Large Frame JD - Best Optima Battery Choice?

[timb]

According to the spec sheet, my 4710 takes a BCI Group 27F battery (12-1/2L x 6-13/16W x 8-15/16H) with a minimum 0 degree (F) 650 CCA.

Optima does not make an exact group 27F model, but it looks like any of the red tops, and all of the yellow and blue tops except maybe the D31 series will fit, and all but the D51 yellow tops have at least the minimum CCA power.

I've read the blurbs on the Optima site 213 times but I still can't lock down whether a yellow top is acceptable for long-term use as a starter battery. The red top in my Jeep has been a champ - especially in the winter.

So - has anyone put an Optima into a large-frame JD? What did you use?

 

[RandyK]

Did you ever find a battery to fit? My 4500 is showing leakage, and I'm ready to get a sealed battery.

 

[ducati996]

Anything Optima offers is vastly superior to what John deere puts in their machines. You only need to match up the CCA size of what you have, along with the maxium dimensions you have to work with and you should be good to go. Just double check on how much extra battery cable relative to terminal postion you have now. Sometime you have to turn around the battery in order for the cables to reach...

Its a nice feeling to never have to worry about battery acid...

Duc

 

[timb]

No - haven't got the Optima yet, been so busy remodeling the inside of the house I'm lucky if I've put 5 hours on the 4710 since I posted that!

I do plan to get a yellow top though - I finally found enough info on the Optima site to be comfortable that they're OK as a starter battery. I'm just going to get the biggest one I can stuff in there.

I also have zero (knock on wood) sign of any trouble with the factory battery so far - I've got the individual-cap version.

 

[mrf_la]

John Deere offers a "spiral energy" battery under their parts section which looks like an optima. Has anyone tried to get them to prorate out the stock strongbox to this battery and pay the difference? Is it the same as Optima?

 

[robison]

Just a word of caution about Optimas . . . our company www.robisonservice.com works on high end cars, many of which are parked most of the time (like many tractors)

Although an Optima will not spill acid in the battery tray the rate of failure of these batties has not been tremendously less than the rate of failure of the regular Interstate batteries we use in our applications.

And their increased costs makes the benefit questionable.

If it were my tractor I think I'd use the "regular" premium Interstate. Acid spillage seems to be a concern to some here . . . that won't occur unless the battery has an internal cell failure or the alternator overcharges. Corrosion from these modern lead acid batteries is far less of an issue than from batteries of, say, 10 years ago.

 

[mpeterson]

I run the Optiimas a lot, great battery. Here is my recommendation, you should go with a red top if you plan to use batteries for starting (high amperage for short time period). there are two classes of red top, a 720 and 800 cranking. I have used a lot of the 800U. You may have to modify the mount, but that shouldn't be a problem.

the yellow and blue top are not for "starting" engines. they are made for steady discharges, and then charge slowly (ie to run RV cabin items, or for Marine for running a trolling motor). I can tell you from experience you can use yellow top for starging applications and they don't last nearly as long as the red top. Also, they don't charge quite to the level of a red top. Just my experience.

As for comparisons to Interstate, I have found you can discharge a spiral wrap battery, and leave it for a couple days and it will refresh to the point it will start a motor. Have done this many times. I also have many used red tops around the shop to use for emergency jump starts, they hold a charge for long periods. Interstates are also excellent, I use these for my higher amperage applications with excellent results.

The only draw back, if you have a larger diesel or definitely a diesel pickup I wouldn't use optima. They really don't have quite the cranking amps as some of the larger batteries for diesels.

Just my opinion, your own mileage may vary....

 

[timb]

My experience in PA winters with a red top in my Jeep (now about 6 years old) is that - either due to sheer size or the nature of the technology used (or both) the CCA performance at winter temperatures is phenomenal. Notably better than even a brand new oem wet cell battery. Even if the Optima lasted only as long as a conventional battery - the ability to go out and have the starter spin at -5F like it was 70F is worth it in my book.

Optima themselves now state that the yellow tops are fine for starter use, but my inclination is to still lean toward a red top for the tractor - unless I planned on mounting a small inverter or a winch - and at the moment I don't have any plans for either.