got the same results as with my truck. I let it run for half an hour and there wasn't any improvement.
With the jumpers on the new battery in my tractor, I'm at 12.08 volts. Without the jumpers, the battery in the tractor is at 11.8 volts.
This is odd to me since I was expecting 14 volts or better with the jumpers. I've had the new battery on a trickle charger for two weeks, and it's odd that my voltage is so low.
Right now I have an old battery charger on it for the night to charge it better than the trickly charger. It's an older Schumaker charger, and the meter isn't showing anything to indicate that it's charging. I don't know for sure if it's working. I probably need to put my meter on it, but I haven't done that yet.
What am I missing?
