westslope

New User
Sticker shocked once more. I used to pick up a 12-v "garden Tractor" size battery for $20-25. They might last a year or two, then I'd get a new one - no big deal. Recently after moving and taking a hiatus from running the tractor - a Gravely G16 Professional, I paid $55 for the same wimpy-looking battery and it only lasted a year. Got another one for $55. IT lasted a year. They look like the same thing I used to get, something that looks like it should go in a Barbie mower, but this is getting expensive. In this tractor I have the room to put in a regular car battery. I figure I might pay a bit (but not much) more, and get a lot more oomph and longevity out of it. Is there any downside here? What am I missing?
 
Long as it's 12V and fits I see no downside. I've used car batteries as temp batteries in a couple projects and they've always been fine.
 
That is why when you lift the hood of your Gravely and there is a battery tray big enough to take a full size. Do it. Next, stop at you local car part joint that sells batteries. Many of them have used batteries for sale usually with a 90 day sticker. I have had very good luck with used. If you really luck out you might find an Interstate Optima battery. Talk about a power house. The one warning is these Optimas must have a charger maintainer hooked to them for long term storage. The battery WILL go bad if you don't.
 
I've been using car batteries in my Cub Cadets for 40 years. Think it's a group #26 battery with 500 CCA, about double what the little "L" terminal L&G batteries produce. I normally get 8 to 10 years out of the car battery.

My 982 super garden tractor has the battery under the seat, not enough highth for a car battery, on the tractor that most needs one.
 
I have had the same car size battery in my Gravely for years. No idea how old it is, nor what brand without going out and checking. Works fine.
 
If you have room stick a car battery in it. My old JD 110 just had it's third used car battery stuck in it in at least 20 years.
 
We have always gotten 4-5 years out of the $18 ones from Menards, but now they have switched suppliers. GEO-TH used to recommend the $35 ones as they were sealed and didn't corrode. We always have a corrosion problem with the cheap ones.
 
You can thank the EPA for the high cost of batteries now days. The shut down of most lead mines have sent the cost of lead high so any thing that has lead in it the price has gone threw the roof.
 
Yep, I use the cheap car batteries as long as they fit,there was a flyer in today's paper for mower batteries for 30.00,but a car batt. will run 40.00 and last longer
 
Well- got a used car battery from the local recycling/junkyard outfit for $15. Took a good charge when I got it home and spins that Kholer over like crazy. Thank you all for the input.
 
(quoted from post at 14:28:54 03/03/19) You can thank the EPA for the high cost of batteries now days. The shut down of most lead mines have sent the cost of lead high so any thing that has lead in it the price has gone threw the roof.


Yup, that's the truth. :evil:
 
I have a 92 model 16G Pro. Second of owning it year I put a 850 CCA Deka car battery and it. Its still holding strong.

If you go car the battery route. Just fully charge it before installing. Makes it easier on the charging system.

My ole Magnum started puffing a little smoke on start ups last year. May tear into it later this year and check it out before something lets go.
 
Mule,
Just curious. How many hours do you have on your 16G? I've got 1125 on mine and I'm wondering when I should be expecting trouble. So far
so good, at least with the engine. Straight 30 weight from the get-go.
 
Mine has a little over 3000 hours. Never had any major problems out of the machine. It still starts and runs fine. Just smokes a little for about 10 seconds when started cold. I can not see any signs of oil leaks anywhere.

Only oil I have ever used in it like all of my other small 4 stroke equipment is Castrol GTX 10W30.
 
Then I guess this thing will outlast me. Very rough math says 1000 hours in twenty years, in 40 years I'll have 3000 hours on it. I'm
71...better start eating my kale.
 

If you are only getting a year or two out of a battery, I would suspect the charging system is not fully charging the battery or the battery may be becoming discharged during the off season.

Since I have been charging my mower batteries several times during the winter I consistently get 5 + years of service. Smaller batteries tend to lose charge faster than larger batteries therefore, it is more important to put a charger on them every month or so.
 
Eat your Kale or get some Grandkids.. lol

My three daughters put more hours on the tractor than I have. When they were smaller them and their friends used it for just about everything. Guy came to look at a Polaris 170 RZR that my youngest (14) has for sale. He offered me 4 grand for the tractor. TiAnna jumped on it and I could tell by her expression that it would be a big mistake if I sold it.
 
The older Cub Cadets can handle the car battery amp output fine because of the heavy-duty starter design (and fat cables), but some other lawn/tractor starters may be more sensitive to 3 or 4 times the amps. I just tried to start an Onan P220 on my bench this week with a 750 amp 24F and it locked up the starter, then started fine with a garden tractor battery.
 
Mostly a coincidence, even if the battery has more CA's available, the starter only draws what it needs.

I have several Onans starting on car batteries, with no issues over YEARS.
 

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