Battery for a Snapper Rider?

[416Rigby]

I have an old Snapper riding mower with a Kohler 14hp Command engine, and I need to find a good quality battery for it. It seems to go through a battery every year, with just normal weekly use (about 2 hours of mowing per week). Any recs for a long-lasting battery? Thanks.

 

[ebaker]

I'd recommend just buying a cheap $20 walmart (or similar) battery and replace it as needed. You could buy a battery maintainer which keeps it charged over the winter.

 

[416Rigby]

Thanks. I bought an Autocraft for $25, and it works fine. Just wish they lasted longer than 1 year.

 

[acovington]

Funny, I have a late-eighties era Snapper rider with a Briggs 11HP motor that I bought (used of course) 3 years ago. When I bought it, it had a dead battery so I bought a WalMart cheapie and expected it to last a couple of years at best. It's still going strong today and faithfully cranked the motor in March after being stored since early November. Dumb luck I guess, I know many guys like you that have to replace their battery yearly.

 

[Hokiefyd]

For the longest battery life, I'd make sure to at least unplug the cables over the winter. Possibly also store it indoors, off the floor. Like in a garage or even in a utility room in the house or basement. Don't let it set directly on concrete though.

 

[kenw]

typically and especially in applications like this, the biggest battery (dimensional and CCA) that will fit will last longer.

 

[416Rigby]

Thanks again. Different brands seem to last different amounts of time. An Interstate brand battery I used years ago lasted about 2 years on this same mower. I wonder if Sears Diehard would last?

 

[Ugly3]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jason Adcock:
For the longest battery life, I'd make sure to at least unplug the cables over the winter. Possibly also store it indoors, off the floor. Like in a garage or even in a utility room in the house or basement. Don't let it set directly on concrete though.

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I worked for a company that made rubber and plastic battery cases. Here is the truth!

The concrete floor killing a battery was true years ago when batteries were made with hard rubber cases. Batteries made with plastic cases can be places on anything, including concrete.

Rubber cases tended to weep the battery acid through the case, the liquid would short the cells with the damp concrete floor. Plastic cases do not leak unless they are cracked. If they are cracked they are no good anyway.

 

[theguru]

Lead Acid batteries do not like being allowed to go flat. This will ensure minimal life expectancy. A small automatic charger is great, but if not charge every 1-3 months depending on how well the battery holds its charge. And yes, disconnect the leads fully if there is anything that is drawing current, although unlikely in a mower situation.

 

[Cycle Freak]

What you need is a battery maintainer like the one I use is called the Battery Tender by Deltran it comes with a connector you attach to your battery then route the cable outside where it is convenient to connect to the charger without opening your covers or maintenance ports, it is dummy proof hookup and only connects one way so you cant get polarity wrong, I use mine on my motorcycles and it has more than doubled their life because the battery is always at peak charge when I go to start my cycles, it prevents self discharge from just sitting or temperature or drain conditions. You can get them at batttery warehouse type stores, motorcycle parts places and dealers, mail order, or possibly directly from Deltran in I believe Florida. Mind had a 5 year warranty with no troubles.