Batteries,Batteries and More Batteries

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

I'm sure this has been discussed here before,but here goes again.A lot of people here,like me,have several Wheel Horse tractors that are in use.Not parade tractors.Not trailer queens.Not just the once a month or so putt,putt ride around toy.Well,you get the idea.What does everyone do for batteries?I currently mow about 5 Acres and I have   six Horses with mower decks that I like to alternate mowing   with.In the last 2 weeks,I've bought 4 new batteries.Think I need another one today.Do you guys keep a battery in every tractor? Keep one new battery and keep moving it between tractors?Keep all tractors on a battery tender? The batteries still last only so long no matter how you take care of them.I like my tractors to start when I need them.And…….I know I don't NEED  6 tractors with mower decks,but we all know of the addiction.At 45 to 55 bucks per battery,it gets kinda pricey when it's time to replace them.Been buying NAPA batteries.Might try Tractor Supply today.Any thoughts??

[littleredrider 409]

I've been lucky. Sorta. My mowing tractor (520-8) has the same battery as when I bought it over 3 years ago. But the diesel has had 3-4 since I got it running 2 years ago. The 520 is the one that gets used the most, so maybe that's why it stays charged. The diesel has a car battery, and while not even looking at it over the winter, it still had a charge. Not enough to start it, but now that it's running and use it now n then it charges and starts. I've had batteries that just don't hold a charge. Maybe this is where the saying "you get what you pay for" comes in....

[Skipper 1,790]

One source for batteries I like, is the scrap yard/auto recycler. Sometimes cars with good new batterie get bashed too. The smaller sices will fit nicely, and then you have a real battery, for very few $. My go to place sells them to me for 8$ a piece, and then I bring them the dead battery, so they still get their core refund. I get about 10-15 batteries a year this way, for some of the tractors that come thru my shop. My own included. That's a real money saver. 

[Lee1977 7,432]

My  three tractors are stored in the basement temperature range from a low of 64 degrees to about 80 in the summer. Don't have battery maintainers. If i need the trailer I usually rotate tractors. I go for more CCA

on my batterys as I've had better luck with them. Buying Battery these day is like most every thing else:  The Luck of the Draw. I have had batterys last 9 or 10 years and some that didn't last 6 months. I don't think price, CCA, or who made it has anything to do with how long a battery last.