How long are your mower batteries lasting?
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What battery charger are you using? These are small batteries. They need small amperage. 6 or 10 amps, or more, will kill them.
If you have a dumb charger, and not a smart charger, now is a good time to get a smart charger as well. They do a better, safer job of charging batteries than dumb chargers.
If you dont already own a maintainer, I suggest you get one. It will double the life of your lawn tractor battery.
I have two Battery Tender Junior models and they keep my motorcycle and lawn mower batteries at 100%.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-02...3V47CGWJ1S02G3B
If you have a dumb charger, and not a smart charger, now is a good time to get a smart charger as well. They do a better, safer job of charging batteries than dumb chargers.
If you dont already own a maintainer, I suggest you get one. It will double the life of your lawn tractor battery.
I have two Battery Tender Junior models and they keep my motorcycle and lawn mower batteries at 100%.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-02...3V47CGWJ1S02G3B
Ive had good luck with one of these. If your used to paying $20 for a mower battery dont click the link..
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBP8228
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBP8228
Originally Posted By: pcoxe
I got 8 years out of an Autozone U-1 battery. I keep it hooked up to a BatteryMinder when not in use.
+1
I got 8 years out of an Autozone U-1 battery. I keep it hooked up to a BatteryMinder when not in use.
+1
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
What battery charger are you using? These are small batteries. They need small amperage. 6 or 10 amps, or more, will kill them.
If you have a dumb charger, and not a smart charger, now is a good time to get a smart charger as well. They do a better, safer job of charging batteries than dumb chargers.
If you dont already own a maintainer, I suggest you get one. It will double the life of your lawn tractor battery.
I have two Battery Tender Junior models and they keep my motorcycle and lawn mower batteries at 100%.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-02...3V47CGWJ1S02G3B
The charger is an old 10 amp. It's from Monkey Wards if that tells you how old it is. It's outlasted about 4 others I've had over the years.
What battery charger are you using? These are small batteries. They need small amperage. 6 or 10 amps, or more, will kill them.
If you have a dumb charger, and not a smart charger, now is a good time to get a smart charger as well. They do a better, safer job of charging batteries than dumb chargers.
If you dont already own a maintainer, I suggest you get one. It will double the life of your lawn tractor battery.
I have two Battery Tender Junior models and they keep my motorcycle and lawn mower batteries at 100%.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-02...3V47CGWJ1S02G3B
The charger is an old 10 amp. It's from Monkey Wards if that tells you how old it is. It's outlasted about 4 others I've had over the years.
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
Same here - only my little Die Hard has never seen a charger ...
The longest lasting garden tractor battery I ever had was a Deka brand made in PA.
Lasted about 9 years!
Most others I have had go for 2-4 years.
Lasted about 9 years!
Most others I have had go for 2-4 years.
The Interstate in our John Deere garden tractor is 9 years old, still cranks up great. I've never had a charger on it, but the machine does get used year round for mowing, aerating, and snow removal. It is also stored inside.
While I have had a few go beyond 4 years, between 3-4 years seem to be the average.
After I had a $46 JD battery go a year, I have come to the conclusion that the quality and quality control are so marginal, that the best bet is the cheapest option.
I am on my second Rural King $14.00 special. The first went 4 years.
After I had a $46 JD battery go a year, I have come to the conclusion that the quality and quality control are so marginal, that the best bet is the cheapest option.
I am on my second Rural King $14.00 special. The first went 4 years.
Just had one go out today. Bought it in the spring of 2012. I always took it out in winter, threw it on charge once a month and install it in April. Same holds true for three others, I average 4-6 years. I have a 6v in my old Ford 9N tractor, it was bought in 2009 cranks and starts fine, same routine. Don't let them run dry, buy fresh ones and keep them charged in the winter.
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Typically the machines my family members own get 3 years out of a battery. My grandmother has had bad luck recently, only getting a year out of her last three. She bought one in April of this year, and it was had by June. No draw, just a dud of a battery.
I think it is luck of the draw. The OE battery on my JD lasted 9+ years, stupid me I preemptively replaced it, I couldn't believe it was still going. The replacement only lasted 2 years.
I've got a few years on my 3rd battery, I did have to jump it the first time this spring but it has been good ever since. I probably should invest in a maintainer for the winter.
I've got a few years on my 3rd battery, I did have to jump it the first time this spring but it has been good ever since. I probably should invest in a maintainer for the winter.
I have a 3 year old Interstate lawn and garden battery that I got from Home Depot, back when they used to sell them. It started to struggle to start my mower earlier this season. I took the battery out, topped off all the cells with distilled water and put it on the battery tender junior for 2 days. Ever since, it has been starting with authority and all is well again. We will see how long it lasts now.
I bought a cheap $20 Walmart U-1 for my '98 John Deere GX85 a few years ago. Made by Johnson Controls I think. I normally remove the battery terminals before storing the machine for the winter, but left them connected at least a time or two overwinter. Fired up just fine in the spring and that battery is still going strong. I used it once to jump-start my old truck, it did that too. I'll keep buying the $20 ones from Walmart if they keep going like this.
5th year here for the original in my ariens, and 6th for the 3k genset. both use small-ish sealed batteries. I sometimes have to double-key the mower to get it through it's first compression stroke. I probably charge them twice during the winter. I keep thinking the mower's won't make it through the season but for 2 years it's surprised me. I'll spend for something decent when the time comes, if I can.
-m
-m
My Autocrap battery from Advance Auto died after 1 1/4 seasons of use even with trigger charger on it during winter. I replaced it with Everyready from Sam's. My 2004 tractor went thru 1 original battery from 2004 to 2010, Everyready from 2010 to 2016, Autocrap from 2016 to 2017, Everyready today.
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What about guys that use their mower everyday? I know they bounce around a ton, but they don't sit in a blazing hot engine compartment. Most are under the seat.
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I would think 4 years would be acceptable.
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