Weak Battery

[TonyC]

Well with the first few cold nights , my battery in the Kubota has been very weak and sluggish. The guy I bought it from told me the battery might be reaching the end oif it's life sycle. It's done great in the warm weather, but.... Well, let's have it fellas...what is everyone's experiences, good or bad with replacement batteries? Recommendations?

 

[gordon]

Sounds like your right, time for a new battery. I've had very good luck with interstate batteries in alot of different applications.

Or if you have a sams club close by, you might try on of theirs. I've got one in my truck and it's two or three years old now.

Remember the more CCA the better!!!

Gordon

 

[TonyC]

I remember that I've heard good things about Interstate batteries before. I guess that's the way I should go...I do have a Sam's nearby. One thing that puzzles me though is how to choose one. I agree the more CCA the better but with a car you give them the make and model. I doubt Sam's would have a listing for my L3600. Do I just measure the physical size that I need, choose the correct post type, pick a CCA and plop down my credit card?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...I doubt Sam's would have a listing for my L3600...</font color=blue>
Don't underestimate that automated battery computer at Sam's... Yep... they have tractors listed.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

<font color=blue>... Do I just measure the physical size that I need, choose the correct post type, pick a CCA and plop down my credit card?...</font color=blue>

Yep... just in case your model is not listed...

Tony,

I stopped there last month for my Satoh, but no listing {the battery holder is smaller than usual}... so I got the biggest CCA for the money and strapped it in with bungee's...

Now the girl starts as soon as I touch the key... don't even need to turn it... /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[TonyC]

Well I'll be...I never thought they would really list tractors. That sounds like a mighty hot model you got for yourself. Starts as soon as you touch the key, huh? Well it definitely likes the green machine...we'll see how it feels about orange! I guess I'm off to Sam's.

Thanks John.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...Well it definitely likes the green machine...</font color=blue>

The White machine... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

"You are what you eat, drink, think, say and do..."
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Muhammad on 10/18/01 03:44 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[TonyC]

The white machine? I always thought you were a John Deere man. Hmmm...maybe it was your logo....

 

[TonyC]

Well I got the new battery today. Sam's doesn't carry Interstate here so I found a shop that does. No computer, but you were right...they had a book that listed my model Kubota! It fits like a glove. It had 675 CCA...I'm not an expert but that sounds like a good kick in the butt. Now, I don't even have to turn the key............................../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Richard]

I notice in TonyC's bio, he has L3600. I presume that means either 36 hp engine or maybe pto. For sake of discussion, let's use it as engine.

His battery is 675 cca.

I too, am contemplating the purchase of new battery for Brutus. Seems Brutus needs a 700 cca battery.

What I don't understand is if the L3600 is somewhere around 36 hp and Brutus is 90hp, I would have thought that Brutus would need a significantly larger (in cca speak) battery.

Or IS 25 additional cca "significant"?

Does cca have more to do with the strength of the battery to turn the engine over, or have more to do with the duration of time the battery can turn the engine over?

What does a gain of 1 cca give you from one battery to the next?

Richard

 

[ronjhall]

Richard
I think,/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Tony was trying to say he got a lot of CCA (cold cranking amps) for the size battery he purchased./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif My 2910 requires a 433 CCA battery. If you can get a higher capacity then I would recommend it./w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

 

[TonyC]

I see your point, Richard. Who said it required a 700 CCA Battery?

 

[Richard]

The dealer gave me the CCA recommendation for Brutus.

The battery tray in the engine bay is (guessing) maybe 15 inches wide. The battery that is currently in there is similar to a standard car battery. Therefore, is fairly smaller than the actual tray. I have no idea of CCA.

Brutus DOES start within 3 (perceived) revolutions of key on. Just lurches to a purr. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I just bought battery last night for Aunt's car...the dang battery terminal BROKE OFF. Couldn't believe it.

None the less, only paid $51 for it. So I guess if I need one for Brutus, it won't be that big of an issue ($$). I was first fearing it would take a huge 3 foot battery like my father in law says his his old dozer had. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

When I was buying battery last night, I noticed there are TWO cca ratings apparently. Or at least, the salesman made reference that it had "X" cca's and "Y" cca's at zero degrees.

Is that common?
If so, which cca rating is "the" rating when you have a recommended size like I do for Brutus?

Would I use the cca rating "at temperature"
or the cca rating at zero?
Richard

 

[Bird]

Richard, try http://www.interstatebatteries.com/www_2001/content/products/ratings.asp. I don't know whether this will answer all your questions or not, but it's sure better than I could answer./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[Richard]

Nice site Bird, thank you.

Richard

 

[TonyC]

I do think it's common to have the two CCA ratings but when you're shopping they only toss around one of them. I, like you, do not know which one of the two it is but I'm sure someone else here will fill us in!

 

[gordon]

Thanks Bird that page cuts out all the razzle dazzle of the ratings. Here is a copy of that page.

Definitions:

CCA:
(Cold Cranking Amps)
testing at 0º F


CA:
(Cranking Amps)
testing at 32º F


RC:
(Reserve Capacity)
The amout of time
a battery can last
without charge.


HCA:
(Hot Cranking Amps)
testing done at xxº F


MCA:
(Marine Cranking Amps)
testing done at xxº F

CA (Cranking Amps) and HCA (Hot Cranking Amps) are some examples of ratings that can be misleading. Batteries displaying these ratings have probably been tested at higher temperatures so the resulting numbers look higher. Because these batteries are not as powerful as you might think, what looks like a "bargain" may end up costing you money. Remember that CCA and RC are the only valid automotive battery specifications that recognize true battery power - and they're the ratings you'll find in your vehicle manual. Don't be fooled by product ratings!

Interstate has always had the policy to rate our batteries with industry standard CCA & RC ratings. The chart below shows how our product rates among our competitors in these areas. Interstate committs to provide a qualtiy product without compromising it's integrity.


Gordon