Tractor Batteries

There has been a lot of talk on here about batteries and we have - 6 months ago brought two AM31 batteries from Alpha Batteries for the first time to go on our Magnum to replace the originals which we never had a problem with. The long and short of it is they will start the tractor 3 or 4 times then they are for all intents and purposes flat. If it does a days work it charges them but if you start it just to move it you've got 3 or 4 starts like this.
Not sure on the make as its not one of the leading brands but they were the spec required. So it looks like we are going to have to buy two more as I think these must be very poor quality. Moral of the story is not buy cheap batteries even if they say they are the right spec.

So as I have to buy two more which brand should I look at to get the best?
 
Last edited:

john432

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
Have a similar problem with a Newmax battery fitted on a JD6400, year old since may, but last winter wouldnt start the tractor without having the charger on for about 20 mins, checked the alternator voltage, and there was no draw when the tractor was turned off. By now the battery is finished, suppose to have a 3 yr warrenty, taking it back next week to the retailer. Shure there will be some excuse.....
 
Don`t they have some kind of warranty? Might be worth a chat with Alpha Batteries. May be one is faulty and t`other OK.

I have spoken to them but its the old ' weve not had this problem before' and we would have to send them back to be tested before they could do anything so its a pain. I have tested them anyway myself and they are fine but they don't seem to hold enough charge, so fine when charged up but go flat far too quickly.
 

manhill

Member
There has been a lot of talk on here about batteries and we have - 6 months ago brought two AM31 batteries from Alpha Batteries for the first time to go on our Magnum to replace the originals which we never had a problem with. The long and short of it is they will start the tractor 3 or 4 times then they are for all intents and purposes flat. If it does a days work it charges them but if you start it just to move it you've got 3 or 4 starts like this.
Not sure on the make as its not one of the leading brands but they were the spec required. So it looks like we are going to have to buy two more as I think these must be very poor quality. Moral of the story is not buy cheap batteries even if they say they are the right spec.

So as I have to buy two more which brand should I look at to get the best?

Varta I think
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Varta I think

Did you compare the cold cranking amps and the amp ah rating when replacing or just the battery type number?
There can be alot of differance. Also newer batteries are lower spec than say 20years ago so look in the manual and it will say the original battery capacity rating normally.

You more than likely have a knackered starter or a cheap copy/version of original or poor leads etc. Both of which can knacker a new battery as they draw far too much current on start up and can damage batteries. Thats what i think anyway and ive seen enough machines with cheap or faulty starter motors to know. Plenty customers moaning the keep fitting new batteries and they dont last more than 12 months or so but once they give in a fit a decent iskra starter motor it seems to cure the eating batteries issue!
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
There has been a lot of talk on here about batteries and we have - 6 months ago brought two AM31 batteries from Alpha Batteries for the first time to go on our Magnum to replace the originals which we never had a problem with. The long and short of it is they will start the tractor 3 or 4 times then they are for all intents and purposes flat. If it does a days work it charges them but if you start it just to move it you've got 3 or 4 starts like this.
Not sure on the make as its not one of the leading brands but they were the spec required. So it looks like we are going to have to buy two more as I think these must be very poor quality. Moral of the story is not buy cheap batteries even if they say they are the right spec.

So as I have to buy two more which brand should I look at to get the best?

Am31 are the 642 type batteries i fit. I use sparex branded ones but they are exacly the same as them ones you got just a different label. 2 year warranty on sparex ones. They are good batteries but they dont like rubbish starter motors drawing massive current out of them quickly.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Varta I think

They dont make a 642 battery and the 643 and 663 batteries are very poor cranking amps plus they are the black ones which have less warranty and generally rubbish. Blue and silver top varta are fine but they tend to be automotive sizes not tractor/commercial size.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Had similar problem with a maxxum 5130. We got a four cell battery that had more oomph to get her started but still wasn't spritley. Ended up burning out the solenoid and used the part number from the original starter that came off the tractor some 5 years previous which also had a duff solenoid. The new solenoid wouldn't fit the starter on the tractor but obv did fit the old starter. Put the new solenoid and refitted the old starter and crikey there was a difference. Much, much better starting and no heat etc from the draw.

The newer starter had bocsh sticker on it but clearly was a copy and very dull. I gather proper Bosch starters are stamped.

Did that all make sense?
 

quavers

Member
Location
aberdeenshire
Had similar problem with a maxxum 5130. We got a four cell battery that had more oomph to get her started but still wasn't spritley. Ended up burning out the solenoid and used the part number from the original starter that came off the tractor some 5 years previous which also had a duff solenoid. The new solenoid wouldn't fit the starter on the tractor but obv did fit the old starter. Put the new solenoid and refitted the old starter and crikey there was a difference. Much, much better starting and no heat etc from the draw.

The newer starter had bocsh sticker on it but clearly was a copy and very dull. I gather proper Bosch starters are stamped.

Did that all make sense?
had a couple of tractors fitted with Bosch starters from new , were rubbish compared to the starters that replaced them with ,
 
Did you compare the cold cranking amps and the amp ah rating when replacing or just the battery type number?
There can be alot of differance. Also newer batteries are lower spec than say 20years ago so look in the manual and it will say the original battery capacity rating normally.

You more than likely have a knackered starter or a cheap copy/version of original or poor leads etc. Both of which can knacker a new battery as they draw far too much current on start up and can damage batteries. Thats what i think anyway and ive seen enough machines with cheap or faulty starter motors to know. Plenty customers moaning the keep fitting new batteries and they dont last more than 12 months or so but once they give in a fit a decent iskra starter motor it seems to cure the eating batteries issue!
2600 hours, original starter. Original batteries were fine but changed them as I wanted to avoid having one of the batteries suddenly die when busy. I will check the invoice to double check what batteries they sent should have been AM31 1000cca 125ah which is what we need. I don't think there are any numbers on the batteries just a manufacturers sticker.
 

DeeGee

Member
Location
North East Wales
So if Varta black batteries are not too brilliant, does anybody know who does make a decent reliable battery these days?
I would rather pay a slightly higher price for something decent that is going to last a good few years, rather than waste time arsing about with jump leads on the first frosty morning that occurs eighteen months after buying the usual sort of junk available nowadays.
 
Had similar problem with a maxxum 5130. We got a four cell battery that had more oomph to get her started but still wasn't spritley. Ended up burning out the solenoid and used the part number from the original starter that came off the tractor some 5 years previous which also had a duff solenoid. The new solenoid wouldn't fit the starter on the tractor but obv did fit the old starter. Put the new solenoid and refitted the old starter and crikey there was a difference. Much, much better starting and no heat etc from the draw.

The newer starter had bocsh sticker on it but clearly was a copy and very dull. I gather proper Bosch starters are stamped.

Did that all make sense?
Yes, clear as mud :banghead::)
 

manhill

Member
Did you compare the cold cranking amps and the amp ah rating when replacing or just the battery type number?
There can be alot of differance. Also newer batteries are lower spec than say 20years ago so look in the manual and it will say the original battery capacity rating normally.

You more than likely have a knackered starter or a cheap copy/version of original or poor leads etc. Both of which can knacker a new battery as they draw far too much current on start up and can damage batteries. Thats what i think anyway and ive seen enough machines with cheap or faulty starter motors to know. Plenty customers moaning the keep fitting new batteries and they dont last more than 12 months or so but once they give in a fit a decent iskra starter motor it seems to cure the eating batteries issue!

A dc clamp ammeter of suitable range will determine what's what.
If the cranking amps meet the battery stated spec the battery's good.
If the measured amps are low then it can be:battery/lead resistance/solenoid contact resistance/brush-commutator resistance.
A battery load tester should prove the battery. Not too dear.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
A dc clamp ammeter of suitable range will determine what's what.
If the cranking amps meet the battery stated spec the battery's good.
If the measured amps are low then it can be:battery/lead resistance/solenoid contact resistance/brush-commutator resistance.
A battery load tester should prove the battery. Not too dear.

starter wont pull 2000amps though:facepalm: or at least it shouldn't be. Battery load tester yes but he already knows the batteries are knackered the question is WHY.

A better way is to measure the voltage across the battery while cranking the engine. (with good batteries)
if all is well you should be seeing (as a guide as some may vary) about 9.5volts or more. any less then it would indicate battery fault, leads, duff starter motor or excessive load on starter from another source ie hydraulic pumping etc.

You can measure the amps starter draws when cranking but you need to know what that starter is meant to be drawing while cranking under load, but it wont be 2000amps! I think the lucas m50 starter on the 4cylinder perkins is just under 600amps?
 

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