Battery Explosion, The Sequel

[Jim Becker]

Gee!

Maybe now is a good time to go with the old faithful magneto and the ole hand crank and skip having a pesky battery!

Might wanna research broken thumbs, broken arms, dislocated elbows, and hand cranks up side the head stories first ...........but that's a different thread.

I've had 2 battery explosions. But I have literally lost count of the number of times a crank has slipped out of my hand. This is in spite of trying to be pretty careful with a crank. I generally try to follow a rule not to crank an engine unless I personally verified the timing. The last thing I want to do is crank an engine that somebody timed "by ear".

[SamsFarm]

As far as manufacturers, it's hard to beat anything made by East Penn. I get an average of 5 years out of my 6v batteries and that's letting them sit for months at a time with no maintainers.

Al

5 years dont seem like enough!

This is the 21 century, a $100 battery should last 15 years!



I dont complain (too much) if I get 10 years outa a battery!

[Magnum]

Well this is a real eye opener . Looks like I'm putting boxes on everything . My son likes to drive the A and cub . Both uncovered batteries.

[Clemsonfor]

I bought an Optima 6v battery years ago and it's still going strong. You don't have to worry about corrosion or explosion.
I'm surprised lead acid cell batteries aren't obsolete. The technology is there.

Cause of price. Other battery tyoes are from 3 to 8x the price of a comparable lead acid battery. Is this cause of demand cause it's not the common form or is it that the technology still costs that to produce or a combination of the two? It still comes down to price. If I can buy a battery for $90 vs $230 for a gel battery I'm buying the cheaper one every day of the week and on Sunday. I have WAY to many batteries to be collecting $300 a piece units.

[Barnyard]

So far I will stick with my $49.00 Rural King battery.

[indy61]

I got a good deal on the Optima, it was a returned battery. Paid 30.00 in June 2010. They had two and now wish I bought both.

[Clemsonfor]

So far I will stick with my $49.00 Rural King battery.

Lucky you for having a Rural King Near by. But I also am glad I have somewhat close access to Agrisupply.

[Clemsonfor]

I got a good deal on the Optima, it was a returned battery. Paid 30.00 in June 2010. They had two and now wish I bought both.

That's a good deal.

[Super A]

As far as manufacturers, it's hard to beat anything made by East Penn. I get an average of 5 years out of my 6v batteries and that's letting them sit for months at a time with no maintainers.

Al

5 years dont seem like enough!

This is the 21 century, a $100 battery should last 15 years!



I dont complain (too much) if I get 10 years outa a battery!

Yeah......not so much. It would probably last longer if I maintained it better. Some of my stuff is not stored close to electrical power and I'm too busy/lazy to take batteries out and bring to the shop.

The whole topic is sort of like gas caps: easy to over-think and start feeling like the sky is falling.....

Al

[k hutchins]

Just in case l didn't make it clear in my original post. Both of my battery explosions were operator error. Both batteries were old with weak or dead cells to the point that they wouldn't take a charge.
I had been hand cranking to start the tractor. One for over a year. I was too broke to buy a new battery, but never thought to disconnect it to prevent the charging system from overloading it.
Totally my fault and lesson learned.
Just for the sake of argument, mechanical "experts" estimate battery life at 3-4 yrs depending on conditions. If you get more than that, be thankful. Just know that it's past it's prime.

[Scrivet]

I got a good deal on the Optima, it was a returned battery. Paid 30.00 in June 2010. They had two and now wish I bought both.

I've thought about Optima batteries but
(#1) if they're so great why would somebody return two of them?
(#2) $30 seems like a big discount from their original price, even eleven years ago. Run of the mill blemished batteries don't get that kind of discount.
(#3) how is it holding up after 11 years?

[tomcough]

I thought I’d share an experience I had. Over 20 years ago, I brought home a Farmall 130. After a week, I noticed that the ammeter was fogging up (the battery is just ahead of the dash on these tractors). Looking at the ammeter, the needle was pegged to the right. Further investigation revealed that the regulator had failed and battery was overcharging. The battery was distorted and leaking. Since that day, I glance at the ammeter often on both my 130 and Cub.

Tom Coughlin
Stow, MA

[Super A]

Just for the sake of argument, mechanical "experts" estimate battery life at 3-4 yrs depending on conditions. If you get more than that, be thankful. Just know that it's past it's prime.

I figure if a battery lasts 5 years in any of my tractors or vehicles, I've gotten my money's worth.

"Battery life" could be a whole 'nother tread. Our "real" tractors are almost all running Deka batteries, made by East Penn. I really can't remember the last time we put batteries in one of them--plus the Deka that fits it is maintenance free which I absolutely love.

Al

[indy61]

I've thought about Optima batteries but
(#1) if they're so great why would somebody return two of them?
(#2) $30 seems like a big discount from their original price, even eleven years ago. Run of the mill blemished batteries don't get that kind of discount.
(#3) how is it holding up after 11 years?

I don't know why they were returned or why they were so cheap.
It's a 6v yellow top and I don't think they've made those for many years.
It's holding up great, I charge it once in the Spring and never have a problem all year. I would definitely buy another at full price when this one goes bad.
I found my thread from 2010 when I bought it.

viewtopic.php?t=53035

[SamsFarm]

I ran across this and thought it might be a good explanation of what MIGHT be happening!

https://coastalclimatecontrol.com/index ... downs.html

Keep a good eye on your water level and keep them topped up!