Best new battery for TC40D

Tractorganic · Dec 30, 2015

My Optima 34 battery is fading after 7 years but the new ones have bad reviews. I need recommendations for a replacement. Good warranty and durability are most important to me. I have searched the web for hours and found lots of biased, self congratulatory reports but little substantial information. The interstate dealer offered to sell me an AGM type battery (for over $250) which would likely be overkill since it is for lots of draining accessories which my tractor does not have ( radio or electric winch, etc.). What's a really good, long lasting with a long and reliable warranty?
Thanks,
Chris

fried1765 · Dec 30, 2015

Tractorganic:

I have used Interstate batteries for a while, but last year had a problem with an Interstate warranty.
Recently I bought a Walmart Everstart Maxx battery. They have a 3 year free replacement warranty.
The Everstart line is reportedly manufactured by Johnson Controls which has a very good reputation for batteries.
Who knows though? Walmart may dictate lower specs. and Johnson does not have their name on the batteries, so Johnson might not care.
All that said; Home Depot sells the Exide Global Extreme battery with a 40 month free replacement.
For me the Exide may be the best deal out there (I get a 10% discount at Home Depot).
Be sure though, wherever you buy a battery, that you check the SHIP date. Sometimes the Mfg. date is 4 or 5 months prior to the ship date.
The freshest battery by whatever seller you choose will likely be the longest lasting battery.
In my opinion, it is also wise to keep some sort of maintainer/desulphator hooked up if the battery is unused for more than a month.
I have a bunch of the Battery Tender brand maintainer units, but I have recently learned that there are better units available.
My batteries live in the North, and I live in the South each winter..

streamin · Dec 30, 2015

I was about to buy a battery as mine would be to low to start every few weeks. But I bought a solar trickle charger and leave it on most of the off time. 4 months or so and no low battery yet.

2458n · Dec 30, 2015

You now have learned how few battery manufactures are out there. Hard to beat Walmart and the three year warranty. Ask if is a straight exchange or if it is prorated. I get my best deals at the junk yard ,owner will exchange my old battery for one out of a wrecked truck for 20.00. No questions on warranty - there is none.

fried1765 · Dec 31, 2015

2458n said:
You now have learned how few battery manufactures are out there. Hard to beat Walmart and the three year warranty. Ask if is a straight exchange or if it is prorated. I get my best deals at the junk yard ,owner will exchange my old battery for one out of a wrecked truck for 20.00. No questions on warranty - there is none.

Walmart (Everstart Maxx) is "straight exchange" for 3 years.
Home Depot (Exide - Global Extreme) is a bit better ......"straight exchange" for 40 months.

SARG · Dec 31, 2015

I'm with the Everstart crowd at Wallyworld.
The first indication of any battery issues ... I put the load tester on the battery and if it shows "weak" ...... then I go get a replacement.
With three vehicles & seven tractors & one ztr it usually happens at least once per year.

fried1765 · Dec 31, 2015

SARG said:
I'm with the Everstart crowd at Wallyworld.
The first indication of any battery issues ... I put the load tester on the battery and if it shows "weak" ...... then I go get a replacement.
With three vehicles & seven tractors & one ztr it usually happens at least once per year.

I know what you mean!
I have 14 batteries.
I keep each of them on an automatic maintainer/desulphator, and get very good battery life as a result.