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Re: tractor batteries

To: autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: tractor batteries
From: GSMnow@aol.com
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 13:02:37 EST
In a message dated 2/9/02 4:05:13 AM Central Standard Time, 
owner-ax-digest@autox.team.net writes:

<< I'm right in the process of doing the same thing...just make sure you run 2
 gauge cable back to the battery. Anything less is too small. Are you going
 to run it all the way to the trunk area or right behind the front passenger
 seat. I think I'm going to end up running mine to the trunk area. Not sure
 yet though. Anyways, Sears makes a DieHard Gold for $39.99 with 340CCA.
 Thats about the best I found. Their book listed it at 19 lbs but think it
 might actually be lighter..feels like it. Other than that its pretty
 straight forward...Oh, and they are 12V. >>

I ran the "DieHard GOLD" lawn tractor battery a few years back. Starting the 
car was no problem at all, rvrn in serious cold. It actually cranked fast 
with no hesitation. I have the battery in the trunk and run a #3 wire about 6 
feet from battery directly to the starter. The engine was a 9 to 1 compresion 
2.4L, but with a geared reduction starter. I even ran my cooling fabs for 
good chunks of time with the engine off, they pull about 22 amps. The only 
problem turned out to be batery life, and it seems to be caused by the 
charging system. Car alternators are voltage regulated, and the current limit 
is 50-60-100 whatever amps. Once the battery is fully charged up, there does 
not seem to be a problem, but once you do discharge it a bit, like right 
after every start, the alternator tries to push 13.8 or 14.2 volts to the 
battery terminals, and the current could be 20 or more amps. The small plates 
in the lawn tractor battery just can't take it, and it failed in less than a 
race season. 

My car is rear drive, and a bit left heavy, so I am back to running a full 
size car battery in the right rear corner to help balance out the car. If you 
need weight anyways, migth as well have it help matters.

Gary M.

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