Anyone have a good suggestion in finding decent batteries that aren't running $125-150.00? I don't need super batteries as these are just for well worn gas tractors that don't have all the compression in the world. NAPA is ridiculous, Walmart is not far behind and Advance Auto is in between. I need 3 or 4 and it's not looking to promising at the moment.
- Thread starter Bret4207
- Start date
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I picked up a battery at Walmart for my Oliver 66 guaranteed 1 year replacement for $49.99.See how it does,starts the tractor just fine.
Zachary Hoyt
Well-known Member
I just bought one for my 300, $139 at NAPA for a Legend battery or $100 for a lower tier. Our Massey has had a Legend battery for a long time and it always seems to start even in the
very coldest weather. I had a cheaper TSC battery in the 300, lasted about 4.5 years. I think the new one should last longer if the one in the Massey is any indication.
Zach
very coldest weather. I had a cheaper TSC battery in the 300, lasted about 4.5 years. I think the new one should last longer if the one in the Massey is any indication.
Zach
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Probably not going to beat Walmart for a new battery.
If you are near a metro area, there might be a used battery shop. It's a real gamble dealing with them, some give a 30 day warranty, but still a chance you'll loose your money.
But, every now and then you'll get a winner. Either it was a good battery that was misdiagnosed, or stolen and sold. Check the date, the newer the better.
If you are near a metro area, there might be a used battery shop. It's a real gamble dealing with them, some give a 30 day warranty, but still a chance you'll loose your money.
But, every now and then you'll get a winner. Either it was a good battery that was misdiagnosed, or stolen and sold. Check the date, the newer the better.
John in Md.
Member
I just bought group 31's for $58@ with same size cores or $65@ with auto size cores. Tell recycler you want batteries for farm use. No warranty as is were is, they will test and make sure they are good.
Fred Werring
Well-known Member
If you've got a Rural King close by, check them out.
Had good luck with their batteries
Fred
Had good luck with their batteries
Fred
GEO-TH, In
Member
X2
WON'T buy the batteries recycle. They are JUNK.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
You by chance have an Orscheln's around?? If you do they have a utility battery for around $65. I have 2 or 3 of them and they have been good
Brendon Warren
Well-known Member
Wally world has their no name brand ones
for $50. Only a one year warranty.
for $50. Only a one year warranty.
Case Nutty 1660
Well-known Member
I just got a smaller battery for a Dodge Neon I have at Bommgarrs here, think it was 76.99 without core charge they had one for a few bucks less but I think that one was a bolt post only one, this one had both posts styles, been buying them for a few years now and they seem to be a decent lasting battery, I do not drive this car allt he time so I bought what would set in the battery tray and I could still use in equipment the bigger ones there are 109.99-147.99 I think it was, this spring I caught a sale being on and they took 15% off the normal list
The Walmart in my area sells batteries two ways. With full warranty and without. As far as I can, the batteries are exactly the same, one is
half the price of the other. Just buy the sort-of "no-name" with only the 1 year warranty and I doubt you can go wrong. I have bought many.
Have them in my Ford diesel truck, Chevy van, Deere diesel backhoe, etc. All those batteries are made by Johnson Controls and like I said -
I cannot detect any difference but the labeling and warranty. I just got a new battery for my Chevy van and it was $49.
half the price of the other. Just buy the sort-of "no-name" with only the 1 year warranty and I doubt you can go wrong. I have bought many.
Have them in my Ford diesel truck, Chevy van, Deere diesel backhoe, etc. All those batteries are made by Johnson Controls and like I said -
I cannot detect any difference but the labeling and warranty. I just got a new battery for my Chevy van and it was $49.
I would price comparison shop at Rural King and Tractor Supply and of course Walmart. Some towns have an Interstate Battery shop (often NOT cheap end) or Auto Zone or Advanced Auto or O Reillys. Typical flooded lead acid 12 volt starting batteries may be rated/labeled Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) CCA and you may see Reserve Capacity. Bigger capacity and perhaps a longer warranty generally cost more of course.
Being a past used tractor dealer and farmer and RVer I probably bought more batteries then the average Joe and a bunch of them came from Walmart and I cant say they "typically" gave more trouble then any other vendors. Our town used to have a mom n pop battery supply house that sold "Blemished" batteries cheaper, if there's any of those in your area, CHECK THEM OUT
Sometime our local Menards has great battery prices. If you don't need super high capacity and just lookin for cheap Id first try the farm stores and Walmart especially for "sales". There's only a few companies that even make them for several vendors, IE same battery just different label......?
For long term storage especially winter a battery tender/trickle charger may be wise
John T
Being a past used tractor dealer and farmer and RVer I probably bought more batteries then the average Joe and a bunch of them came from Walmart and I cant say they "typically" gave more trouble then any other vendors. Our town used to have a mom n pop battery supply house that sold "Blemished" batteries cheaper, if there's any of those in your area, CHECK THEM OUT
Sometime our local Menards has great battery prices. If you don't need super high capacity and just lookin for cheap Id first try the farm stores and Walmart especially for "sales". There's only a few companies that even make them for several vendors, IE same battery just different label......?
For long term storage especially winter a battery tender/trickle charger may be wise
John T
I tested two, side by side with a carbon-pile load tester. Both type 24. One the higher rate and longer warranty battery for more money and the other the cheaper lower rated one. Both tested exactly the same with a load test. Does one last longer then the other? I doubt it. They look the same, test the same, and weigh the same. I suspect all you get for the extra bucks is more warranty.
If such is true it comes as no surprise to me. They would rather sell a battery for $90 then one for only $50 lol. Its possible to construct different capacity batteries still in the same size physical compartment. If starting a relatively small easy to crank perhaps low compression engine, especially in the summer, one can get by with less battery then if he had a larger harder to crank higher compression engine and starting it in cold weather WELL DUH ??..
John T
John T
Bob Harvey
Well-known Member
Go with 'the force' - use your wallet to decide, Luke. They are all pretty much a 'crap shoot'.
First of all, I remind you the original poster here was asking for a source for a low-priced battery.
Second - not that it matters in the context of what the poster was asking for - but Walmart fudges specs around for marketing purposes.
I called the tech-line at Johnson Controls, the company that makes these batteries for Walmart. I called because the amp-hour rating on the Walmart batteries differ from the rating on the same battery when Johnson Controls sells under other brand names. They gave me the official test specs and told me Walmart sometimes lowers the numbers for marketing.
As I noted before - I have tested many of the batteries side by side with a 500 amp carbon-pile load tester. When I compared the $49 battery to the $75 - $80 battery - they tested exactly the same.
If anyone here has actually taken the time to test two batteries side by side and found a difference - please post which specific batteries.
I have two of the cheap batteries in my diesel truck and one in my diesel Deere backhoe. All have worked fine and I think Walmart offers a great service to people who want a low priced battery and do not care about a long, often useless warranty.
That said - here are two I used and the posted numbers look the same to me.
Second - not that it matters in the context of what the poster was asking for - but Walmart fudges specs around for marketing purposes.
I called the tech-line at Johnson Controls, the company that makes these batteries for Walmart. I called because the amp-hour rating on the Walmart batteries differ from the rating on the same battery when Johnson Controls sells under other brand names. They gave me the official test specs and told me Walmart sometimes lowers the numbers for marketing.
As I noted before - I have tested many of the batteries side by side with a 500 amp carbon-pile load tester. When I compared the $49 battery to the $75 - $80 battery - they tested exactly the same.
If anyone here has actually taken the time to test two batteries side by side and found a difference - please post which specific batteries.
I have two of the cheap batteries in my diesel truck and one in my diesel Deere backhoe. All have worked fine and I think Walmart offers a great service to people who want a low priced battery and do not care about a long, often useless warranty.
That said - here are two I used and the posted numbers look the same to me.
"They are all pretty much a 'crap shoot'."
My experience is just the opposite.
In my experience, MOST battery failures/disappointments are due to allowing them to go dead or be undercharged due to parasitic drains, charging system issues, or "operator error" (leaving something turned on).
I used to scoff at the idea of master battery disconnects, but have gotten to the point I have installed a number of them on vehicles and machines that sit for extended periods between uses.
Once you do that (or simply remove a cable during idle periods) you will be AMAZED at how much better battery life becomes.
It is simply NOT good for batteries to allow them to be completely discharged and remain in that state for days/weeks/months on end.
Bob Harvey
Well-known Member
I agree. But, my statement stands. In today's marketplace, profit is all.
I still have the original battery in my 18 year old Kubota M6800. I have no idea where it was made. It says "Kubota" on the side of
it. When I need to replace it I'm going straight to Kubota. I do have a battery disconnect switch. The mechanical lever type from
Fram I believe. If the tractor sits more than just overnight it gets disconnected. That tractor does all of my snowplowing in
winter and a most of my utility work. More work than my other two tractors put together. In winter, I plug in the block heater and
hook up a Starter charger to let the battery charge while the engine is warming. Then I put the charger on start mode and turn the
key. It starts as if it were summer. I've never wasted a dime on a trickle charger and I never will. I wouldn't waste a dime on a
Wally World Never Start battery either although I've been a Walmart stockholder for almost 40 years.
it. When I need to replace it I'm going straight to Kubota. I do have a battery disconnect switch. The mechanical lever type from
Fram I believe. If the tractor sits more than just overnight it gets disconnected. That tractor does all of my snowplowing in
winter and a most of my utility work. More work than my other two tractors put together. In winter, I plug in the block heater and
hook up a Starter charger to let the battery charge while the engine is warming. Then I put the charger on start mode and turn the
key. It starts as if it were summer. I've never wasted a dime on a trickle charger and I never will. I wouldn't waste a dime on a
Wally World Never Start battery either although I've been a Walmart stockholder for almost 40 years.
ohiodick
Member
- Location
- carrollton ohio
If you can fit a group 31 in go to a mack truck dealer 70 dollars for 750 cca.
gene bender
Well-known Member
in our area Theisens and Orschelns have same brand Thiesens is 20 bucks cheaper for the same 6v battery. Now Farm Fleet is building a new 35 million dollar store 185,000 sqftplan on 2mill sales a week.
Case Nutty 1660
Well-known Member
I can get them here from the salvage yard for 20 bucks each all in all the ones I have gotten have been well worth it, did have one that was bad right off but I felt the other five being good for several years at least each was a good deal, put one in my swather that is only used to lay down grain hay has been working just fine and never goes down for the last four years,,
On the shelf at my Walmart store. Both rated exactly the same in CCAs. Both measure exactly the same. Both weigh 41.6 lbs. Both made by Johnson Controls.
As far as I can tell, both exactly the same batteries. The "Value Power" with the shorter warranty simply costs less.
No nonsense about less plates inside. If that was the case, the weight would vary and so would the load-test results.
As far as I can tell, both exactly the same batteries. The "Value Power" with the shorter warranty simply costs less.
No nonsense about less plates inside. If that was the case, the weight would vary and so would the load-test results.
Going specifically by what you asked. I agree with Bob. From what I have seen, the vast majority of battery so-called failures are due to
poor use and care and not defective batteries. Subsequently, the price of abused batteries and returns is included in the price of a new
one. In essence, we are often forced to buy "insurance" on a new battery.
Walmart has offered what I regard as a great service to people willing to take care of their batteries and not engage in frivolous returns
that cost money to everyone.
$49 for a new battery with only a 1 year warranty. Can anyone name a better deal anywhere? I have been using them for years with no
issues. Cranking batteries and the large type 27 and 29 deep-cycle batteries. All made by the largest battery company in the USA. Johnson
Controls.
And come on . . . no nonsense about the cheap batteries having "less plates" inside or less power. I have weighed several, and tested
several. NO difference.
Now - do you think Johnson Controls is maybe putting rocks inside the cheaper batteries at Walmart's request? I kind of doubt it. If they
did, I suspect the cheap ones would not load-test the same as the more pricey ones.
On the subject of power. Batteries lose 1/2 their power at sub-zero temps. For that reason, cars, trucks, and tractors often come with at
least twice the cranking power they need at temps over 20F. If you have a tractor that only gets used at temps over 20F, the battery needs
are not much. Especially with many of these old tractors having engines smaller then 150 cubic inches and with low compression ratios.
My 1978 Toyota motorhome has one of the cheap type 24s on its 4 th year. I have two Ford tractors and have the type 24 also. One if on its
4th year and other I just bought. Cannot beat the price. At least not anywhere I can find locally.
My 1 year warranty deep-cycle Walmart batteries that power our solar-cabin are on the 6th year. For $79 each - again - great buy.
poor use and care and not defective batteries. Subsequently, the price of abused batteries and returns is included in the price of a new
one. In essence, we are often forced to buy "insurance" on a new battery.
Walmart has offered what I regard as a great service to people willing to take care of their batteries and not engage in frivolous returns
that cost money to everyone.
$49 for a new battery with only a 1 year warranty. Can anyone name a better deal anywhere? I have been using them for years with no
issues. Cranking batteries and the large type 27 and 29 deep-cycle batteries. All made by the largest battery company in the USA. Johnson
Controls.
And come on . . . no nonsense about the cheap batteries having "less plates" inside or less power. I have weighed several, and tested
several. NO difference.
Now - do you think Johnson Controls is maybe putting rocks inside the cheaper batteries at Walmart's request? I kind of doubt it. If they
did, I suspect the cheap ones would not load-test the same as the more pricey ones.
On the subject of power. Batteries lose 1/2 their power at sub-zero temps. For that reason, cars, trucks, and tractors often come with at
least twice the cranking power they need at temps over 20F. If you have a tractor that only gets used at temps over 20F, the battery needs
are not much. Especially with many of these old tractors having engines smaller then 150 cubic inches and with low compression ratios.
My 1978 Toyota motorhome has one of the cheap type 24s on its 4 th year. I have two Ford tractors and have the type 24 also. One if on its
4th year and other I just bought. Cannot beat the price. At least not anywhere I can find locally.
My 1 year warranty deep-cycle Walmart batteries that power our solar-cabin are on the 6th year. For $79 each - again - great buy.
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