Tractor Batteries

Trying to find the largest battery for my tractor that I can fit in the battery box. Local store can order in a 770CCA tractor battery but that is the biggest he can get with my size restrictions. I can get up to 875 with an auto or marine battery though. Which would be better or should I just stick with a tractor battery???

Supposedly the tractor battery is made to withstand more vibration. If you believe the sales pitch

HD truck/tractor commercial batteries often have less lengthly warranties than automotive batteries.

An automotive battery will likely have a longer warranty and will work satisfactorily. Do not use a deep cycle marine battery but a marine starting battery will be OK.

Dean

I used a automotive Battery in mine. It is about 6 years old. Still starts fine but will replace before winter.

Hello Matt Weltz,
Just so you know, marine batteries are rated at 32degrees F. CA While automotive batteries are rated at 0 degrees F.CCA.
Make sure you have a automotive battery ratings
OR CCC so you can compare.
Guido.

i use auto batteries in all my tractors, dont have problems and they last about as long as my truck batteries in my big truck, keep in mind in cold weather starting there are a lot of other factors to being able to lite up a tractor when its below 0 out all connections must be clean brite and tight, battery cables should be the biggest diameter you can fit starter itself should be in good condition and not drag or draw un nessassery high amps due to worn brushes ect

Battery weight usually tells you more then any CCA rating. But, HD/severe service batteries often have less power per weight then LD batteries. That because some of that weight is for vibration-resistant reinforcement instead of battery plates.

All the CCA rating tells you is how many amps the battery can supply at zero degrees F for 30 seconds at 7.2 volts minimum (for a 12 volt battery). It does not tell you how long that battery can supply power. Note also that a 12 volt system tractor usually cranks at 9 volts.

CA rating is similar but at 32 degrees F.

You didn't give any measurements, so it's kind of hard to make suggestions. Also, the word "power" has little meaning by itself. Two equal "power" batteries can be rigged differently internally.
Actual weight of the battery usually tells you the most. One can be made supply a large rush of cranking current for a short time, while another can supply medium cranking current for a much longer time. That's why batteries get rated in "cold cranking amps" along with "reserve capacity" or "amp-hours." It's the amp-hour or reserve-capacity rating that tells you how long that battery can supply X amout of power.
CCA alone tells you hardly anything about power in general. You need both of those specs to see if you are gaining anything.

A decent large battery usually has a good CCA and RC/AH rating.

Some examples, same battery size, light to heavier:

BCI type 31 battery. Weighs 41 pounds. Measures 13" long by 6 3/4" wide by 9 1/2" high. Has 650 cold cranking amps at zero degrees and 145 minutes of reserve capacity.

BCI type 31. Weighs 41 pounds. Measures 13" long by 6 3/4" wide by 9 1/2" high. Has 650 cold cranking amps at zero degrees and 145 minutes of reserve capacity.

BCI type 31. Weighs 54.5 pounds. Measures 13" long by 6 3/4" wide by 9 1/2" high. Has 760 cold cranking amps at zero degrees and 170 minutes of reserve capacity.

BCI type 31. Weighs 58 pounds. Measures 13" long by 6 3/4" wide by 9 1/2" high. Has 1000 cold cranking amps at zero degrees and 185 minutes of reserve capacity.

BCI type 31 but commercial/severe duty. Weighs 62.5 pounds. Measures 13" long by 6 3/4" wide by 9 1/2" high. Has 650 cold cranking amps at zero degrees and 180 minutes of reserve capacity.

I use car/truck battery's in 99% of my tractors and have not had much if any problems with them. Most of them come from Wal-Mart because of there warranty and I just took back 2 or 3 in the last month because they where no longer good and got new ones for about half price that way

Yeah, that's the nice thing about auto batteries. Long prorated 3-7 year warranty, whereas commerical batteries rarely have more then 1 year.

My 92 Dodge diesel pickup truck uses one big commercial battery instead of two auto batteries like most other diesel pickups use. So, I can't get an auto battery for it.

I will say though, that two of my IH diesel tractors have the same big single battery as my Dodge uses, and both are now over 7 years old and still working fine.

Ya some times you can find a battery that holds up for a long time then the next one holds up just till the warranty is no good. I have a battery I picked up used that was out of a big rig truck and have no idea how old it is but have it in my W Speed patrol and it has worked just fine payed a great big $0 for it unless you count the fuel in the truck to go get it

Buy the Walmart battery with the three year free replacement and KEEP the cash reg paper work and every three years or less take it back to a non auto motive walmart and walk out with a free one with another 3 year replacement. Seen it done a couple of time. About noon on sunday works just fine.

One of our local farm stores has a truck/tractor battery that is 48 month guarantee and I've always gotten at least five years out of them. They sell for about $58--60. I use them in my truck, tractor, swather and combine.