Tractor battery.

JayinNY · Mar 11, 2012

My Ford 4610 is going to need a battery. I put in a napa one
back in 06. Now it's been weak a couple times, so I used the
start on the charger to get her started. I added water and put
it on charge and it was good from December until yesterday.
I'm gonna go to NH and get a battery most likely. My Ford
1720 had a NH battery for 12 years before going dead. Iv had
good luck with diehard, auto craft, deka, walmart everstart ,
AC Delco and JD strong box, or hibernator I can't remember
which. Champion was the worst, like there spark plugs! Any
one have any better suggestions? Not trying to be cheap .
Thanks,,,,J

cd1 · Mar 11, 2012

6 years out of a battery is really nothing to complain about.

JayinNY · Mar 11, 2012

Ya,,, but 12 is even better.....

cd1 · Mar 11, 2012

and unrealistic. just because once in a while one goes that long doesn't mean the majority do.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2012

There are 4 battery manufacturers at best.Champion batteries were Exides.Walmart and Sams Club batteries are made by Johnson Controls now.TSC batteries are made by Exide.I had a Champion battery that got a frozen cell at 8.5 years.Sears is using Johnson Control batteries now,Die Hards were Exide in past years.I have been buying batteries since the early 50s.They are a crap shoot.

Bill(Wis) · Mar 11, 2012

It's been my experience in observing matters such as this that OEM batteries seem to last forever. One of my OEM tractor batteries is now 11 years old and doing fine. I have a disconnect switch on it and I use a charger/starter in cold weather, but when it eventually gives up the ghost I wouldn't expect more than 5-6 years out of a replacement battery. Why??? $$$$ ??? Can you purchase the same type of OEM battery your tractor came with?? Probable deterioration of the entire electrical system might be a contributing cause but in the case of my wife's 21 year old german car, after trying a replacement battery (Interstate) and getting about 2 years out of it, I went to the BMW dealer and asked if we could get the same type battery the car came with. "Sure" was the answer. That was 8 years ago and the battery is doing just fine.

Jon Hagen · Mar 11, 2012

Most important is look for a heavy duty farm / commercial battery. They often have a little better construction, better plate anchoring, stronger plate grids, more space under the plates for plate material to settle.

I perfer the spiral cell AGM batteries sold by Optima or Exide Orbital. they give me by far the longest life and least mainentence.

Being an AGM type battery, they do not tolerate overcharging. A good solid state regulated alternator and a good computer controlled battery charger, designed to charge AGM batteries, will make them last a long long time.
Of the 20 or so I own, only one has failed, and that at 16 years. But I have seen others seriously overcharge an AGM battery and wreck it at less than a year old.

DownSouth · Mar 11, 2012

I've probably had about as good of luck out of the WallyWorld batts than any of them, but I admit I tend to neglect them more than I should with the exception of the golf cart batteries. I check the water in them every few weeks and charge them as they deplete. I use it every day to go out and feed, so I try to keep up with it. This evening (about a half hour ago) I came back from feeding and decided to check the water. All cells had water, so I replaced the caps as usual and hooked up the charger. I normally leave the seat off so it vents, this time I was going to put the seat back on after setting the charger. Turned the charger on and turned around to grab the seat and BOOM. I'm so lucky I was a few feet away and not over the batts when it blew. Scared the you know what out of me, and my ears are still ringing. Found the cap about 40 feet away. First time I've had that happen, but have heard of it happening to many folks in the past. I guess it's time for a new set now......these were right at 4 1/2 years old and getting very weak. As you can see these are Exides (as you can see in the pics), but I'm sure it could have happened to any brand.

.

Jon Hagen · Mar 11, 2012

WOW, glad your OK. All it takes is a little spark when they are gassing and producing a nice explosive mix of hydrogen and oxygen gas.

Get thast blown battery out of there and
Wash down anything that has battery acid on it with a baking soda / water solution to nuetralize the acid, as it will corrode / eat everything.

David G · Mar 11, 2012

12 years is a fluke.

JayinNY · Mar 11, 2012

I bought the tractor in 98 and put a new battery in in 2010, not kidding. Iv read some old IHs had the same battery's for 25 years!

Mark - IN. · Mar 11, 2012

Glad you are ok. If you were a cat, turning away like that has you down to eight left of nine. Glad you are ok, really.

Decades ago while working in a full service gas station at nights after school, one of the mechanics, Bill, was laying across an engine in some kind of car while the battery was on the charger, caps off venting. Bill smoked a lot. Well, all the time and had a burning cigarette in his mouth while lying across that engine, and the battery fumes hit his lit cigarette, and KABOOM. Luckily he didn't get hurt other than the dent the back of his bald head put in the hood, from the inside. If Bill had been a cat, down to number eight of nine on that one for him.

I figure that if I was a cat, I must be down to one or two left myself.

Mark

Jerry/MT · Mar 12, 2012

I thought I would have to replace the battery in my Ford 4610. i found it was low on water and wouldn"t take a charge. I found a deal on the web that recommended putting 1 pint of water to which you added 2 table spoons of epsom salts (MgSO4) to and then charging the battery. I don"t normally fall for this type of stuff but I figured i had nothing to loose. I charghed the battery up and it has worked like new ever since. It"s worth a try. A 4DTL battery is arouns $125-$150. You can buy some epsom salts for a few bucks.

El Toro · Mar 12, 2012

I have 2 batteries from Walmart that had the 3 year free replacement. One battery is 10 and the other is 11 years old. A battery will last longer if used regularly. Hal

IH10020 · Mar 12, 2012

You can't beat a battery tender for seldom used batterys. Can buy at H. F. for around 10 bucks. Make sure battery is fully charged before hooking up.They work for me.

evilboweviel · Mar 12, 2012

that is a great tractor
however change the battery out
known of two Ford 4xxx that have gotten old like that and start wanting the charger BLOW UP
both times the guys were close but not hurt bad
good luck
Ron

buickanddeere · Mar 12, 2012

Heat above 77F rapidly ruins lead acid batteries. Undercharging from putting around and extended cranking in cold weather . Will ruin a battery just as fast as over charging. Vibration is another killer. Six years on a battery, consider that as good.

buickanddeere · Mar 12, 2012

Heat above 77F rapidly ruins lead acid batteries. Undercharging from putting around and extended cranking in cold weather . Will ruin a battery just as fast as over charging. Vibration is another killer. Six years on a battery, consider that as good.

buickanddeere · Mar 12, 2012

Heat above 77F rapidly ruins lead acid batteries. Undercharging from putting around and extended cranking in cold weather . Will ruin a battery just as fast as over charging. Vibration is another killer. Six years on a battery, consider that as good.

Ken Macfarlane · Mar 12, 2012

In ideal service 12 years is about right. If you don't overcharge them and don't run them down, don't vibrate them too bad they last well.

I've got some batteries from 2002 that are working strong. Used weekly seems to be the trick. Anything that sits eats batteries.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 12, 2012

While I have had some last longer...generally batteries die between 4 and 5 years old.
Reaver

Jerry/MT · Mar 12, 2012

Correction:

It was 10 tablespoons of epson salts disolved in one quart of warmed distilled water.

Olen (TN) · Mar 12, 2012

I bought a 1994 Mazda truck in 2004 from my uncle with only 6400 miles on it. I replace the battery last year, but the battery wasn't the problem I had to have the starter rebuilt. So sitting for awhile didn't seem to hurt this one.

showcrop · Mar 12, 2012

I was impressed that Batteries Plus had one for my 9000 on hand, and the price seemed pretty reasonable. I have run it down pretty good a couple of time and it still spins her over good.

Tractor battery.

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