Batteries

[Four Paws]

I need a new battery for my utility tractor - running a 60hp Perkins . The Deka that is in it won't hold a charge any longer. It is maintenance free, but is a traditional lead-acid. I am considering going AGM to combat vibration, however they are 50% more money.

I am looking for feedback and personal experiences from farmers, diesel mechanics, autoparts gurus, etc.

@exSW @Lee H

 

[huskihl]

I've only used agm batteries in my 4 wheeler. They might be 50% more expensive, but in my experience they last 2 or 3 times longer

 

[Lee H]

I have no experience with the AGM batteries. I have used many brands of typical
lead batteries and the one i would stay away from is Napa. Although there are only
a couple battery manufacturers in this country that make batteries for everyone.
But at very different specs. In the commercial truck market i have used many but i
have no real preference. To me they are a short lived battery no matter the brand.
If your very lucky you might get 4 to 5 years. But most times lucky to get 3. As for
cars and pick ups i prefer the OEM batteries as i have had very good luck with Motorcraft,
Delco, etc. I buy them from the dealer not a parts store as i feel the parts store batteries
are made to different specs. Kinda like buying a John Deere tractor from a Deere dealer
or a Home Depot. Same model but to very different tractors.

 

[Barneyrb]

I despise the AGM batteries. I bought one for my Polaris Ranger and it died after 9 months (6 month warranty) and Deka would do nothing about it. With an AGM if you ever run it down it is history, there is no recharging from a discharged status. Once dead always dead.

My Ranger now has a small car battery in it that has lasted for 3 years and still going strong. More ampacity, not a lot of difference in size, and pulls either winch just fine.

 

[czar800]

I have a lot of different battery's around the farm. That said I've had good luck with interstate and the ones TSC sells.
I've also converted most cables to 3/8" studs because my dad drives truck for a living and he replaces his battery's every few years whether they need it or not. Most of the time any truck repair shop has commercial Truck battery's and their cheaper then a auto parts store.

 

[Steve NW WI]

I have an 8 year old Optima in my 180 Massey, it's been worth the money. It's showing no signs of giving up soon, but now that I've said that, it'll probably die next week.

When I got my new to me pickup 2 years ago, the commuter car needed a new battery. At almost 280,000 miles (now 305K) I didn't want to spend $100 on a new battery for it, so I put a new Super Start AGM from O'Reilly in the truck and the old battery in the car. It's still going strong, but it's really too soon to make an opinion on a battery. Unlike Randy B, I have ran it dead a couple times, and it's been just fine after recharging. Could be he got a bad one, or the small ATV models just aren't built as well.

Why didn't I buy another Optima? From what I've read on several forums, they switched to Mexican manufacture, and the quality isn't there anymore.

Whatever you decide, a Wal-Mart battery of any price range isn't worth it unless you enjoy having a less than a year old battery die at the most inopportune time. Sure, you can take it in and exchange under warranty, but I like something I can rely on.

I'll keep buying AGMs as needed as long as they keep working as well for me as they have.

 

[Four Paws]

Guys, thanks for your replies. I went with a Super Start battery from O'Reilly auto parts.

http://m.oreillyauto.com/h5/r/www.o....oap?ck=Search_N0369_-1_-1&pt=N0369&ppt=C0327

They received decent reviews online. The price and warranty was competitive. Although people online said the Super Start was made by East Penn, that is not the case for the group 31 fleet battery. It had a made in Mexico sticker, indicating Johnson Controls isxw the manufacturer.

Nobody near me carried East Penn (Deka). TSC carried Exide and had one in stock for $6 cheaper, but every review on the forums cautioned to stay away. I also considered Centennial brand. It was $155 and got decent reviews, but the kid on the phone couldn't tell me who made it, where it was made, and the warranty was less than my Super Start. Same story at the Cat dealer, only the price was even higher at $185.

Time will tell if I made a good choice or a bad one.

 

[Steve NW WI]

Time will tell if I made a good choice or a bad one.

That's the problem with things like batteries that are supposed to last for years. By the time you know whether you've found a good one, they've probably changed them. It's only easy to cross off the ones that are junk from the start.

 

[Nitehawk55]

The 2 main makers are Exide and Johnson Controls , the latter being the better of the 2 from my research . The makers sticker on any brand will usually have one of those 2 marked somewhere in small print .

 

[USMC615]

Kinda on the fence fellas concerning AGM's. Had a couple several years ago that lasted for years. In the past four years have gone through two Optimas, a D-31 and a D-34 in my bass boat, driving the 12V, 65lb MotorGuide foot-controlled trolling motor. Last year I bought an Exide Stowaway deep cycle, lead acid batt from Academy and it pulls my boat stronger and longer than either of the AGM's ever did. My cranking battery is a 6 yr old lead acid Interstate that hasn't missed a beat yet.

Not sure what it is about the AGM's nowadays, but I hear as much bad as I do good about them, and it certainly didn't seem to be that way many yrs ago.

 

[huskihl]

Kinda on the fence fellas concerning AGM's. Had a couple several years ago that lasted for years. In the past four years have gone through two Optimas, a D-31 and a D-34 in my bass boat, driving the 12V, 65lb MotorGuide foot-controlled trolling motor. Last year I bought an Exide Stowaway deep cycle, lead acid batt from Academy and it pulls my boat stronger and longer than either of the AGM's ever did. My cranking battery is a 6 yr old lead acid Interstate that hasn't missed a beat yet.

Not sure what it is about the AGM's nowadays, but I hear as much bad as I do good about them, and it certainly didn't seem to be that way many yrs ago.

When they first came out they were probably made in the USA. ....

 

[USMC615]

When they first came out they were probably made in the USA. ....

Ain't that the damn truth...!!!

 

[Wagnerwerks]

Exides suck. I change a pile of batteries and at least 50% of the newish bad ones are.exide and autocracy from advance and carquest. Not a lot of wallyworld ones

 

[Nitehawk55]

Exides suck. I change a pile of batteries and at least 50% of the newish bad ones are.exide and autocracy from advance and carquest. Not a lot of wallyworld ones

Last Wallyworld I got was a Johnson controls .

 

[jake wells]

i buy rebuilt group 31 batteries for 48.00 i get about 2-3 yrs out of them.