[Brian]

I went out early this morning to get a little work done before sunrise and my battery was too low to turn over the tractor. When I started the tractor last night it was a fairly weak start but I figured it was due tot he fact I had not started it in a week.

I put the charger on it for a bit and started the tractor, checked that the alternator is working, and went off to get things done.

This is the second battery for this tractor. The first one went out after 1 year and one month. This one is almost the same. I went with the JD battery since it was still under warranty and it put a new battery under 50 bucks. I guess that was a mistake. I hope they up-size the battery significantly in the 4520.

I would have to assume that a 4x20 battery would fit in the 3x20 series since they have the same hood? I think this battery dies so fast due to the load that it is under.

 

[ddivinia]

How long did the first battery last?

I have to say I have never had to replace a battery in my 4720, 4520 or 5525. My 5525 is 5 years old.

I did put battery tenders on them, but hardly ever use them. I do try to condition the batteries once a year.

4720 was 3 years old when I sold it with the original battery
4520 is 2 years old this month with the original battery.

Battery in my ztrack - different story. 1-2 years max it seems. I put a tender on it and plug it in during the winter - going good for the last year or so.

D.

 

[BleedGreen]

Other than the "leaking" problems we all seem to know about on the 3x20 and 4x20 models, I really have not heard of too many battery issues, ie short life. Now the Z-Trak's are a different story, they tend to be started many more times and are usually bumped around quite a bit - not saying that tractors are not - but the Z's obviously have a much shorter wheelbase, coupled with the ability to run fairly fast... I had a 1995 S-10 4x4 with the front torsion suspension cranked up, both for looks (could not stand the "nose down" look) and for additional ground clearance and I went through at least one battery a year. Until I got an Optima in there... I have never checked battery specs between the 3x20's and 4x20's but I will try and remember to do that for you tomorrow, Brian. Other than that, I wonder if there is some small electrical issue going on in your tractor - d*mn I hate electrical issues!

 

[Brian]

The first battery lasted 13 months. Everything seems to be fine with the batteries until one day they die. The last one I was using in my sons toy gator until it would not take a charge any more after 3 weeks. It might have an electrical issue? Every single electrical mod I have done is out of it since the upgrade, and boom, the battery goes weak. If I keep a tender on it, I can start it when I go out. I also removed the positive cable and the battery is still barely getting enough juice to turn the motor.

I am going to go Optima on the new 4520 if I have this same issue.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Rather then an optima, I'd suggest either an Exide orbital or a DieHard Platinum....

 

[Nuru]

almost 2 years, no battery issues. Dealer put a coat of non-corrosive goo on the terminals and the batery is securely mounted - no issues sofar.

 

[jenkinsph]

Odyssey batteries first choice, DieHard Platinum (rebadged Odyssey for Sears) as my second choice. I have over thirty batteries in my vehicles and equipment to maintain. All critical equipment that has to sit on standby gets Odyssey batteries now.

A battery that sits in a tractor without electrical problems should have no problem maintaining a proper charge for several months. If you have problems with only a week of sitting you likely have a drain on the system.

 

[Ducati996]

I think a serious class action suite should be brought against Deere and maybe their supplier...I really think its designed to fail just after the pro-rated 2 yr mark....besides the well known vapor leak corrison issues, the cells dont last, and they tend to trick the battery tenders throwing out just enough voltage, but when a heavy draw is needed, thats when you find a bad cell....

 

[ddivinia]

5 years so far on my 5525 battery.

2 years this month on the 4520

I had the 4720 almost 4 years before I sold it with the original battery.

Ztrack 757 - 5 years old - have put 2 batteries in it.

D.

 

[Rob]

It depends on how you use your tractor. If you're on and off it all day don't expect the battery to last very long. If you go out and plow fields for eight hours you'll most likely get more years out of it. Think about your car, you don't run it 5 minutes and shut it off for another five only to repeat the process, that would kill it in no time. Auto batteries are designed to give high current for very short periods of time and then be recharged.
Battery life is rated in charge/discharge cycles. You only get so many and the deeper discharge the fewer charge/discharge cycles you'll get out of it.
How long it can sit before it discharges is based on its internal resistance. Take a Li-ion battery, it can sit on a shelf for years with little discharge because it has relative low internal resistance.
Now add this to the temperature factor ( the colder it gets the less efficient the battery is) and you're really working the thing to death in a short time.

Rob

 

[Brian]

The cold temps are killing my "newwer" JD battery! I am still waiting for the new tractor so I am doing little about it. Currently I remove the hot lead after use and put a trickle charger on it. I have had to jump it to start it yeasterday. Not cool. I know its not a power drain since the hot lead is disconnected. Part of me wonders if this battery is undersized for a cab and extra electronics....

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Nah, sounds like its just a bad battery...period.
I know that last year my truck started & ran fine all summer....soon as the cold hit she wouldnt start. Cold temps really "exposes" the quality of your battery.
Do you have another one you can bungee cord in there temporarily till your new machine gets here (if ever)...

 

[ddivinia]

I use these on everything - tractor, truck, corvette, z-track, welder, etc.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

D.

 

[Rob]

Bri,
There are a couple of things you can check. First, do you run a lot with the engine at low rpms (below say, 1600)? You may not be running the alternator fast enough to charge the battery fully. Also put a meter on the battery when your running about the rpms you normally use and see if the voltage is above 13.4. If it's not you may not be charging the battery enough.

Rob

 

[Brian]

I have checked and the alternator is working. My last task with the tractor was subsoiling, tilling, seeding and covering a 1 acre food plot. I was out there for a bit over an hour and I never shut the tractor off. It did a lot of full throttle and it did some idling. I think I have a bad cell in this battery and my battery tender thinks its a full charge, but it will not give out power when needed.

I do run my blower and radio in the cab at all times, but the draw seem minimal. Its either bad batteries or bad luck....

 

[Ducati996]

Well checking the specific gravity of the battery will tell you if the cells are healthy....as have I learned they throw enough to shut off the trickle chargers, but having the cell fail, you wont have the amps to turn over the engine..... My 2520 is now 4 yrs old, the battery failed on me last year in a big way, on the customer property...

I see nothing wrong with folks just forgetting about Deere batteries and going rogue...you got nothing to loose, when you think about it.....folks have this happening all the time, its well documented on all the forum boards....
Why take a chance like that? I finally switched out my 22N sized Deere battery 1 yr old battery for the Yellow Optima 51....The strongbox now sits as a emergency use only, with a trickle attached to it.....

 

[ddivinia]

My JD batteries in my tractors have been fine. When they do I might go back with JD or Optima.

D.

 

[Brian]

My problems have been solved.

The dealer called and my 4520 is on his lot. He is picking up the 3720 tomorrow! All it has to do is start in the morning....

 

[ddivinia]

Cool deal - put it on the charge tonight!

D.

 

[Rob]

Boy that was a long wait!! We need lots of pics!