optima battery prices............

[ronn]

so I just sold my rpu and with it went my 2013 optima 6 volt battery-still going strong.


I need to replace it, but see them for over 300. on the bay and amazon is around 225. more then I want to pay.


so back to pricing, where can I get a half decent 6 volt battery wo breaking the bank?
I am in NJ PA NY and DE areas.......so please keep that in mind. A place in the midwest wont help, unless they ship.
would love to have another optima or two, but not paying over 200.00


did see some for around 100. at tractor supply- are they any good?

[Utopia Texas]

Tractor supply is fine but look at the production date stickers on the side and pick a fresh one at the back of the row.

[Patrick L.]

Yep. Thats what I get whenever I need one. Last one was about 10 years ago.

[wmarcy528]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT7...pressionRank=1

Also, the Optima batttery is only a few dollars more at $196.72.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ModelAMike1930]

Check Pep Boys thats where I got my optima battery. It was on sale at the time. And yes it was a 6 volt battery.

[rotorwrench]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The best way to get a wet cell battery is in a dry charge state. They have to be serviced with electrolyte and top charged but at least they will last a full life. A battery that has already been serviced needs to be used immediately. Unfortunately, a lot of sources for wet cell batteries service them and then let them set on the shelf for too long.

[ronn]

was just reading that the optima batteries on amazon are factory refurbished...........


not so good!

[Jeff/Illinois]

Scotty Kilmer the YouTube mechanic had a video on this in 2019 about Optima batteries and he said their quality now is garbage, since they sent production to Mexico, and in his opinion today they aren't worth it. They are junk.

Ten years ago definitely, but not now.

Here's a link to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo5iJ2rH7o

You do what you want. My brother-in-law bought one two years ago for his Dodge Super Bee and it is shot now , and they won't do anything about it. They don't stand behind them anymore.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Jim Cannon put me on to something that has proven to be factual. Most any good quality 6v lead-acid battery will last just as long as the older Optima would providing they are kept on a Battery Tender that is equipped with a Desulfator when not in use. Electrolyte levels need to be monitored but that is part of regular maintenance.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Jim Cannon put me on to something that has proven to be factual. Most any good quality 6v lead-acid battery will last just as long as the older Optima would providing they are kept on a Battery Tender that is equipped with a Desulfator when not in use. Electrolyte levels need to be monitored but that is part of regular maintenance.

This is where I'm at as well, no more Optimas for me.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by ronn

was just reading that the optima batteries on amazon are factory refurbished...........


not so good!

Was that from a reliable source?

[ronn]

the source was one of the reviews, who had one go bad in 3 months. he then called the dealer and was told it was a refurbished one and Amazon also confirmed that.


so there you go. optima is out.


thanks for that info Brent. now where do you buy a "desulficator" battery tender of sorts? lol

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by ronn

now where do you buy a "desulficator" battery tender of sorts? lol

AutoZone has these at some stores. Good basic tender/desulfator.
https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-a...ger/606157_0_0

[Gold Digger]

Looks like some company would start making the dry cell type batteries besides Optima. I've had some bad Optima's also. I like the dry type because of no corrosion and can be turned over and still want leak and works fine that way. I try and not ever turn one over. Is there some reason another company don't make these? Is there some kind of patent rights still on them?

[GPierce]

Those are not dry cell batteries as such, they are AGM (absorbed glass mat). They are lead acid batteries but sealed. I use them in my airplane. They typically are good for eight years.
Goggle AGM 6 volt or 12 volt battery. Which ever one you need.
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/56...YaAjdEEALw_wcB

Here is what use in my airplane. https://www.batterymart.com/p-hawker...0aArl9EALw_wcB

Won’t fit your battery box? Just lay it on its side. In a Piper Super Cub they just attach to the plywood floor laying on its side.

[ronn]

I just went out and bought a tractor supply battery. price was ok at 100. but only has a 1 yr guarantee. I am expecting it will prob last just one yr.......


saw pep boys has optimas for 187. but who knows what they are and pep boys by me never has anything in stock.


not that many choices out there. Walmart used to carry a 6 volt. dont see that anymore.

[Oldgearz]

You all are sure tough on Optima! I have a redtop that came with the car and it is a great battery. I just checked on Summit Racing and I believe they are $224 plus freight. I checked the ratings (119) and the overall rating 4.75 (not shabby) and there were only 3 ratings of the 119 below 4 stars. This doesn't square with what I just read here. Just another view with some actual supporting data.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by ronn

I just went out and bought a tractor supply battery. price was ok at 100. but only has a 1 yr guarantee. I am expecting it will prob last just one yr.......
.

Ronn we have a Tractor Supply near us and I find their prices are bit on the high side.

We also have Farm King and Farm and Fleet and they stock all sorts of 6V batteries for all the older farm equipment still running around here. I bought one new at Farm King about two years ago for 49 bucks for the Roadster. They had been $39 and just went up.

The battery I was replacing was a Farm King 6V battery. It was about 8 years old. Using Tom Wesenberg's EVR and popping a Battery Tender on it once a month in the off season makes a world of difference. That battery still worked fine, I just thought I'd pop a new one in. The guy at Farm King did a load test on it (why I don't know) and he said 'This battery is fine, you sure you want a new one?' I said yes. He told me 'OK. I'm taking this one home for Dad to use'!!

I have a de-sulfator for a 12V Mustang we have and it works fine, never found one for a 6V yet I guess I never looked hard enough. The present set up works so well!

[eagle]

Originally Posted by ronn

I just went out and bought a tractor supply battery. price was ok at 100. but only has a 1 yr guarantee. I am expecting it will prob last just one yr.......


saw pep boys has optimas for 187. but who knows what they are and pep boys by me never has anything in stock.


not that many choices out there. Walmart used to carry a 6 volt. dont see that anymore.

Prices for tractor batteries have went up substantially. The last one I bought was $39.99 a few years ago, now they are $64.99. If you take care of your battery it will last for 10+ years unless it is defective. https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/far...t=6v%20battery

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Jim Cannon put me on to something that has proven to be factual. Most any good quality 6v lead-acid battery will last just as long as the older Optima would providing they are kept on a Battery Tender that is equipped with a Desulfator when not in use. Electrolyte levels need to be monitored but that is part of regular maintenance.

Please tell me more about these Desulphators. Are they connected to the mains power supply? We are 220-240 volts so if they are, I won't be able to buy one from over there.
Currently, I keep mine topped up with a solar powered tender but I have a couple of batteries that are showing signs of sulphation. Will one of these jiggers reverse existing sulphation?
I'm all ears!

[Brubaker]

I just purchased an Interstate 6-volt (1-VHD) for $153.95. I've always had good luck with the brand. I considered an Optima at that point, but couldn't pull the trigger on another (~)$80.

[Crankster]

Keep in mind every battery charger has a "DeSulfator function". That's what they do!

A battery is sort of a self contained chemical reaction, as the battery is discharged the electrolyte gradually reverts to essentially plain H2O. This is why measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte will indicate the true state of charge.

This plates become coated with a soft sulfate paste as it is discharged, and ordinarily the charging process reverses this easily, over and over. The problem arises when a battery is in a chronically undercharged condition, as most are, and the light sulfation turns to hard crystals that are extremely resistant to charging aka "permanent sulfation". The battery loses its CCA performance or current capacity. This permanent sulfation is said to occur starting at about an 80% charge, in a matter of days or weeks.

The way I heard it described, trying to re-charge a permanently sulfated starting battery is sort of like trying to wash your hands wearing rubber gloves. Now, there are those special chargers, and techniques, that can be employed and are claimed to reverse permanent sulfation and bring a battery back to full performance but this is definitely one of those "prevention is better than the cure" situations. If a battery is maintained in the first place as on a tender or float charger the special bespoke boutique chargers aren't necessary.

[Mister Moose]

There are limits to how much sulfation can be reversed. It's not a good place to be. Also, sulfate crystals will slough off and drop to the bottom of the battery case. When the layer of sulfate is deep enough to touch the plates, the cell shorts and you are done.

It's outrageous what they get for 6 volt batteries. Must be the low volume that pumps up the unit price.

[ronn]

It's outrageous what they get for 6 volt batteries. Must be the low volume that pumps up the unit price.





I think you are spot on with that. some guys here mentioned rural king a couple of yrs back and were paying around 50. but that franchise is nowhere near here and I doubt they are going for that now.

[ronn]

Tractor supply is fine but look at the production date stickers on the side and pick a fresh one at the back of the row.



inventory is low- one batt to choose from.........lol 7/21 date


regarding farm fleet- Ill take 3, but am nowhere near them so there is no 49. battery here in the east.

[ronn]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

so found a rural king in Hanover PA- 49. for a battery. half the price of Tractor supply and in Hanover PA. I will be headed to Carlisle this afternoon, so will pu a couple of them while there. Looks to be a better batt then TS also.



thanks for all the feedback.

[Gold Digger]

A word about the sulfate building up in the bottom of batteries is a problem. Back in the 70's and 80's I owned a gravel plant and had 5 trucks on the road and a lot of Cat equipment all with big batteries. Once a year we went through all of them and dumped the acid and washed all the junk out of them and refilled with new acid. After I started this practice I had gone 8 years with out replacing a single battery. Don't know how much longer they lasted after I sold out. When the sulfate builds up in the bottom deep enough it shorts out the plates and its all over. You couldn't believe all the black that I washed out of them every year.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by ronn

so found a rural king in Hanover PA- 49. for a battery. half the price of Tractor supply and in Hanover PA. I will be headed to Carlisle this afternoon, so will pu a couple of them while there. Looks to be a better batt then TS also.



thanks for all the feedback.

You'll be happy with it, I've had great luck with the 49 dollar a pop (now) batteries from Farm King or Farm and Fleet.

I can't believe what guys are paying for 6V batteries $155 plus tax
You can buy THREE 6V batteries at Farm King for that and they are just as good or better.

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by Oldgearz

You all are sure tough on Optima! I have a redtop that came with the car and it is a great battery. I just checked on Summit Racing and I believe they are $224 plus freight. I checked the ratings (119) and the overall rating 4.75 (not shabby) and there were only 3 ratings of the 119 below 4 stars. This doesn't square with what I just read here. Just another view with some actual supporting data.

What was said that was incorrect or erroneous ?

[ronn]

so I did get my batteries at Rural King. great deal at 49. a pop and was headed to the car show anyway.

one thing Ive noticed on all reviews is, look at when the reviews were written. sometimes
things change down the road and the reviews havent kept up with the product.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by ronn

so I did get my batteries at Rural King. great deal at 49. a pop and was headed to the car show anyway.

one thing Ive noticed on all reviews is, look at when the reviews were written. sometimes
things change down the road and the reviews havent kept up with the product.

ronn... glad to hear that worked out for you. That battery will work fine and at a fraction of the price of many others. And yes, things change on quality seems like almost everything gets worse once they start picking products apart to make a few extra pennies

I doubt if Tom Wesenberg is anywhere near up to speed on making anymore EVR's (Electronic Voltage Regulators) after his tragic fire this summer, but if you ever get the chance to buy one, I can't talk them up enough. We have two one on the Roadster and one on the '36 PU, running the original generators, 6V POS ground as original. It is like having an alternator. The ammeter will show a 2-3 amp charge with the lights off cruising down the road, pop the headlights on and the ammeter dips below '0' for a split second and then jumps right back to a 2-3 amp charge--- driving at night with the headlights on. I never had THAT on a Model A Ford before. And the beauty of it all is, ever since we've been running them my 49 dollar Farm King batteries last for YEARS. That pays for the cost of the EVR real fast, plus they aren't that expensive to begin with.

You can either run a stock Model A cutout that is in good working order with the correct air gap, OR you can run a diode cutout the parts suppliers sell today, it's super simple to modify Tom's EVR if you do that. Either way it works great!!

[Ayers1]

I just went to batteries plus and got a duralast for $90 for my dad's A.

[Harpkatt]

Agways typically sell 6V tractor batteries as well

[ronn]

good info on the evr's Jeff. Never was aware of them..........

[alexiskai]

I got a '32 generator with EVR and original cutout from Tom just before the fire, and I'm just going to move it from car to car for the rest of my life, it's that good.

[johnneilson]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

I got a '32 generator with EVR and original cutout from Tom just before the fire, and I'm just going to move it from car to car for the rest of my life, it's that good.

And Hopefully Tom will be able to produce more in the future.

John