My Old Tools
Well-known member
My old Husqvarna did the same thing. Didn't know about the compression relief. It was a Kolher thumper.
Riding Mower Battery Life
- Thread starter D45
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jwith68
Well-known member
My experience on mower battery life has been much like everyone else's in this thread - all over the map. I've had them dead after 1 - 2 seasons, and others last for many years. In April 2019, I sold a Cub M48S zero turn with a battery that I put in it in August 2012. Still started it unassisted after sitting in an unheated machine shed October - April.
Replaced the Cub with a new-to-me Kubota ZD326 (nice!) that takes a Group 51 battery. I put a new battery in it just after purchase because the one in it was of unknown age and seemed weak. Group 51's are about the same price as a typical medium size car battery, not ~$30 - $40 like the little L&G U-1 series. Hoping it will last several seasons, and will likely put a battery tender on it over winter to help it along. A gas V-twin may still start if cranking slow, but its unlikely that the 1 liter, 3 cylinder diesel in the ZD would.
Replaced the Cub with a new-to-me Kubota ZD326 (nice!) that takes a Group 51 battery. I put a new battery in it just after purchase because the one in it was of unknown age and seemed weak. Group 51's are about the same price as a typical medium size car battery, not ~$30 - $40 like the little L&G U-1 series. Hoping it will last several seasons, and will likely put a battery tender on it over winter to help it along. A gas V-twin may still start if cranking slow, but its unlikely that the 1 liter, 3 cylinder diesel in the ZD would.
u118224
Well-known member
Looks like I’m the exception. I bought a new John Deere garden tractor in 2002 and have only used it for mowing. I neither disconnect nor trickle charge the battery and it starts every Spring. It’s now 17 years old, the original JD battery. It is 500 CCA.
LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
I have a John Deere mower, which is on its' 12th year and second battery, also an old Gravely tractor, about early 80's vintage, but unknown on the battery, but at least 6 years old.
I put a 2-pole receptacle on both, and a matching plug on the BatteryTenders. When I park them, I just plug them in, until I next use them, whether it is a week, or over the winter. Both are under cover, but in unheated conditions. During the winter, once a month, or whenever we get a warm day, I start them let them run about 30 minutes, then shut them off.
The plug/receptacles have the two terminals at 90 degrees from each other, so nothing else will fit into them. I also have those on all the "summer" vehicles. They are a standard ( although not usually stocked ) Hubbell part.
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I put a 2-pole receptacle on both, and a matching plug on the BatteryTenders. When I park them, I just plug them in, until I next use them, whether it is a week, or over the winter. Both are under cover, but in unheated conditions. During the winter, once a month, or whenever we get a warm day, I start them let them run about 30 minutes, then shut them off.
The plug/receptacles have the two terminals at 90 degrees from each other, so nothing else will fit into them. I also have those on all the "summer" vehicles. They are a standard ( although not usually stocked ) Hubbell part.
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4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Bought my X749 in 2009 and still have the original battery. Never been below freezing.
My 2007 JD3720 battery finally gave up last year. First 2 winters it sat in the unheated shed.
Farmall450
Well-known member
I've found it's worth buying the biggest one if you're keeping it. Probably b/c when it's half shot it'll still start it in OK conditions.
Farmall450
Well-known member
You're also in a warm environment.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Pen & Wrench
Well-known member
I guess I'm another exception. My 2014 Grasshopper diesel is still on the original battery, never had a tender on it. It uses what appears to be a small automotive type battery. I will see if it still performs this spring. My previous riding mower used a lawn and garden battery and it didn't last more than 2-3 years.
bugnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
cherokee
Well-known member
I think the batteries are built to a different standard. Roughly 10 years ago I bought a little Kubota BX tractor, still on the original battery, and I am not nice to it. Out in the barn all winter and only used if I need the bucket to move snow. I have used it once in the winter that entire time. Still works.
New zero turn, 1yr old, battery dead. On a charger as we speak, we will see if it will "come back to life" but I don't have high hopes.
New zero turn, 1yr old, battery dead. On a charger as we speak, we will see if it will "come back to life" but I don't have high hopes.
sz0k30
Well-known member
RaisedByWolves
Well-known member
I literally forgot how old the battery in my BX is until this thread, going on 11yrs. I owe this to it having an actual alternator for charging. My trucks with high output alternators batteries always outlast my wifes cars batteries.
You could try hitting your old batteries with a welder to dissapate the sulfate, which is what kills them.
A lot of really good true to form comments above. Today's batteries are just not made to last. Manufacturers want us to keep buying their products so they will never make batteries to last longer than possible. If your lucky to get more than a few yrs. out of a battery today I think your lucky!!! I'm over the top on maintenance and have done it all as far as Pulling Batteries keeping them in a drier warm environment all winter and putting Trickle charge on them and every once in a while I get lucky with one that last's longer than most.
I went to the over the 300 CCA Battery that was available on sale or Group Size that would fit.(340 CCA sounds good to me!)
Doesn't matter what the brand. I figure instead of spending big $$$ on a high priced Battery that might last longer I'll spend literally way less than Half and a lot more sometimes one Fifth or less and I'm farther ahead. Just the Cost of doing business.
LtF
cherokee
Well-known member
Have you tried that. I have seen those videos and thought.....ehhh I don't know. A little leery about doing that.
RaisedByWolves
Well-known member
I've rejuvenated batteries before and understand what makes them die, so I don't see any reason this wont do what needs to be done but I haven't tried it personally.
If Tony did a video (and there's lots of them out there) its probably worth a shot.
djbmw
Well-known member
If you can find a small, cheap, AGM automotive battery - it will outlast any of the crappy 'powersports' batteries.
nadogail
Well-known member
I keep a cheap "Battery Maintainer" plugged in and connected to the starting battery of my mobile generator set.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Fired up the mower today and mowed 2 acres. No battery tender on it over the winter. No jump start, no anything. Crank and go. It was left hooked up during the winter, and I was fully expecting it to be dead.
This brand is what the local guy sells, so this is what I buy. This will be the second year the battery is in there.
This brand is what the local guy sells, so this is what I buy. This will be the second year the battery is in there.
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laser3kw
Well-known member
I tried that and several other methods to revive lead acid batteries. So far, 0-5. One battery, I even went the route of empty the battery, wash out, neutralize, wash, refill with new electrolyte. I also bought a battery charge with the de-sulfate / repair feature. Batteries remain unimpressed.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
I take a little different view.
Riders start by jump, only buy them a battery when they go up for sale.
Some even recover enough in season they hold a charge between sessions, and that is fine too.
Riders start by jump, only buy them a battery when they go up for sale.
Some even recover enough in season they hold a charge between sessions, and that is fine too.
RaisedByWolves
Well-known member
Im 3 for 5, sometimes there are internal breaks that you cant overcome.
With the rinse and add new electrolyte method, you have to retrain the battery to take/hold a charge. It may read 12V afterward but hold no charge. What you need to do is give it as much charge as it will take, (you need to know how to read the charger for this otherwise you're just boiling the acid.) and once it has taken a bit of a charge you need to discharge it and repeat as many times as it takes to show some life.
I used a trolling motor in a keg tub to discharge it. It would go from one minute of running to five, then 20, then 45min to over an hour.
After it ran for over an hour I put it in my tin boat and used it for a trolling motor battery for 3-4 years till I sold the boat.
olytdi
Well-known member
I get 8-10 years out of all of my batteries. I think that summer/winter temps determine whether you live in a frequent battery replacement area or not.
Terra Nova
Well-known member
Was in a pinch this spring and bought a new one, the battery was pm;y 4 yrs old but my fancy 'smart' battery charger wouldn't charge it. I usually got 5-6 years out of the ones in my old lawn tractor. Figured 4 years was okay to replace, during the busy growing months the zero turn is started 3-4 days a week.
Have since tossed the battery charger, now on the hunt for a reasonably priced dumb charger. Over the years the smart one proved it was anything but smart..
That said, my 2012 ram is on the original battery. It's solid but starting to turn over a little slow when it's cold. Probably change it before our road trip/vacation this summer for piece of mind.
Have since tossed the battery charger, now on the hunt for a reasonably priced dumb charger. Over the years the smart one proved it was anything but smart..
That said, my 2012 ram is on the original battery. It's solid but starting to turn over a little slow when it's cold. Probably change it before our road trip/vacation this summer for piece of mind.
I got about 7 years on the original battery, never trickle charging it. Got about 10 years on the replacement (Sams Club something group U1), started trickling it from new but only a top-off in the middle of winter and a top-off right before first spring start.
Just bought a new battery again last spring, Walmart Everstart U1P-7 275CCA) has one winter of mid-season trickle and spring top-off trickle was in March. It won't get trickled again till around January.
Just bought a new battery again last spring, Walmart Everstart U1P-7 275CCA) has one winter of mid-season trickle and spring top-off trickle was in March. It won't get trickled again till around January.
alfadan
Well-known member
I replaced my ztr's after 5 years and thought that was doing pretty good. It sits under a carport all winter. At least once during the winter I'll put the car charger on it for a couple hours.
A quick shot of ether in the spring and its good for another season of mowing dust.
A quick shot of ether in the spring and its good for another season of mowing dust.
Roger M
Well-known member
I bought a used 2001 John Deere GT235 riding mower in 02. I am still on the original battery. It sits from October to late March every year in a shed. I trickle charge it for a few hours before the first mow, and then it's good for the season.
I prepare every spring to buy a new battery, but the 22 year old battery is still holding on( probably jinxed myself with this post).
I prepare every spring to buy a new battery, but the 22 year old battery is still holding on( probably jinxed myself with this post).
I usually get 3-4 years out of them but I also don't cut my grass every week. Usually by the 4th year they get weak and need to be charged on occasion.
Between being made cheap, not being used regularly, not always being run too long depending on what you are doing, so-so charging systems and all the bouncing around they see they have a pretty rough life.
Between being made cheap, not being used regularly, not always being run too long depending on what you are doing, so-so charging systems and all the bouncing around they see they have a pretty rough life.
couch67
Well-known member
Pulled the mower out of the shed yesterday, and installed the battery. Didn't bother charging it beforehand, but checked the cell levels as I normally do each spring. Crossed my fingers and it fired right up! Noticed the battery was 10 years old now, and thought of this thread...
