I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
lawn tractor battery
- Thread starter Jay1981
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I've had no problems with AAP lawn tractor batteries, they are in both of our 16/18hp riding mowers. When not in use I keep them charged using Schumacher XM1-5.15 chargers/maintainers. Same batteries in use for several seasons now.
I don't know if your mower has a regulator in the charging system (I assume it does), but you may want to put a voltmeter to the battery when the mower is running to ensure that voltage is sufficient to charge the battery. I had an issue awhile back with a constant dead battery in one of the mowers, found that I had a burned out regulator.
I don't know if your mower has a regulator in the charging system (I assume it does), but you may want to put a voltmeter to the battery when the mower is running to ensure that voltage is sufficient to charge the battery. I had an issue awhile back with a constant dead battery in one of the mowers, found that I had a burned out regulator.
I am not sure how bad or good they are, but I would wait until spring. Most people do not get long life as they are left to discharge over the winter and who knows if the crude charging systems on lawn tractors actually fully charge the battery anyway.
Remember to check the + and - terminals, some have the + on the right and some on the left. Many get exchanged as people get it wrong.
Remember to check the + and - terminals, some have the + on the right and some on the left. Many get exchanged as people get it wrong.
JHZR2
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Originally Posted By: Donald
I am not sure how bad or good they are, but I would wait until spring. Most people do not get long life as they are left to discharge over the winter and who knows if the crude charging systems on lawn tractors actually fully charge the battery anyway.
+1.
The clock starts when you pour the electrolyte in...
I am not sure how bad or good they are, but I would wait until spring. Most people do not get long life as they are left to discharge over the winter and who knows if the crude charging systems on lawn tractors actually fully charge the battery anyway.
+1.
The clock starts when you pour the electrolyte in...
Originally Posted By: T4R
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
Now I always disconnect the negative lead on the battery when I'm done. Current battery has lasted me over 5 years, before it was about a year on the life.
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
Now I always disconnect the negative lead on the battery when I'm done. Current battery has lasted me over 5 years, before it was about a year on the life.
Originally Posted By: T4R
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
Check the charging voltage of the system first.
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
Check the charging voltage of the system first.
I got one at orileys a couple years ago for running my drywasher. Its been fine and cost $25ish
I had problems with mine dying all the time too. I just started leaving one of the HF trickle chargers on them. They are $6 and I haven't had any problems for 2 years.
I replaced my original craftsman battery with a a walmart battery for ~$29.00 last year. The replacement had a slightly better amp rating, iirc.
I took the battery out of the mower last fall, charged it and stored it in the basement for the winter. I plan on the same course of action every fall from here on out. About that time again..
I took the battery out of the mower last fall, charged it and stored it in the basement for the winter. I plan on the same course of action every fall from here on out. About that time again..
Yeah Wal-mart for the warranty, and Menards for the price, are your best bet here in Mi.
Im not going to say anything about my 7 year old battery that came with my Yard Machines riding mower that still works great! I dont want to jinx it....
Im not going to say anything about my 7 year old battery that came with my Yard Machines riding mower that still works great! I dont want to jinx it....
Check the fine print for the batteries you buy. You'll probably find that they're made by Johnson Controls. Chances are that if it is a JC battery, it's quality won't vary all that much.
I get, on average, 8 years from lawn tractor batteries and I use a lot of them, mostly at the camp. I have two that I use in my boats for fish finders and two more for my lawn tractors. The reason I get good service from them is that I top them off with water each fall (and spring) keep them on solar panels all winter.
A small 5 watt panel will handle three small batteries connected in parallel and do just fine if it's located where there's plenty exposure to sun.
I get, on average, 8 years from lawn tractor batteries and I use a lot of them, mostly at the camp. I have two that I use in my boats for fish finders and two more for my lawn tractors. The reason I get good service from them is that I top them off with water each fall (and spring) keep them on solar panels all winter.
A small 5 watt panel will handle three small batteries connected in parallel and do just fine if it's located where there's plenty exposure to sun.
Originally Posted By: T4R
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
If your near Waterford, theirs a place on Dixie Hwy that sells Deka's. Which are pretty good.
I have an older craftsman lawn tractor, it has a kohler engine and I believe its 14 hp. I've tried charging it but it won't hold a charge. Anyone here ever use a lawn tractor battery from AAP? Are they any good? I can save $20 off a $5x.xx battery with a coupon code. I have not compared the cranking amps to the current battery yet but I will be sure to do that before making a purchase.
If your near Waterford, theirs a place on Dixie Hwy that sells Deka's. Which are pretty good.
I always use the Huskee 360 batteries from Tractor Supply in my smaller tractors and the last one I replaced in my Ingersoll was 6 years old (I think a plate broke from vibration).....paid $37.99 two weeks ago for it.....300 CCA, 360 CA.
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Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had problems with mine dying all the time too. I just started leaving one of the HF trickle chargers on them. They are $6 and I haven't had any problems for 2 years.
Does the HF charger boil the water in the battery? I'd buy one if it doesn't.,,
I had problems with mine dying all the time too. I just started leaving one of the HF trickle chargers on them. They are $6 and I haven't had any problems for 2 years.
Does the HF charger boil the water in the battery? I'd buy one if it doesn't.,,
I buy all my batteries now from Advance Auto Parts using their 30-40% off coupons. I bought their lawn and garden battery about 18 months ago and it works perfect.
Well I think I will wait till spring to get a new one. Just getting tired of jump starting it every time. The lawn tractor won't see much more use this year but I do like to use it to mulch the leaves. I'll also be sure to check the charging voltage as some have suggested.
The longest lasting lawn tractor battery I ever had was a Deka. It came in the el cheapo Dynamark my family bought in 1998 and it lasted 9 or 10 years. I can't seem to find anyone that sells them around here. I bought 1 from tractor supply that only lasted a couple years. The Walmart Everstarts can be bought for $25-30 and seem to last pretty well.
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had problems with mine dying all the time too. I just started leaving one of the HF trickle chargers on them. They are $6 and I haven't had any problems for 2 years.
Does the HF charger boil the water in the battery? I'd buy one if it doesn't.,,
No, it doesn't boil the battery. It's a float charger. I've used a couple of them for years on my OPE, no problems.
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had problems with mine dying all the time too. I just started leaving one of the HF trickle chargers on them. They are $6 and I haven't had any problems for 2 years.
Does the HF charger boil the water in the battery? I'd buy one if it doesn't.,,
No, it doesn't boil the battery. It's a float charger. I've used a couple of them for years on my OPE, no problems.
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