ok i see all kinds of posts on 6 volt tractors not starting in the cold. a good number of you seem to have no issue. what manufacturer battery do you all use. i have one from TSC (i know i know you get what you pay for) and mine will not hold a charge. even if i disconnect it when not in use.
 
The original 6V battery is Group Size 1 - 9-1/8 (L) x 7-1/8 (W) x 9-3/8 (H).



12V Group 25 & Group 35 batteries are just slightly smaller at 9-1/16 x 6-7/8 x 8-7/8.



I own 4 6v 8Ns and 2 6v 1929 Fords. All use the same battery, a Deka, model 901MF (made by East Penn) or the Duracell equivalent, Ultra BC1.


I always run the vehicles to operating temp every 3 or 4 weeks if they haven't been used. To make sure the battery doesn't discharge, all now have hard wired
Battery Tender float chargers. (And that will extend the life of any battery because it stops them from discharging.)

I also keep everything "clean, bright & tight", use the braided strap & 00 gauge negative cable.



So, in addition to it being a well made battery, doing everything else right gets me on average, 8 years out of a battery. I had one battery that I replaced in
October, 2020 that was 12 years old.

I like the idea of a gel battery..as in the Optimas. But, my Model A friends tell me that the newest versions, made in Mexico, are no where near as reliable
as the ones made 10 years ago. As further proof of that, Batteries + Bulbs no longer stocks them . Further, being a gel battery, they require a higher charging
voltage so the average charger will not work on them.


Got a Batteries + Bulbs store near you? They sell Duracell 6v batteries.....also made by East Penn. $82 w/ exchange, 640 CCA. They also sell Group 25 & 35
Duracell batteries for $119, and Battery Tender 6/12v float chargers ( DBT022-0209-DL-WH ) for $85.
75 Tips
 
unfortunately my 6 volt isn't near a power source for a tender. and i do not have a Batteries and bulbs near me. i will however try a local parts store to see what they can find thank you.
 
(quoted from post at 17:15:16 02/15/21) unfortunately my 6 volt isn't near a power source for a tender. and i do not have a Batteries and bulbs near me. i will however try a local parts store to see what they can find thank you.

Get a good battery as discussed. Many places 6 volt batteries set around and are old before you get them. Many have stickers on them of origin date. Try to find one with a recent date or ask to have a fresh one shipped in. If your tractor sets for extended periods of time, it may be worth your time and effort to pull it out when you are done with it and keep it where you can keep a maintainer on it.
 
Duracell from Bat & Bulbs. My grandson works there and got me a 6-volt with his employee discount (all legal). The store had none on hand, so when one finally came in it was about as fresh as you could hope for.
 

I've had really good luck with Carquest, biggest one I could shoehorn in with most CCA. Too bad Advance Auto bought them out as they have changed battery supplier.

By big I mean have to drop it in sideways and manuver it from there. I got 10 years minimum from those and I plow my snow with my N in New England. And the tractor lives outside under a military tarp. The battery in it now is 7-8 years old, always turns over, starts unless I flood it.
 
Woodstock Valley Ct. here. I currently use NAPA batteries, 6 volt, group 1 and keep them on a battery maintainer. Have not been
able to find a 6 volt solar charger so any not in reach of electrical power get brought in when not in use for a long time. Not
holding a charge is a good sign of a bad battery. If yours is still under warrantee bring it back and have it tested. My NAPA
store (Putnam) will test any battery for free. Did get a bad new battery once from NAPA that wouldn't hold a charge (12 volt for
a car), they tested it found it to be bad and replaced on the spot. Good luck.......
 
(quoted from post at 13:58:15 02/15/21)To make sure the battery doesn't discharge, all now have hard wired
Battery Tender float chargers. (And that will extend the life of any battery because it stops them from discharging.)

So, in addition to it being a well made battery, doing everything else right gets me on average, 8 years out of a battery. I had one battery that I replaced in
October, 2020 that was 12 years old.

i use a tender as well, and it really makes a difference.

fwiw, i've got a 12v battery in my dodge dump truck that i purchased in 2007. it still works well and starts the truck. i put it on a tender for about 2.5 years since 2007 while the engine was being rebuilt, but other than that, it sits in the truck. at a minimum, i drive the truck once a month, even in the winter in northern new england.
 
I have three tractors in my shed and lean-to. I did not have power to my shed, but decided to go solar since I needed to use a tender and plug in my tractor on cold days. I bought a kit and an inverter after which I decided to wire my shed. I have a 5,000 lumen led shop light and added a lean to light along with the outlets. Initial cost was close to $300 but well worth it in my opinion.
 
Most of the cheap, bargain house brands are not worth the time or money as they have poor lifespans. Many can be junk out the door as well. 7 years is a good run for a 6V battery. Briefly in a nutshell, you want a GP-1 6V AG battery -no Deep Cycle or RV/Gold cart type. I suggest you invest in one of the better brands. Some of the better ones would be DEKA, INTERSTATE, EAST PENN/DURACELL, or EXIDE. Get at least a 550 - 650 CCA with the average cost at about $125. Correct, good battery cables are required as well.


You need a strong battery to:
1. Spin the starter
2. Engage the Bendix
3. Provide voltage to the coil.
The following is courtesy of Bruce(VA), tips on battery care and performance:
As the battery gets weaker, the first thing to fail is your spark. The more current you use to spin the starter, the less you have for the ignition. If your starter pulls that battery down much below 5.2 volts (ref: 6-volt battery), the module in the EI will not fire. It doesn't really matter much if the battery is "fully charged" until you test it correctly. 4 Volts is an almost dead unit. Bench test under load and specific gravity must be tested. Your trusty local starter/alternator shop can bench test it on their special machine, usually at no charge no pun intended. No matter what else you do, the battery must be fully charged.
A float charger is helpful; not a trickle charger, but a float charger, like the DELTRAN Battery Tender Jr. is a popular brand, available at Walmart. A battery charger, even a "trickle" charger, left unattended will eventually boil out a battery. I use float chargers for two reasons: battery longevity and a sure start. Battery sulfation occurs at a specific rate at "X" temperature. Over time, sulfation reduces battery performance and eventually its effects are irreversible. Sulfation of batteries starts when specific gravity falls below 1.225 or voltage measures less than 12.4 for a 12v battery, or 6.2 for a 6 volt battery. Sulfation hardens on the battery plates reducing and eventually destroying the ability of the battery to generate current. Using a float charger significantly reduces sulfation. Your battery loses 33 percent of its power when the temperature dips below freezing, and over 50 percent of its power when the temperature falls below zero. A fully charged battery will not freeze until -76F; however, a fully discharged battery can start to freeze at 32F. Sokeep the battery fully charged! If you have a digital volt meter, 6.03 volts on a 6 volt battery and 12.06 volts on a 12 volt battery is only a 25% charge!

And NO, it doesnt need to be 12v. Plenty of Ns start just fine on 6v in below 0F temps. Clean grounds & battery terminals are always important. Dont forget to loosen the starter from the block and polish the block & all starter mating surfaces with sandpaper or a good file to ensure a good electrical ground. A tuned-up distributor and good, clean, correct battery cables are essential as well. 6V cables are thicker (0 GA) than 12V cables. Use a good FLOAT CHARGER like the DELTRAN BATTERY TENDER when tractor is stored

BATTERY TENDER JR (6V) BY DELTRAN:
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Tim Daley(MI)
 

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