Technical Farewell to a Great Battery

Today, I finally had to say goodbye to my age-appropriate but non-HAMB tractor battery. A regular old Walmart Ever-Start made in September, 2012. Thirteen years is not bad so I really can't complain about the loss. A replacement was available at pre-tariff prices so only $73. I don't think a fancy-store battery could have done better.

Clearly someone at "battery manufacturing quality control" screwed up and let a really good one get by them.

 

...or you took care of it....

 

There is a video on the internet about bring a battery back from the dead, if you can drain the old acid out of the battery. HRP

 

Video is misleading. Will work on a light bulb but, not on a starter motor and accessories.
The 11.65 V is not enough to start a car due to insufficient CCA.
But, obviously will light a small bulb which is much lower "draw" than a starter motor.
Once the inner plates of a battery have "sulphated" and shorted out, you need a new battery.
The Truth About Reviving Dead Batteries - U.S. Battery Mfg. Co.

 

I just replaced the 36 month Exide battery in my '69 Suburban that had been in the truck 7 years. I swore it wasn't that old, but when I looked at it when it wouldn't start it had a 2018 date on it.

 

A load test would have shown this for what it is; complete bullshit. Ever hear of "surface charge"?

 

Interesting, but where is all that old acid and flush going? Cant' just flush it. Plus I'd have to find a source for the new acid and I'd likely splash stuff onto clothes I shouldn't be wearing for this job and then there are the court appearances for using the family coffee pot in the shop. Plus my time so maybe I'll just spend the $73.

 

Did anyone else notice the weird configuration of the AC plug on the guys battery charger and power strip? Prtty good english narration and all, but from some furrin' country.

 

I'd like to see a load test done on the fully charged battery and where does a guy buy the 0.25 acid solution?

 

the 6v battery in my 54 Ford was 9 years old

 

I "Googled" it and it's readily available from scientific supply companies.

Not that it would do any good.

 

i had the infamous j.c. penney "lifetime" battery that lasted 7 years. in case you've forgotten them, penneys almost went broke replacing them. when mine went, they gave me a cheapo $8.95 battery and said, "don't come back!"

 

easily available in plastic jugs from any industrial battery manufacturer or supplier .

we will do “ acid balance “ on electric forklift batteries it comes in 2 different “ strengths “ or dilutions , the lesser dilution is better overall .

in large forklift traction batteries they need to be watered periodically , the water evaporates but the acid always stays behind . Unless you over fill the battery and the cells boil over during charging . That’s when an acid balance can help extend the life of the battery .
You can try forming charges , equalizing charges etc . To help brake up sulfation , get rid of charge etc memory etc etc .

but once a battery is damaged , nothing will really “ bring it back “ just extend ….. slightly …. The inevitable , replacing the battery .

keeping a battery clean , correctly used and charged , is the only way to having optimal battery life .

 

I had a Ford script 6v battery in my woody and it was 15 years old when it finally gave up the ghost. I ordered a new one in September and it finally shipped out yesterday I hope I can get that kinda service out of the new one

 

You are very fortunate. EVERY reproduction battery I have ever had died in less than three years.

 

I had a Die Hard marine battery in my sailboat for 11 or 12 years before it didn't want to take a charge and that poor thing was about as neglected as one can get. I even took it out of the boat and hauled it in the house to run my wife's C-pap on the inverter with when we had a multiple day power outage one year.

 

The video is one of many, take it for what it's worth. HRP

 

Exide was always the best, most powerful, longest lasting. Up until about 2018BC you could get em at Tractor Supply. Alas, now they only sell Traveller brand, and a LOT more $ too.

 

I use cheap Walmarts batteries

get 4-5 years out of em

can’t complain

 

In 2009 I bought a 3 year battery from Autozone. This last month I had to replace it in my avatar roadster. As I exchanged the battery, I made a tough in cheek remark about how they don't make 3 year batteries to last over 16 years like they used to! I got blank stare from the 20 something guy on the counter.

 

Battery recycling? I'm from a tiny town of 275 in Nebraska depending on the day. Many years ago 2 young men graduated from our local high school and after a few years bought this battery recycling franchise. One went to Denver and the other to Kansas City. They have both been working this gig for over 30 years. It involves adding this secret powder to the old battery mixing the chemical in good , recharging it and whoosh out the door. They have both became independently wealthy doing this. There must be something to it?

 

What's their company? Secret powder=baking soda?

 

"Rebuilt" batteries were still quite common in the early '60's in my neck of the woods. I'd guess the practice probably started in the '20's. We weren't a "throw away" society then.

 

back in High School would buy a SUN Recharged Battery for $10 at local Grocery Store. that was high tech enough for me.

 

Been trying for months now (on/off) to revive a couple Odyessy batteries. So far, nothing I’ve tried seems to be working, but they are sealed. I went to Costco figuring they would have the best price/warranty last year, and IIRC, the battery was around CAN$250, and I need two. Total insanity.

 

Tell me, I just paid over $400 for a reproduction battery for my woody. I did have to get another battery for my OT daily from Costco and it was about $200 but they do last me about 4 or so years so not too terribly bad.

 

I have a John Deere diesel powered tractor I bought new in 2016, it still has the OEM battery. I do keep it on a battery tender and, knock on wood, still starts the tractor like the day it came home. I’m with Anthony and Squirrel, I buy the cheap(?) batteries at the Walmarts. The only thing I bought expensive batteries for were the Harleys because they vibrate so damn much and I get 5 years from an AGM in them. If I get 5 years, out of any battery, I’m completely happy and replace it as a maintenance item. I haven’t replaced the John Deere battery yet because it doesn’t leave the farm, when it dies, I’ll get my jump box and put the tractor back in the shed and go buy a battery. I’m seriously considering buying another John Deere Strong Box battery because of its phenomenal service, even though in my brain I know it’s probably nothing special.

 

Interesting coincidence that poster dan c has lucas doolin as his icon.
Bought a JC Penny Lifetime battery when they came on the market. Cost $100. Used for 10+ years. Finally died. Took it to Penny who informed me they were no longer in the auto parts business. Apologized and said all they could do was refund my purchase price. I was pretty disappointed since I had chosen a model for a car I planned to keep forever and which I still own.

 

I've had my '51 Ford since 1987. I wasted a few years with "Group 2L", "Group 2", etc. regular "parts store" batteries with various levels of disappointment. Then I bought my first Optima. That had to be in the early nineties. The first two lasted more than 12 years, and I'm working on my third. I expect it's going to fail soon, as it's been in there a long time. I am expecting "sticker shock", but when you calculate the $ per year, they're a very good deal.

I have it in one of those faux cases and it looks like an original unless your a real nit-picker.

 

That’s what mine are AGM batteries. The Ford script battery I took out was an Optima but when I bought this one the guy said they don’t use the Optima batteries anymore but some other one. Like I said if it last as long as the other one did I’m good