dealer batteries vs TSC batteries

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Yellott Canby

Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had much experience with tractor batteries from say Case or JD. Specifically 3eh 6 volt size for 66 series tractors. I have bought several sets from TSC and only gotten about 3 years out of them. Several people say they have gotten 8-10 years out of the same size battery from a dealer. Is there really a difference.
Thanks, YC

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

I don't know anything about batteries but have experienced the same thing .You can read the specs. on the side and everything looks the same but John Deere batteries will outlast TSC or Interstate by 2 or 3 times .They will say a battery is a battery but somethig has to be different.

 

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Jim R

Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Hello YC. I can comment on my personal experience with John Deere batteries. Some years ago I worked for a John Deere Industrial Dealer. When we got new John Deere batteries in to sell, they were shipped dry charged and we didn't put the battery acid in them until they were sold, so that way the battery didn't set on the shelf and get old with the acid in it, which lessens the life of the battery. Some batteries will sit on the shelf for months without being charged and that will shorten the life span. I have a John Deere mowing tractor that I bought new in 2002 and it still does have the same battery in it. I just make sure it stays full of water and keep the terminals clean, and it is still going. I do also charge it periodically during the off season. I hope this helps. Jim R

 

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Bob

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

I've been a fan of DEERE batteries, as well. Trouble is they now cost DOUBLE the price of the EXIDES the nearby TBAfarm supply store sells. (I understand the DEEREs are EXIDES made to DEERE specs.)

They MAY last twice as long, the last couple I had didn't and I've just been buying batteries from the TBA place. Maybe about a "wash" as far as months per $$$, but half the initial outlay.

 

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Glenn Treybig

New User

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Batteries today are all recycle. I buy walmart $60.00 batts 2 year 850 amp for all my equipment and replace them about every 3 years or as they die. You can spend $100.00 plus and they last 3 years also.

 

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GeoMo

Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

MOST BATTERIES ARE MADE BY THE SOME MANFACTOR

 

John M

Well-known Member

Location

Nunyafn business

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Yep, they are or were, Exides. I have a relative to works for Exide, and he says they make them for many, and the only difference will be the outside case.

 

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Jeff Z.

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Take care of any battery and it will last.
If you don"t use the tractor much in the winter put the battery in a warm place and buy a Battery Tender Plus and leave it on the battery while in storage.
If the tractor sits for long periods in the summer also use the Battery Tender.
Battery Tender

 

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sflem849

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Just and FYI - But I guess NAPA is getting a new supplier for their batteries. They are probably getting some China crap just like their brake rotors switched to. I don't know who it is, but it is not Excide.

My theory on batteries is buy the heaviest battery. There is more lead in it to react so it should last longer. I don't know if it is true, but it works in my head!

I have also had great experiences with Deere batteries. I don't know much about CNH batteries. Also just for fun, my two Motocraft batteries just got replaced for the first time in an '01!!! I was about this close to paying the $25 extra per battery for Fords again. In the end I went with Interstates for $100 each.

Deere does man up when it comes to their parts. They ARE superior to NAPA/Tisco/Shoup/etc. Not sure if this is true everywhere, but bearings is one big area. They require a lot better products going into them and they have a slightly different construction then replacement company bearings.

 

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730d se

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

When you price batteries at the common auto parts stores, they will typically give you several options, mostly has to do with warranty.
So, if all batteries are the same, why will they give longer warranties on some than others at the same parts store?
There has to be something different about the lead plates, the thickness or something that allows them to hold up longer under the same conditions.
What kills a battery is that it shorts out inside. So sometimes it will take a charge, but will discharge itself rather quickly.
I have a Duralast (not the gold one) 12 volt, 650CC Amp in one of my tractors that was new in 2002. Still no problems at all. I typically do not get that kind of life out of batteries so I am curious to see just how long this one is going to last.
I have the most trouble and worst life out of 6 volt batteries, but I not fool enough to pay what "you know who" wants to charge for them, even if they last a little longer.

 

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Jeff Z.

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

I use Wal-Mart batteries with the 1 year free replacement for 40.00 some dollars.
I use a Battery Tender and have got six years out of them.
When in storage they are in a warm place.
Same with motorcycle batteries.
I had to replace every 2 years.
Put them in a warm place in the winter with the battery tender and I don"t buy batteries for the bike anymore.

 

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Jim Becker

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Years back, I worked with aguy that observed that all batteries failed so soon after the warranty expired that they must build a timer inside them. When the timer ran out, it would jam a nail through one of the cells to short it out. The only difference between batteries was how long the timer was set for. I'm not sure I quite believe this, but batteries with longer guarantees do generally seem to last longer.

Another friend has concluded the most economical choice is the battery with the longest FREE REPLACEMENT guarantee. Ignore the prorated part in making a selection. That approach seems to have merit.

In my case, TSC is the only place nearby that has 6-volt batteries in stock, and they only have one choice. A battery 5 miles away wins out over one that is 10 times as far. You do have to be careful about getting one that has been on the shelf too long (although my local store seems better on that than they were).

From my experience, the best thing you can do to improve battery life is to keep them on a maintainer, especially in the off season. You can get a good battery charger/maintainer built by Schumacher for about $20 at Wal-Mart.

 

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Larry B 1486

Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

I was told that John Deere batts are made by , not sure on the spelling, Deka or maybe decka. Myself, I have never had a set of batts that ever lasted over four years on a tractor. Bought a set of interstate once, three years was all I got out of them.

 

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Brownie 450

Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

We never get IH [Case] batteries any more. We got a pair for the 1440 & they didn't make 2 seasons. Prestolite used to make Deere batteries some time ago. Interstate batteries are next to the bottom of the list--the landlord got a 6-volt one for his JD B. Wouldn't even crank it over.

 

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Oldiron29

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

YC, I just had to put a battery in my 1996 JD1070
I bought it used in 1998. Have had it in northern VT every sence. Very cool winters. It had a Yausa battery in it all this time never had a problem. I just put in a NAPA 75 legend 7565 I will see how long it lasts. Oldiron29

 

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gene oslund

New User

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

I have many tractors that are used at different times. So I swap battery around a lot. This will really shorten the life on any battery. Lately I have been using wallmart batteries.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Dec 24, 2009

• #1

Deere Batt. are supirior of all others we tried them all and we settled on deere batteries they just have the most crank amps and last the longest. My 2 cents worth of course.

 

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WellWorn

Member

• Dec 25, 2009

• #1

I have a DieHard that is 11 years old, and still going. I had a previous DieHard (deep cycle) that lasted over 9 years.

The "Traveler" (TSC) 6v in my SuperA is date coded at May of '06 - it was abused badly by the previous owner who didn't have a working regulator on it, it spent most of 2 years sitting in an unheated shed, and it was severely discharged most of the time it was in use. I have the reg set to charge to 7.5 volts, and it cranks over even at 10*F

I bought a CT (pre-TSC) deep cycle (made by Exide), put it side by side with a Mal-Wart (made by Johnson Controls) of the same type and running the same load, charged from the same charger; the Exide lasted over 5 years, while the JC/W-M began to fail at 3 years. The Exide was about $12 more to start with.

Deere? I wouldn't know. If they still are selling top quality batteries, I would suspect they cost far more than the same top quality batteries sold elsewhere.

As already noted, the best warrantee is likely your best guarantee of a good battery, regardless of the green you spend.

 

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karl f

Well-known Member

• Dec 27, 2009

• #1

remember 3eh and many other tractor batteries are maintenence *required* batteries that you need to check and add distilled water to them. You need to keep the water level above the plates. Do not add water in freezing temperatures unless the battery is going to be charged for an hour or more. between the vibration and seasonal use, no battery is immune from failure when used in a tractor/implement.

my interpretation of maintenance-free batteries is that the plates are much shorter than the case and the cells are over-filled with water, so that when the water is depleted, the battery is already past its useful life.
karl f