It is the battery - Quick advice please!!!

[r0GuE]

We have a few inches of ice pellets on top of last nights snow. I went out to start the tractor and it is more appearent to me now that I do indeed need a battery. My BX is almost 3 years old. I do not think the battery would be warrantee would it?? Besides, I really need to go NOW and get a battery installed to clean my driveway (preschool tomorrow),.

Where to go? Wal-Mart,Sears,Advanced Auto
What to get?
How much is "the right price range"

Thanks for a quick answer please

 

[RalphVa]

Don't you have a vehicle and jumper cables?

I had to go to a special battery place in town (after trying 4 or 5 places) called Central Battery here in Charlottesville to get one for my Gravely.

Hopefully, someone with a BX can advise you on maybe some of the places you mentioned have ones to fit the BX2200. My Gravely had a STRANGE size and hold-down plate design. Central Battery had one identical to what was on it. Batteries Plus, Advance Auto, etc. didn't have any that would work.

I started my Gravely with a utility battery that I have 2 of in my carriage house where it sits.

My huge Benz battery would jump start even a big truck.

Just connect the ground cable last, to the frame on your BX, when jumping it.

Ralph

 

[surfran]

I would say that any of those might have one that would work. I would choose the closest place to check first. If you have a Tractor Supply Co. or something similar, they would also be a good choice.

Do you have any other mowers, motorcycles etc. that might have one you can "borrow" for the night? Just a thought.

Cost probably around $30-40.

Good luck,

 

[RalphVa]

I paid $50 for my Gravely battery. Nearest other one that MIGHT have worked was one for $70. Most run $30 to $50.

Even Benz batteries are down to about $50 now. Would you believe they used to be $200?

Ralph

 

[Egon]

Get a maintenance free rough use battery. The most cranking amps that will fit in the tractor. A few extra bucks here is well spent.

Just for interest the battery in my B7100 is still the original, 10 years old but is going to need replacement very soon.

Egon

 

[Inspector507]

Personally, I've used the Diehard Gold series in my lawn tractor and motorcycle. Motorcyle long gone, rider still in the shed since I bought a tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif . They are more money, but they seem to last for years even with a discharge over the winter.

 

[Junkman]

As I said in another post to your problem, go with a Walmart $29.99 battery with the one year warranty. It will start your tractor and after 3 or 4 years if you replace it, it will still be less expensive than buying one of those high dollar alternatives. I have one in my Benz for the last 5 years and it cost $39.99 because I had to buy the two year battery. The only difference in the warranty period is how much you pay for it. Take the old one with you and save the core deposit. I am certain that anything that you get will be at least equivalent to what was in it new. It is the cold cranking amps that you should consider, not the price. Get the highest number of cold cranking amps for the least amount of $$ any you will not be disappointed...

 

[NIXON]

ROGUE I replied earlier to your previous post . But I forgot to add TSC . They're on rt 356 just past the dmv liscencing place . John

 

[r0GuE]

There was a day when I wouldn’t have thought twice. I'd have spent whatever they wanted and I’d have a new battery right now. But now I am expecting a 3rd child, and with a stay at home mom, that means try to economize wherever possible. So instead, what I decided to do was to borrow a trickle charger (1.5 Amps) and run an extension cord to the shed. I cleaned off the corrosion and attached the charger at around 9PM. It has a green light to indicate charging (which was lit) and a red light to indicate charged (which was out). At 10:50 (less than 2 hours later) it is saying that it is charged. I guess I am assuming now that it is not going to take the charge. I’ll find out in the AM if it will run, but I am not holding out much hope. Is this what you all would guess as well..?

If I have to buy a new battery, $30 is quite reasonable. I’m not destitute or anything, I just thought that three years was not quite enough life to squeak out of a battery. Perhaps I was mistaken. Typically when I try and save money it doesn’t work. When I don’t try, it becomes painfully obvious that I could have.

Thanks for the replies everybody! Great info. I used the baking soda trick, and I did stop at Advance auto and buy the felt things for $1, but I forgot to put them on /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif (duh!)…

 

[Junkman]

This just came to mind........ did you happen to check the level of the electrolyte in the battery. If it is low, and not covering the plates, then you will not get the battery to hold a full charge. I know it is late, but it is still worthwhile to go out and check this. Adding any water is better than having the top of the plates exposed if you don't have distilled water. Just fill the ports till the fluid comes up to the bottom of the split plastic tube. The reason for the plastic tube that the battery cap screws into is to allow the electrolyte to run back down into the battery when the battery is being charged by the alternator and the battery is "gassing". This means that there is some bubbling of the acid and that the breaking bubbles would expel liquid if it didn't have the plastic tube to condense on. There is a small hole in the battery cap that allows excess gasses to escape without the liquid... Hope that all this makes sense to you because it is hard to put into words sometimes....