Battery maintainers

[Eugen]

That 444 looks wicked with the blade on @Chad ! We should start some sort of brotherhood of the 444 gang with leather jacket and all sons of the 444, the number of the mist

Well, I gave up on experimenting with the original Case battery that came with the latest 444 and got a new battery from Walmart on an impulse

Talk about white stuff, put another auger on the caster and slapped it on the 446 because I just don't have the time and energy now to deal with putting it on the 244 like I intended (dreamed of).

P.S. I am an impostor in this discussion, I own zero battery tenders

[Gordy]

I have wanted to get one and see for myself if you can resurrect an older week battery , but they are expensive and not in the budget right now .
Dave

I have the "Battery Minder Plus" pictured above. The first one I bought years ago was $55+ usd, A few years later Northern Tool had them on a doorbuster sale for $24 I bought 4 and I talked Dad into buying some for his growing GT collection, which I later inherited.

I don't know if the holiday doorbuster sales are a big deal up there, but keep your eyes open


Gordy

[Chad]

Thanks! I'm in for the 444 club.

I'm excited to try the snow chains this year (just had wheel weights previously; the other 444 donated for now until I rebuild it). With me on the back it'll be around 610lbs and the added traction should hopefully make a difference.

I might pick up another battery too and call it a day. Wanted to pick one up from Costco when I was there a few weeks ago, but there were none to be had (maybe they consider it a seasonal thing?) Have had good luck with them before for the $. But might try something a little better this time.

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[Spike188]

Just a reminder about replacement batteries. Garden tractor U1 and U1R batteries a rated by cranking amps and cold cranking amps. Onan engines need a 340 CCA rating. Box store batteries are often 300CCA and less. The low CA/CCA batteries will start an onan on a warm day if the tractor has not sat for a week or so but get a set of booster cables if you want to start it in the winter cold.

Spike.

[Eugen]

Just a reminder about replacement batteries. Garden tractor U1 and U1R batteries a rated by cranking amps and cold cranking amps. Onan engines need a 340 CCA rating. Box store batteries are often 300CCA and less. The low CA/CCA batteries will start an onan on a warm day if the tractor has not sat for a week or so but get a set of booster cables if you want to start it in the winter cold.

Spike.

The battery I just got from Walmart is 150 CCA (this shows how cheap I am). Should probably return it, don't know if they accept batteries to be returned though.

I'd have gotten one at Costco, but yes, the don't have GT batteries out of season

[DavidBarkey]

Just a reminder about replacement batteries. Garden tractor U1 and U1R batteries a rated by cranking amps and cold cranking amps. Onan engines need a 340 CCA rating. Box store batteries are often 300CCA and less. The low CA/CCA batteries will start an onan on a warm day if the tractor has not sat for a week or so but get a set of booster cables if you want to start it in the winter cold.

Spike.

The battery I just got from Walmart is 150 CCA (this shows how cheap I am). Should probably return it, don't know if they accept batteries to be returned though.

I'd have gotten one at Costco, but yes, the don't have GT batteries out of season

If you have not installed it they will take it back ,just tell it is to small . I get mine all from automotive parts suppliers . Interstate 300 CCA / 375 CA in Frankie and thats a P220 Onan and 12 gpm. pump it cranks over with no issues . That battery is about 5 years old now and not one issue . I have found over the years that quality batteries are better than there rating and the cheap stuff lower than there rating . You do get what you pay for .

Dave

[ssmewing]

Battery chargers can perform much more these days than they ever did. They can actually repair a battery. They also have controllers built-in for smart charging which means your charge level will not cause damage while charging.

I bought this one. Save your manual as entering the different functions is done by holding the button down at just the right time and place.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8 ... UTF8&psc=1

Having said that, for winter use you should have a battery with as close to or over 400 amps starting power.

[Harry]

The Pro Logic battery charger which is a battery maintainer is working fine. It charges four batteries with 2 amps each. It charges then goes into a pause mode then back on charge as the voltage drops. I've been checking the four tractor batteries with a voltmeter, and they have been holding at 13 volts.
I had a bad battery in my winter project 444, that gave me 10 volts on the voltmeter. I disconnected one of the charged batteries on the Pro Logic charger and connected this battery to it. The next day it had a red light on the charger meaning there was a fault somewhere. I turned if off and restarted it and the next day it faulted again. This charger is supposed to have a pulsing cycle to break down lead sulfate between cells in the battery.
I guess that particular battery will be turned in for a core charge when I purchase a new one.

Keep the Peace
Harry