I have a low hour late model John Deere 4420 combine that has 2 - 12 volt batteries (group 3ET) wired in parallel. The engine is a 329 diesel. I was seeking your opinion on replacing the two batteries with one 12 volt battery somewhere in the 850 cold cranking amps. By going to one battery I would reduce the maintenance on the cables between the two batteries. Also it seems like one battery always goes bad before the other. Has battery technology improved that much in 30 years for me to do this? Thanks for your advice.
- Thread starter andy r
- Start date
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
I think it would be worth a try, get the highest cranking amps and biggest one that would fit.
Place I worked had several forklifts with those long batteries... I hated them! For whatever reason they were constantly failing! I would even get new ones that were no good, had to keep taking them back, swapping them out...
Place I worked had several forklifts with those long batteries... I hated them! For whatever reason they were constantly failing! I would even get new ones that were no good, had to keep taking them back, swapping them out...
When two batteries are connected in parallel they should be same size and age and design and brand etc. If one is bad it can suck the other one down. Two in parallel does add the available Cold Cranking Amps but you still have the potential problems just mentioned. If replacing with a single battery I would want it to have at least the sum of the two IE if each had say 500 CCA (two in parallel = 1000 CCA) I would want a new single to be as big as possible that will fit and have 1000 CCA or more.
John T
John T
RogerinIowa
Member
One battery on my 6600 combine with 404 diesel engine works fine. Easiest starting diesel I have seen.
Your needs at harvest time will determine your battery needs. If the combine will be driven back to a shed every night next parked next to an electrical outlet for a coolant heater, you will be fine with one battery. In those wet year when you have to wait for the ground to freeze to finish harvest two batteries will be needed, especially if the combine stays in the field overnight. It's no fun trying to start a stone cold combine engine in single digit F temperatures.
Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
I would get rid of those 3ET batteries anywhere I could. I like the 31S truck batteries. I have changed several things over to stud terminals. My CaseIH Maxxum 5230 w/Case/Cummins 5.9L has one 31S batt. and starts fine.
gene bender
Well-known Member
They put 2 12v batts for a purpose and you replace both at the same time as one bad one will spoil the other
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
Got any OTR trucking stores/dealers/repair facilities handy? The size 31 with ⅜ stud terminals is worth looking at for performance and value. 950
CCA as I recall on my last one. (31 is like a 27 trolling motor battery for your boat but has ⅜ stud terminals rather than lead posts).
CCA as I recall on my last one. (31 is like a 27 trolling motor battery for your boat but has ⅜ stud terminals rather than lead posts).
Steve in IL
Member
Andy - I've replaced everything I have with group 31 batteries. This includes tractors that originally came with 6v series, 12v parallel, and other
types of 12v batteries. All conversions have worked well.
Group 31s are in nearly every on highway truck, so many options and brands are available, tending to drive down cost. You can get options
with high CCA and lower reserve power (will crank hard, but for a limited time), options with lower CCA and higher reserve power (will not crank
quite as fast, but will crank for longer), and every combination in between.
Additionally, various battery hold down options are available (Amazon +) to fit into nearly any existing battery box. Group 31s are available with
both threaded stud and regular post, so you can minimize the need for new cables if you wish.
types of 12v batteries. All conversions have worked well.
Group 31s are in nearly every on highway truck, so many options and brands are available, tending to drive down cost. You can get options
with high CCA and lower reserve power (will crank hard, but for a limited time), options with lower CCA and higher reserve power (will not crank
quite as fast, but will crank for longer), and every combination in between.
Additionally, various battery hold down options are available (Amazon +) to fit into nearly any existing battery box. Group 31s are available with
both threaded stud and regular post, so you can minimize the need for new cables if you wish.
Super Steve
Member
if your 329 is anything like the one I have in a tractor, I would keep 2 batteries.
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
My JD swather with the 239 four cylinder diesel originally came with two batteries. The previous owner had changed over to a single 12 volt
battery and that is how I left it. Never fails to start even on some very cold days. Just an ordinary 12 volt battery from the Co-op. Not
sure on the cranking amps but about the same size as what I use in the old pickup truck.
I've done the same on the 730 Case diesel. Went from two sixes to a single 12 and it starts as good on one twelve as it ever did on the two
sixes. Same with the old Massey Super 90. I run that Perkins diesel to feed bales to cattle all winter and it has never failed to start on
the single 12 volt battery.
Winter start
battery and that is how I left it. Never fails to start even on some very cold days. Just an ordinary 12 volt battery from the Co-op. Not
sure on the cranking amps but about the same size as what I use in the old pickup truck.
I've done the same on the 730 Case diesel. Went from two sixes to a single 12 and it starts as good on one twelve as it ever did on the two
sixes. Same with the old Massey Super 90. I run that Perkins diesel to feed bales to cattle all winter and it has never failed to start on
the single 12 volt battery.
Winter start
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
I bought a JD 4010, 70ish hp, 350-400 cu in Diesel from a farmer once. Had recently (few years) been thoroughly gone through, front to rear.
For a battery he was using a well worn size 27 deep cycle, 12v trolling motor battery, not the combo type but the original thick plates, few of them type to fit in the case, aka lower CCA than normal for that battery size. Had no trouble starting the tractor in the winter here in N. TX. It didn't spin the Bendix off the end of the shaft, but it started up in less than 30 seconds. I continued to use it for a couple of years till it started to slow down. I couldn't believe it.
For a battery he was using a well worn size 27 deep cycle, 12v trolling motor battery, not the combo type but the original thick plates, few of them type to fit in the case, aka lower CCA than normal for that battery size. Had no trouble starting the tractor in the winter here in N. TX. It didn't spin the Bendix off the end of the shaft, but it started up in less than 30 seconds. I continued to use it for a couple of years till it started to slow down. I couldn't believe it.
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