MF35 need a battery, but what size???

Chip812 · Apr 8, 2012

The battery that is currently in the tractor is dead-dog-dead... been drained to nothing too many times to count... not enough umph left in it to even register... but it is NOT the correct size battery for this tractor... it only sort-of fits in the battery compartment and is only held in by its own weight. Will the local auto-parts know what kind/size of battery I need just by telling them MF35? 'cause I sure don't want another one of this size... would really like to be able to secure the battery...
8)

garymck · Apr 8, 2012

My manual only says a 12 volt 50 amp-hr. battery. I've replaced mine several times with a 650 amp cold cranking battery. The battery tie down disappeared eons ago so I use a bungee cord and this works well.

JerryCPP (WA) · Apr 9, 2012

Long ago, in another life, I worked as a parts man at an MF
dealership. My memory says you need a Group 24 battery if it is a
gas engine. Tell the supplier it is for a tractor and they'll likely sell
you a battery that has the plates mounted more securely to the case
so all the vibration won't damage the battery.

George Rausch · Apr 9, 2012

O'Reilly Automotive. Those guys have the best training, and can look up everything.

maxwell99 · Apr 9, 2012

chip,

I looked at the 12 volt battery in my 1957, TO-35, this morning.

I always use Duralast brand batteries from Autozone. They are open late night/weekends and their Duralast batteries are made in the USA by Johnson Controls.

The battery in my tractor is the largest battery size that will fit in the original battery box.

it is a Duralast 34DLG with 800 cold cranking amps with additional 105 reserve amps.

you want the most cold cranking amps possible and i also changed the battery leads to #1 wires.
NAPA sells #1 size battery cables.

These old tractors need all the help they can get to start on a cold morning.

Chip812 · Apr 9, 2012

Yep... I think I forgot to mention that it's the Perkins 3-cyl diesel...

I like O'reilly; every time I'm in there they are really on-the-ball and know what they're talking about... And it's the same crew every time... With Autozone & Advance (both closer to my place), I never recognize any of them (and I've been in there a whole lot of times)...

This battery was on it's last legs when I got the tractor (almost 1 year ago) after having been drained dry numerous times (I installed a battery cut off and I also added a trickle charger pig-tail)... Nursed it all thru winter and part of spring, but now it's dead... plus it is 'maintenance-free', so I cannot check the fluid (which I suspect is probably low)...

Thanks for the Duralast info... I don't have any experience with them, may give it a shot...

Duner Wi · Apr 9, 2012

Here is a BCI size chart.
Look carefully at your battery posts.
http://www.rtpnet.org/teaa/bcigroup.html

Dean · Apr 9, 2012

Get the biggest one with the highest CCH that will fit.

About 5 years ago, I had a couple of MF 35/Perkins diesels. AT that time, TSC sold two batteries of the proper size for the 35 diesel. One was less expensive but substantially lighter and with about 250 fewer CCA. Get the heavier, more expensive one.

If not urgent, wait for the next sale.

Dean

Chip812 · Apr 9, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:16:47 04/09/12) Here is a BCI size chart.
Look carefully at your battery posts.
http://www.rtpnet.org/teaa/bcigroup.html

Awesome... I like being able to look them up by size... knew it could be done, but I was getting all kinds of push-back from the [i:d37c0031f1]auto[/i:d37c0031f1] parts guys... (hadn't gone to O'Reilly yet...)
8)

GregWSpring · Aug 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 21:31:04 04/09/12)

(quoted from post at 12:16:47 04/09/12) Here is a BCI size chart.
Look carefully at your battery posts.
http://www.rtpnet.org/teaa/bcigroup.html

Click to expand...

Awesome... I like being able to look them up by size... knew it could be done, but I was getting all kinds of push-back from the [i:7a45e28158]auto[/i:7a45e28158] parts guys... (hadn't gone to O'Reilly yet...)
8)

Glad I found this thread.
Revisiting the battery issue.... I went to O'Reillys, waited in line for 10 minutes while one poor girl tried to ring people up, and 3 other guys were chatting.
Tried the 'self' look up and couldn't find my tractor/year (go figure, it's a 1959!)

Anywho... need a battery for TO-35 (1959), has been converted to 12V.

Also want new leads, likely should just measure current ones right?
But... for battery... should I really just get the biggest one with most cold cranking amps that fits in the space the previous owner made for it?
Suggestions?
BTW, the link (http://www.rtpnet.org/teaa/bcigroup.html) doesn't work now...

Thanks in advance.

GarryinNC · Aug 11, 2016

A group 24 should fit. I have a 1956 TO35 gas, and that is what is in there now. A group 24 will for sure crank a diesel too. Not much room for anything larger. I think a group 34 is shorter in height.

Charles in Aus. · Aug 11, 2016

I have two tractors , a Fe35 and a TED20 , both petrol engined . At times I have started them on half charged golf cart batteries , there really isn't that much current needed for petrol engines .
That said our winters are much milder than yours so the best guide to size is the battery tray . Buy one that fits and has the posts on the correct sides for your tractor . One other consideration sometimes forgotten is the height of the battery and terminals . The last thing you want is the posts shorting out under the bonnet and setting fire to the entire tractor , try to get a battery that will leave a good two inches of space above it and still allow you to clamp it down firmly .

MF35 need a battery, but what size???

Chip812

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garymck

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JerryCPP (WA)

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George Rausch

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maxwell99

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Chip812

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Duner Wi

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Dean

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Chip812

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GregWSpring

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GarryinNC

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Charles in Aus.

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