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Battery Brand Recommendation

I

Illinois Farmall

Member

I was wondering what brand of batteries you guys have had good luck with. I"ve got a 64 John Deere 3020 gas that uses a single 12 volt battery. I have a NAPA battery in it now that"s only 2 years old and is shot. Anyone have better luck with a particular brand? Thanks in advance.
 
I have had a NAPA battery in my Massey 35 for at least 6 or 7 years and it is still good, but it may be a fluke. They're about the only game in town here.
Zach
 
I have tried them all for years; Exide, Delco, Walmart, Sams Club, Interstate, etc, etc. The very best batteries I have had, and most of mine are now a brand made by East Pennsylvania Manufacturing "EPM" , such as the ones that ORiellys Auto Parts sells. Epm also makes Decca (spell) batteries. The top is sealed except for a tiny air vent about the diameter of a kitchen match head over at the top edge of the battery. There ar absolutely no caps to remove, fluid to check, etc. The Decca that came with my Miller Bobcat welder with 18 HP Kohler lasted 9 years. Many battery failures with the old check, add distilled water, check almost dry, forget to check, add too much and flood/dilute the cell are caused by lack of exacting maintenance. I have a MF-690 with 2 12-Volt batteries in parallel (12-Volt system), where they are mounted under the ladders on each side under the edge of the cab, with covers in place. I put EPM ORiellys batteries and forget it. They dont corrode like other batteries, terminals stay bright. Sorry for being so long winded. Tom
 
Go where a LOT of Batteries are sold. In my area, that means Wal*Mart. They have a great guarantee, are open 24/7 and so far, every battery I'v bought from them has gone within one year of the warranty period. Had terrible results with Interstate brand. Would crank for 5 seconds when cold, then quit. Interstate dealer refused to replace it; said it wasn't getting a "full charge". Well, that's been nearly twenty years ago; still have the same engine and alternator and the Walmart battery whips it over just fine. Our local NAPA doesn't sell enough batteries either, as far as I'm concerned, and for the money they want, should last far longer than two years. Heck, a lawn tractor battery ought to go four or five years and that IS rough service.
 
I think they are all the same. My brother-inlaw was a Delco exec, He said it takes lead and acid to store a charge, the heaviest is most always the best. Vic
 
Get one of those optima batteries,more expensive but will outlast anyhing and cheaper in the long run.
 
I use Road Runner brand batteries that are sold at Fleet Farm. Use them in tractors, dozer, skidder, trucks and cars all with good results.
 
On average, Optimas do not outlast other brands, or types of batterries. That's why their warrantees are no better (and often worse) then you get from Walmart or NAPA with lower priced conventional FLA batteries.

I'll add are several companies using the "Optima" name for batteries.

The most commone "Optima" I hear about is the "Spiral Cell" AGM battery made by the same company that makes Walmart batteries, i.e. Johnson Controls.

Optima is an absorbed-glass-matt, lead-acid battery. What makes it "special" is that it's spill proof. It is also legal for air shimpent, which some dealers like.

Some conventional lead-acid car and truck batteries last 8 years, same goes with some AGMs like Optimas. But,the Optimas tend to cost more per watt of power and are more expensive in the long run. They are also less tolerant to imperfect charge conditions, when compared to flooded-lead-acid batteries.

I've seen AGM batteries fail miserably in heavy storage-type use.
 
I buy AUTO ZONE. I had one of their 2 year free replacement batteries die in my old grain truck a couple of weeks ago. I went to Auto Zone for the new one. I ask how old was the old one. They said from the date code, 10 years. I had the same service from a couple of AZ batteries wired in series for a military generator the fire dept has.

Kent
 
The same company makes all the batteries for Interstate and Walmart and also makes Optima - i.e. Johnson Controls. Most of NAPA batteries now are made by Deka. A few years ago, they were Exide.
 
Dell(WA) from the N board swears that John Deere sells the best tractor batteries. He hates to admit it. As for me, I have ten years on my OEM M6800 battery. I don't think I've heard of many going longer than that. The battery says: "KUBOTA" on the side of it. I have no idea who built it. This will mark the tenth winter on it. I have a cutoff switch on it. It's inside a very nice , well ventilated storage shed with no heat. It's on the tractor that I use exclusevly to plow snow and do winter chores. I charge it before starting and block heat the engine as well, and I think this is the important point: It has never been fully discharged.
 
Used Crown for many years in all the farm trucks, tractors, etc. with no problems but I can't find them any more. I use Interstate or Napa now and have since Crown couldn't be found. A little trouble with one Napa but no troubles with Interstate. Not saying they are the best but they work great for me.
 
I understand that one company makes several brands. My main point is the dealer. I didn't care for the Interstate dealers not believing me that the battery was getting a proper charge. I have a "Battery Salesman" Load Tester. Anyone with equipment that takes batteries should have one. It'll tell you if batery is getting charged and, via the load test, how much charge the battery can maintain.
 
i'm not really a Walmart fan but so far i cant beat their batteries in this area...dont think i got any "10 year old batteries" from them but i've got enuff 5 year old that still crankin.
 
I've heard that Interstate has company-stores in parts of the country, but I've never seen one. Here in this rural area of New York, any little repair shop can hang up the Interstate sign, and sell batteries with a marked up price.

I prefer going to Walmart. It's easy and usually the cheapest around. I assume getting warrantee would be easy, but since I've never had one of their batteries need warranty, can't say I ever tried. I do know they are open 7 days a week. Whatever the local NAPA store is charging, the batteries at Walmart are 10% - 20% cheaper and often with better warrantees.

Johnson Controls is making batteries for an awful lot of companies, so they must be pleasing somebody. Autozone, Walmart, Subaru, Motorcraft, Interstate, Optima, and several HD tractor companies. I also think they're making Sears Diehard now. Sears dumped Exide a year or two ago.
 

Bought a new battery from Walmart the other day and found out that they don't Pro-Rate their new batteries anymore.
They now only give a free 3 yr. replacement warranty.

They sell a good battery though, since they're made by Johnson Controls.
 
Might be true now, but certainly wasn't in the 60s - 90 when I worked at Deere dealerships. In the 90s, we were pushing AC Delco batteries in Deere tractors (when they fit). But, one nice thing is - when you use automotive batteries you get a much better warranty. 3-5 years instead of the typical 1 year for commercial-ag.

My father-in-law just replaced his battery for the first time in his 11 year sold Shibaura-Ford diesel tractor. Some sort of Japanese brand like Yuasa, old-fashioned lead-acid battery. 11 years is pretty impressive.
 
I had a 28 month old Walmart "36 month free replacement" battery analyzed a month ago by Walmart's fancy computerized machine.

The printout said average life of this model battery is 38 months.

I found out from sad experience that Walmart's machine said the battery was good even though I had my own load tester with me showing the battery was weak. An $82 battery shot after 28 months and I find out I'm not only screwed, but the average life is only 38 months.
 
I've been buying all my batteries from <a href="http://www.northernbattery.com">Northern Battery</a> in La Crosse, WI. I don't think they manufacture them (just rebrand generics?) but they beat everyone around for price. I've bought 6 over the past 7 years and I haven't had to replace one yet. They also pay top dollar salvage price for any bad batteries you bring instead of dealing with single core charges like chain stores seem to.
 
I didnt see anybody say anything about Cat batteries. We use Cat batt. in all our farm equipment now. Since the Last go around with Deere weakbox. 15 years ago we bought the first set for our JD 4440 they lasted 10 years instead of just over 2 on a 3 year weakbox. Back then the price was the same, even if its higher now I think its still worth it! The combine has 4 year old interstate batt and They were getting week this fall so I see new one going in this summer
 
I cannot agree with that statement. The technology of this battery will cause it to last longer.

Proof. I have a 01 Dodge Ram that had one in it. When I bought the truck. That battery was 2 years old when I got the truck. Replaced the interstate with a walmart. Two weeks ago I replaced them both. The Optima red top was 7 years old.

Say what you want, but that truck isn't driven much since I am always gone in the company truck. It held up very well.

The other plus is since the Optima is spill proof, you don't have to worry about corrosion build up on the battery cables.
 
Costco has the best price and return policy. Other than the Kirkland name, they are the same batteries as Walmart but a few bucks cheaper. Dave
 
And I've got NAPA batteries in just about everything I own, some of them as old as 9 years. You need to check the electrical system on whatever is killing a good battery @ 2 years old.
 
I have 3 of Walmarts best batteries and they're all close to 9 years old. One is in my garden tractor. Hope they all don't failed at the same time. Have one in this Mercury Cougar too. Hal
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I also had to give up on the 6 volt NAPA batteries for my tractors. Couldn't get even 2 years out of them. The 12 volt NAPA battery in my truck is going on 5 years now with no problems.

I've had good luck with the 6 volt batteries from the farm store, but the last time I needed one (to replace a napa), the farm store was out, so I got one at O'Reilly's. So far so good on that one, but it is not even a year old yet.
 
"Average life" has little to do with battery quality, and more to do with abuse, poor charging, etc. The over-all battery life average for autos and light trucks in the USA is 2 years. Yet, many last 5-8 years. If Walmart has one with a 3 year average, it's well above average.

The stats I read were posted by major battery comnpanies, going by warrantees they have to honor (even when some failures are not due to bad batteries).
 
You base "proof" on one anecdotal event? Good grief!

I've seen a few conventional lead-acid batteries last 10 years - but at least I realize they are exceptions and not the rule.

AGM battery claims are mostly hype for use in cars and light trucks, and it appears you fell for it. I've seen many miserable failures with them, more then with conventional lead acid batteries.

AGMs offer one big advantage - they are spill proof. There are applications where that is important (like in a race car or space-craft).
They are also more vibration resistant as compared to SOME conventional batteries, but not all.

The losing side of AGMs is . . . #1 they fry much easier then a conventional battery if accidentally overcharged, and #2 they cost a lot more.

I've been averaging, on my own diesel trucks and tractors around 6 years for my conventional batteries. But, they go bad slowly, and once removed I often stick them in old tractors and keep using.
My IH B-275 diesel has a NAPA battery that is now 9 years old and still working - although it loses a charge faster then it used to. Will go dead in one week if I don't run the tractor.

Right now - if I buy a new conventional lead acid battery for my truck - BCI # 75 :

Conventional BCI # 75:

850 CCA, RC - 100, cost $120, and has a warranty of - free replacement for 40 months and prorated for 108 months.

650 CCA, RC - 95, cost $75, and has a warranty of - free replacement for 18 months and prorated for 75 months.

Optima AGM BCI # 75 (absorbed glass mat)

620 CCA, RC-100 Yellow-top, cost $200, and has a warranty of - free replacement for 36 months and no prorated warranty.

720 CCA, RC-90 Red-top, cost $160, and has a warranty of - free replacement for 36 months and no prorated warranty.
 
My Oliver 1650D has 2 batteries that came from Advance Auto in 2004 and are still going strong also have 2 Advance Auto batteries in my Ford F550
diesel that were intalled in 2003 and they are still fine.I have found when using 2 or more batteries together they do better if both are replaced together and are identical.
 
Yes, and a good battery depends on two things being right. Good design and good quality control. Some companies, like Exide have had poor quality control, and in that situation, design doesn't matter much.
 
Interstate Plus. Biggest one that will fit your battery box. Walmart next for value and quality. My last one lasted 8 years.
 
At this time I totally disagree. I started buying Optima's based on the comments of a couple other posters that have had good experience with them, and over the years I've noticed their advice on other issues is "spot on". I've currently have Optimas in just about everything and my experience is they will normally last much longer than regular batteries. However I did have one set of CIH batteries in a combine that lasted for eight years. Likely a fluke.
 
No I'm not and perhaps you are not reading correctly. I replied that the standard lead-acid batteries from CIH lasted an unusual (for me anyway) a very long time. It certainly doesn't represent my experience with standard lead-acid, more often they last 4-5 years and perhaps less. I've had excellent success with Optimas and so have others whom advice I've learned to respect. So unless something happens which changes my mind, I'll continue buying them despite them having a little higher cost. Have you ever owned a Optima? If so and your experience hasn't been that positive, then you certainly are the first I've ever encountered.
 
My '74 Oly has the JD Strongbox batteries in it . two 6 volt for a 12 volt system. They are ten years old this past Oct. and still going though they are getting a little weak in sub-zero temps. But so far so good . I think I'll be giving them a my business for new batteries when the time comes .
 
Must apologize, mistakenly thought your reply was directed to me. Didn't read the other post until sometime after replying. However I remain firmly in the Optima "camp" until my experience proves otherwise.
 
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