are optima batterys worth paying extra or not

ivor here from UK
I am overhauling ferguson TEF 20 diesel for retired farmer and I had the idea of fitting optima battery instead of normal battery as battery is some distance from starter and fitting optima will give more kick..the cost is at least double so I would like to know of anyone who has used optima
thanks
 

No, it won't work that way to any great degree. What will make a difference is using larger diameter cables.
 

Personally...I've not had much luck with Optima batteries. Last no longer than a regular lead/acid battery.

Some folks swear by them though...I must be getting duds or something and too I've only had a couple Optimas....and that's been quite a while back. Maybe the new ones are better.

Unless the Optima is a higher CCA than the original battery...I don't see that it would be capable of cranking it any better than a same/similar CCA regular battery.

Good heavy gauge battery cables are a must for good starting. Cheap skinny automotive replacement cables..or rotten and corroded cables can just kill ya' as far as getting something to start
 
I've never used one because the cost difference.

For a 12v application, there are plenty of high amp batteries available.

But I got to looking at the 6 volt Optimas. They are claiming 800 CCA!

The regular 6v lead acid batteries are only about 350 CCA.

Like I said, haven't tried, but might be worth it for a limited space 6 volt application. But still no substitute for big cables and a healthy starter.
 
I have used a few on vehicles with winches. No complaints.
I have installed many into restored vehicles and have never heard of one leaking acid.
 
About 6 months ago, I switched to an Optima 6 volt battery in our McCormick-Deering O-6, it works great.
Much more cranking power than any regular 6 volt battery I have ever had in the tractor.
I bought it from Amazon for about $115. To me, it is worth every penny!
 
I have three Optimas. The first one I bought is around 14 (possibly 15) years old now. Has been is a variety of vehicles including being left for months over a couple of winters. In my forklift now and still working.
The other two were bought as a pair. They are about 11 years old. Originally used in my Land rover for starting a 6.2 GM V8 diesel, now used for a Cummins 6BT (although 1 would do now) in the same vehicle. They have been exceptional for me but I have heard in a few places the new ones are not as good.
 
They don't hold up well with the "custom swinging mount", notice how top is pulled up around the positive post. :(
 
I've had a couple of yellow top Optima's for 5 years for deep cycle use. Still hold a charge as well as day one. It's claimed by Optima that because of the spiral shape of the internals rather than flat plate, they tolerate rough dirt roads better, which I drive on regularly.
I would have thought that for a tractor on rough terrain, that would be an advantage.
 
On the other hand, I've been told a couple of times that modern sealed flat plate (calcium? I dont think Optima's are calcium) batteries need to have a regular good long road charge or they wont last a year. A tractor used infrequently or not run for very long each time, would probably do best with an old fashioned battery which you can top up with water.
 
Good points!

The only thing I need to elaborate on is this:

ONLY PUT DISTILLED WATER IN LEAD/ACID BATTERIES!!
This goes for ALL fillable batteries!

I'm surprised at how many (even techs!?!) who still think tap water is okay! It is not!! (Well... unless you work for a shop that sells batteries!)

Anything less than ultra-pure water WILL foul the plates! While this will rarely *destroy* the battery outright... it WILL rapidly kill it's capacity!

Deionized water is better than tap water... but not as good as distilled!! And NO, they aren't the same! If they were, they wouldn't sell both!

Deionized water only removes charged contaminants. Most minerals are, but not always. (Especially if they are combined with something else, rendering them neutral... but still battery/electrolyte-poison!)

So spend the extra buck and buy some distilled water! I always keep some on hand just for my batteries!

Okay, AND for ironing clothes...
since I ain't got a gal!

Well, except for my li'l Fergie. but sometimes in situations such as ironing (and a few others)... she don't count!

So hang on to a good one if you got one.
Cause batteries are expensive to replace!
Same goes, even more so... for a gal!... except
you can water them down with whatever you got around the place!

~KinniK
 

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