Battery Life

bill18163 · Feb 21, 2006

I have a Kubota that I bought in 2000. Starts OK but I was wondering if someone might know approx. when the original battery might give out? Anyone have any input on how long their battery lasted?

Soundguy · Feb 21, 2006

If you got 6ys on a battery you did good.

Many tractor batteries.. depending on how rough you use the tractor.. they last 1-5 ys.. etc... If the tractor sets alot. they go bad too. I figure 3ys and I'm happy on a battery.

Soundguy

BB_TX · Feb 21, 2006

Generally about 2 months after the warranty expires. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

bill18163 · Feb 21, 2006

I guess I'm on borrowed time!

MossRoad · Feb 21, 2006

I'm running into my 5th year on our Power Trac's battery. I keep a small 500MA charger on it continuously between uses.

Keep the connections clean.
Keep the fluid topped off if possible.
Keep it charged.
Battery could last many years if maintained properly, much less if not. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BobReeves · Feb 21, 2006

Not a tractor but last summer I replaced the original battery in my 94 Dodge Caravan. Guess it just depends on how long it lasts.

RalphVa · Feb 21, 2006

Five years seems about the typical battery life unless they sit around a lot. This will shorten their life.

Replaced the battery on my VW at 5 years. This seemed about typical.

Ralph

California · Feb 21, 2006

Mine was new 4/99. Starts fine. I put a little HF Float Charger on it when I don't expect to use the tractor for a few days.

I've read that a battery ages badly at less than full charge so a float charger is important for a battery that gets intermittent use.

slowrev · Feb 21, 2006

I usually get about 5 years or so out of a wally world battery.
On my 5th winter on the wally world battery in my soobie doo. I will probably have to replace it before next winter. Started fine at 4 degrees the other day though.
Ben

bobholland · Feb 22, 2006

Well I guess my battery on the JD 870 is TU as it will not hold a charge after one week. The battery is five years old.

I was thinking of an Optima replacement. Any experience with this? Its about twice the cost of a standard wet cell....

Bob /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

slowrev · Feb 22, 2006

Bob,
From the age it is probably the battery, but it could be the tractor draining it as well. You might want to exclude this possibility by disconnecting one battery terminal after charging and seeing if the battery still goes dead.

Ben

SnowRidge · Feb 22, 2006

Standard automotive batteries can last a long, long time if they are provided with proper float voltage when idle and seldom if ever deeply discharged. That said, 5 years is about it for typical use; less if it goes flat a few times. I replace my batteries once they have been in service for five years, instead of waiting for them to fail on me at an inopportune moment.

PILOON · Feb 22, 2006

I have to agree with the 5 year rule of thumb.

I am in the "cold Canadian north" and I always figure that the 5 year replacement costs no more than the eventual cost of a tow truck boosting fee.

At about the 4 1/2 yr aniverseray I keep my eyes peeled for battery sales and figure that I always come out ahead.

Generally I rotate my batteries in that the car gets the new one at about 5 yrs and that battery is donated to the tractor or some other secondary usage application that I can always boost in a pinch from the the primary usage vehicle.

Pays off (LOL $$)in that I get calls from neighbors needing boosts as well as every winter there is always somebody needing a boost in out cold climate.

(ps, I am not that bad a guy. My usual response to a neighbor boosting is "Drop off a bottle of wine if you insist on payement". (CAA fee is about $75.00 here))

skent · Feb 22, 2006

I replaced the battery in my B7300 with an optima. not so much for the battery life (old one was 5 years old and doing fine) but to extend the life of my radiator. I was having a problem with rust and corrosion. The optima solved that problem and the engine cranks much faster. IMO was well worth it!

rdln · Feb 22, 2006

The original battery in my 970 lasted about 7 years. Yuasa brand

Buck · Feb 22, 2006

I bought a Gel battery for my boat; expensive, but supposed to be worth it.

ToadHill · Feb 23, 2006

For years I used 6 volt auto batteries in my Ford 8N and they lasted for 3 or 4 years. The last time I needed a battery I bought one for farm use and it lasted 8 years. It was only about $10 more so it looks like I'll spend the few bucks extra in the future. I guess the auto batterys can't take the pounding over rough ground.

SnowRidge · Feb 23, 2006

<font color="blue"> I bought a Gel battery for my boat; expensive, but supposed to be worth it. </font>

Hi, Buck.

Check your charging voltage with that gel cell. Typically, it shouldn't be more than about 14.1 - 14.2 volts. Marine charging systems usually run higher than that. A lot of marine gel cells die from being overcharged.

The battery manufacturer should have published charging specs for your battery. I recommend getting a copy of them, if you don't have one already, and making sure your boat's charging system is compatible with/set up for gel cells.

froggy · Feb 23, 2006

I change out all batteries after three years just so I don't have an irate wife calling and say that she is stranded. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Marlowe · Feb 24, 2006

The one big reason for pre-mature battery failure in a vehicle such as a tractor or a boat that gets intermittent use is allowing the battery to sit in a discharged condition. Keep the battery charged even when it is sitting un-used. Either way, five years is cranking on borrowed time. Like one fellow told me a few years back, "If you stand in a slippery spot long enough, sooner or later you're gonna' fall down".

Tom