Lawn mower batteries are junk even when new

[Allaned]

I can't seem to keep a battery for my sit on mower for more than a few months. I bought one in February, 2025 and it was replaced in 11 months (under a 1 year warranty)_ Now the replacement after 5 months won't hold a charge. Alternator is good and putting out 14 volts. I have a jump starter battery charged up and have been using it to start the mower. I don't think there is anything I am doing wrong. The original battery that came with the mower lasted 3+ years but all these replacements have been very poor. I see why they are only sold with a 1 year warranty.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Do you have any history of it holding a charge ever on that machine?

Do you ever put a maintainer on it?

Could be the battery, could be the charge system. Just because it puts out 14V isn't a guarantee there is enough current, or possibly its over charging?

 

[thastinger]

Believe it or not, my 2014 ZTR has the original NAPA battery it came with. I've never even trickle charged it over the winter. Maybe your charging system is weak?

 

[Allaned]

Do you have any history of it holding a charge ever on that machine?

Do you ever put a maintainer on it?

Could be the battery, could be the charge system. Just because it puts out 14V isn't a guarantee there is enough current, or possibly its over charging?

Thanks for the reply
1. Yes
2. No, but I am talking about week to week not holding charge between cuttings.
3. Don't know. Checked the connections. There is enough current to keep the engine running for hours once I jump it.

 

[Pablo]

I can't seem to keep a battery for my sit on mower for more than a few months. I bought one in February, 2025 and it was replaced in 11 months (under a 1 year warranty)_ Now the replacement after 5 months won't hold a charge. Alternator is good and putting out 14 volts. I have a jump starter battery charged up and have been using it to start the mower. I don't think there is anything I am doing wrong. The original battery that came with the mower lasted 3+ years but all these replacements have been very poor. I see why they are only sold with a 1 year warranty.

What replacements are you talking about and where are you buying them?

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I gave up and put all my garden tractors on a trickle charger. Northern Tool used to have good sale prices on them> Walmart is a bit more expensive but they work fine also.

 

[zzyzzx]

There is a lawn mower battery with a 1 year warranty???
I thought it was 3 months now (and not just at WalMart for their Everstart lawn mower batteries).

 

[SC Maintenance]

Thanks for the reply
1. Yes
2. No, but I am talking about week to week not holding charge between cuttings.
3. Don't know. Checked the connections. There is enough current to keep the engine running for hours once I jump it.

If it were me I would buy a battery tester unless you just want to throw batteries at it. Test the new one - check it after you mow, check it again a week later before starting. May give you some clues.

I sincerely doubt your mower needs any battery at all once started. Depending on how these new ones work. Are they still a magneto?

 

[Allaned]

There is a lawn mower battery with a 1 year warranty???
I thought it was 3 months now (and not just at WalMart for their Everstart lawn mower batteries).

Yes 1 year warranty. As stated above one was replaced free to me after 11 months.

 

[dippschtick]

No matter what brand lawn mower battery I buy they all seem to last about 3 years.

 

[GRUMPYDUDE2]

I gave up and put all my garden tractors on a trickle charger. Northern Tool used to have good sale prices on them> Walmart is a bit more expensive but they work fine also.

This is the only answer that has worked for me getting 3yrs or more out of small batteries!

 

[Allaned]

Thanks all for the ideas. I’ll work on things. You are helpful as always.

 

[TnT_M]

I can't seem to keep a battery for my sit on mower for more than a few months. I bought one in February, 2025 and it was replaced in 11 months (under a 1 year warranty)_ Now the replacement after 5 months won't hold a charge. Alternator is good and putting out 14 volts. I have a jump starter battery charged up and have been using it to start the mower. I don't think there is anything I am doing wrong. The original battery that came with the mower lasted 3+ years but all these replacements have been very poor. I see why they are only sold with a 1 year warranty.

Sounds like you have a parasitic draw. Try disconnecting the battery cables for 1 week and see if it holds the charge. My cheap Menards FVP battery is on year 4 or 5, I think, and still going strong.

 

[zzyzzx]

No matter what brand lawn mower battery I buy they all seem to last about 3 years.

The last one I changed was 5 years old.

 

[IndyIan]

My mower seems to charge the battery well enough, once I unplugged the head lights. They were on anytime the ignition was on for some reason? Before that, it wouldn't get the battery charged enough to start reliably after a week.

 

[Astro_Guy]

@Allaned Something other than the battery is wrong here. There must be some slow drain going on. My last Walmart battery went six years. Do you have a multimeter? Can you disconnect one side of the battery and measure the current flow between the battery and its lead?

 

[Lubener]

I can't seem to keep a battery for my sit on mower for more than a few months. I bought one in February, 2025 and it was replaced in 11 months (under a 1 year warranty)_ Now the replacement after 5 months won't hold a charge. Alternator is good and putting out 14 volts. I have a jump starter battery charged up and have been using it to start the mower. I don't think there is anything I am doing wrong. The original battery that came with the mower lasted 3+ years but all these replacements have been very poor. I see why they are only sold with a 1 year warranty.

Maybe try retrofitting a bigger tray so you can use an automotive battery instead.