The Ford Barn

FrankWest · 08-15-2024, 02:25 PM

Where do you guys purchase these.

rockfla · 08-15-2024, 02:29 PM

Most auto parts stores will (Or can get) have them. With that said, IF they have one on the shelf, it's most likely been sitting for awhile. Get yourself a hydrometer and check the cells to make sure you are getting a good battery. You can also get a 6V Optima from several places, Amazon being the most convenient IF you are not concerned about staying "close" to original OR a wet cell battery. ALSO most Tractor Supply carries 6V batteries, Again take a hydrometer with you to check the cells to make sure you are getting a good battery.

kurt v · 08-15-2024, 03:02 PM

Just went through that, battery on the shelve was dated 6/23 makes it 15mo old. they ordered me a fresh one.

Zax40 · 08-15-2024, 03:59 PM

Tractor Supply or Fleet Farm

bobsmanstuff · 08-15-2024, 04:28 PM

O'Reilly

farmertom · 08-15-2024, 05:32 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

batteries plus,just put a new duracell from BPLUS couple months ago and spins starter faster than the last 6volt Interstate. Tom.

Flathead Fever · 08-15-2024, 07:55 PM

I would put a 6V Optima battery in it. Definitely not the cheapest but they seem to hold up the longest judging what people have said about them. Unfortunately, I haven't tested that theory out. I bought one over a year ago to put in a stock Model A but then I had a stroke. Now that you have reminded me, I think I'll go out there and stick slow charge on it and hope it's still good. Too many collector cars and a damaged brain to maintain them all with.

Because the GEL battery has a different charging rate as a regular batter you need to study up on the charging of Optima batteries, they are different than the standard battery. I bought a special charger just for doing these types of batteries. Very low amperage charge, kind of like a trickle charger. I've read they can also have problems charging if they sit for a very long time which I'm about to go charge up that one in the garage and hope it comes to life. If it's bad, it's not Optima's fault, its mine. It was new a 1 1/2 years ago and it's never been charged.

I'm back. I almost forget to charge the battery. I was feeding the chickens and looked over at the garage and remembered. Just in an hour I had almost forgotten what it was I was going to do and I'm only 63, not 93. Stupid Stroke!!!! Anyway, I was working on all kinds of stuff on that Model A Roadster at the time of my stroke. I had bought it years ago and parked it in the garage with all the other future projects. I bought the Optima battery for it and then I had a stroke. The battery was in it, hooked up and t's been that way over a year since I last started it, I figured it would be dead. Nope, it cranks away. Hooked up the charger and it says it needs a charge which is expected, so I'll leave the charger on it for a day. I might need to change the fuel in the car since it's been so long.

I was mechanic for the phone company for 30-years. We had a cabinet with at least 20 new batteries in it and about 400 vehicles in the yard to maintain. The company put out different stuff for a bid every couple of years. One year a company won the CA battery contract. Their batteries would only last a year, they were absolute junk. Imagine the cost of not only replacing the batteries but having trucks towed back to the shop. Not to mention the downtime of the drivers. The mechanics tried to argue with them, and it didn't matter. What mattered was they could manipulate the paperwork to show the savings they had made switching to these batteries, so they got their bonuses. That's how big business works. When I retired, they had been using Interstate batteries for as few years. Those batteries held up really well. It's worth paying for the best.

FrankWest · 08-16-2024, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flathead Fever

I would put a 6V Optima battery in it. Definitely not the cheapest but they seem to hold up the longest judging what people have said about them. Unfortunately, I haven't tested that theory out. I bought one over a year ago to put in a stock Model A but then I had a stroke. Now that you have reminded me, I think I'll go out there and stick slow charge on it and hope it's still good. Too many collector cars and a damaged brain to maintain them all with.

Because the GEL battery has a different charging rate as a regular batter you need to study up on the charging of Optima batteries, they are different than the standard battery. I bought a special charger just for doing these types of batteries. Very low amperage charge, kind of like a trickle charger. I've read they can also have problems charging if they sit for a very long time which I'm about to go charge up that one in the garage and hope it comes to life. If it's bad, it's not Optima's fault, its mine. It was new a 1 1/2 years ago and it's never been charged.

I'm back. I almost forget to charge the battery. I was feeding the chickens and looked over at the garage and remembered. Just in an hour I had almost forgotten what it was I was going to do and I'm only 63, not 93. Stupid Stroke!!!! Anyway, I was working on all kinds of stuff on that Model A Roadster at the time of my stroke. I had bought it years ago and parked it in the garage with all the other future projects. I bought the Optima battery for it and then I had a stroke. The battery was in it, hooked up and t's been that way over a year since I last started it, I figured it would be dead. Nope, it cranks away. Hooked up the charger and it says it needs a charge which is expected, so I'll leave the charger on it for a day. I might need to change the fuel in the car since it's been so long.

I was mechanic for the phone company for 30-years. We had a cabinet with at least 20 new batteries in it and about 400 vehicles in the yard to maintain. The company put out different stuff for a bid every couple of years. One year a company won the CA battery contract. Their batteries would only last a year, they were absolute junk. Imagine the cost of not only replacing the batteries but having trucks towed back to the shop. Not to mention the downtime of the drivers. The mechanics tried to argue with them, and it didn't matter. What mattered was they could manipulate the paperwork to show the savings they had made switching to these batteries, so they got their bonuses. That's how big business works. When I retired, they had been using Interstate batteries for as few years. Those batteries held up really well. It's worth paying for the best.

I greatly appreciate your post and can relate to it.
I have a 10 year old optima battery that worked well until recently.
My charger said fully charged but noticed a sluggish starter and attributed it to the new starter but now realized that it must be the battery. My horn made a disappointing low sound. I think my optima 10 year old finally called it quits. Time goes by so fast, even when you are not having fun.

1931 flamingo · 08-16-2024, 10:18 AM

NAPA.135$ with tax and AAA discount.

Paul in CT

slowforty · 08-16-2024, 10:47 AM

You can get Optima 6volt batteries at Amazon. If you get their credit card you can get almost a $100 Off

FrankWest · 08-16-2024, 12:28 PM

how can you test an old optima battery. My charger says fully charged but both delivered low horn sound. Can't start the car with either.. Starter is sluggish.
I CAN read the votlage output with a meter but what about delivering amperage? I have 2 suspect optima batteries one is 10 years old and the other is 6 years old.

ndnchf · 08-16-2024, 01:00 PM

Go to Harbor Freight and buy a battery load tester. I have one of these and it works great.

https://www.harborfreight.com/135-am...ter-58944.html

47topless · 08-16-2024, 01:01 PM

That's the big problem with Optima batteries. They are a bugger to re-charge.
I left the key on for three days and apparently ruined my 30 day old Optima battery. It will not recharge.
Going back to a "normal" brand battery. Like Interstate.

Lanny · 08-16-2024, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 47topless

That's the big problem with Optima batteries. They are a bugger to re-charge.
I left the key on for three days and apparently ruined my 30 day old Optima battery. It will not recharge.
Going back to a "normal" brand battery. Like Interstate.

================================================

Give Optima a call and explain what you did and hopefully they can
instruct you as to how to put a charge back into your Optima

Let us know what you find out...

'

FrankWest · 08-16-2024, 02:02 PM

The optima battery fits into my original battery tray, do these other batteries fit into the original size tray? Many ears agi I bought an origibal designed ford battery which was junk, but have since hollowed out the case so the optima batter will fit inside the original battery case. Not important, but I just don't want some odd shaped battery that will reqire that I install a NEW battery tray. These damn things are so convoluted a guy can go nuts, or perhaps I am already nuts. When I remove the optima battery from the case to switch it out for another also old optima battery I found a dead dried out mouse iin there. Maybe that was an indicator telling me the battery was dead.

FrankWest · 08-16-2024, 02:04 PM

I have been having a lot of engine problems beginnng with my starter which I had to replace and now trying to get the spark to just between points. Maybe this was a low battery problem?

Model51 · 08-16-2024, 02:25 PM

Anyone have a specific suggestion of a good Optima battery charger? A quick look on-line and the price point seems to be $100- $150. I didn't realize I needed a special charger, so that's good to know.

ndnchf · 08-16-2024, 02:57 PM

Something to think about regarding chargers for an Optima. They may recommend an ideal type of charger for best life and performance of the Optima. But when driving your car, the battery is subject to much more extreme charging conditions - especially with a 3-brush generator. With a 3-brush you can manually set the charge (current) rate (but how many people regularly change the charge rate?). But there is NO voltage regulation with a 3-brush generator and cutout. A 3-brush generator normally puts out 8 - 8.5 volts, not just 6.4 - 7.2 volts like you might think. This is normal. I rebuild a lot of generators and see this all the time on my generator test stand. While current may be set to say 5 or 6 amps, it is being delivered at 8 - 8.5 volts, sometimes even more depending on generator RPM. This tends to boil out electrolyte on normal batteries. That's why Ford manuals said to check electrolyte levels frequently.

2-brush generators use a rather mis-named voltage regulator. They do regulate voltage, which is a big improvement. Ideally not to exceed 7.2 volts. But they also contain a cutout and a current regulator. These 3 components work together to regulate both current and voltage and to disconnect the generator from the electrical system when the car is off. This is good for use with an Optima.

So what I'm getting at is running an Optima with a 3-brush generator works, but it will be hard on the battery. The trickle charger you choose may be ideal for an Optima, but then when the 3-brush generator car is driven, the benefits of the special charger are somewhat mitigated by the unsophisticated 3-brush charging system.

That being said, there is an option and this is what I've done with my own '35 Fordor with 6v Optima battery. I installed one of Mike Hill's Electronic Voltage Regulators (EVR) inside my '35's 3-brush generator. The EVR replaces the 3rd brush assembly entirely, essentially converting it to a fully regulated 2-brush generator. Mike designed these for model A generators, but with a little work they can work in flathead V8 3-brush generators also.

Steve

FrankWest · 08-16-2024, 03:44 PM

Years before I bought the optima red top battery I bought Ford logo batteries NiCad from Macs. These only lasted one year. I assume they were more in line with the standard nicad auto batteries. Mac's stopped selling them because of customer complaints. 200 dollars for a battery that lasts only one year.

47topless · 08-16-2024, 04:03 PM

I found out that deeply discharged Optima batteries, are read by a normal charger as "BAD" and the charger will not turn on to the charging mode. BUT, You can fool the charger by hooking up a good, "normal" battery and the discharged Optima in series. Then hook the "normal" battery up to the charger and turn it on. The charger will read the "normal" battery and will then give it a charge. Meanwhile, it will also be charging the Optima. Once the Optima is recharged enough to be read properly by the charger, you can eliminate the "normal"battery and just recharge the Optima.
I will give this a shot.

08-15-2024, 02:25 PM	#1
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	6 volt battery Where do you guys purchase these.

08-15-2024, 02:29 PM	#2
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 5,164	Re: 6 volt battery Most auto parts stores will (Or can get) have them. With that said, IF they have one on the shelf, it's most likely been sitting for awhile. Get yourself a hydrometer and check the cells to make sure you are getting a good battery. You can also get a 6V Optima from several places, Amazon being the most convenient IF you are not concerned about staying "close" to original OR a wet cell battery. ALSO most Tractor Supply carries 6V batteries, Again take a hydrometer with you to check the cells to make sure you are getting a good battery.

08-15-2024, 03:02 PM	#3
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 544	Re: 6 volt battery Just went through that, battery on the shelve was dated 6/23 makes it 15mo old. they ordered me a fresh one.

08-15-2024, 03:59 PM	#4
Zax40 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 494	Re: 6 volt battery Tractor Supply or Fleet Farm

08-15-2024, 04:28 PM	#5
bobsmanstuff Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Mora Minn Posts: 215	Re: 6 volt battery O'Reilly

08-15-2024, 05:32 PM	#6
farmertom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: iowa Posts: 334	Re: 6 volt battery Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) batteries plus,just put a new duracell from BPLUS couple months ago and spins starter faster than the last 6volt Interstate. Tom. Last edited by farmertom; 08-15-2024 at 05:36 PM. Reason: content

08-15-2024, 07:55 PM	#7
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,492	Re: 6 volt battery I would put a 6V Optima battery in it. Definitely not the cheapest but they seem to hold up the longest judging what people have said about them. Unfortunately, I haven't tested that theory out. I bought one over a year ago to put in a stock Model A but then I had a stroke. Now that you have reminded me, I think I'll go out there and stick slow charge on it and hope it's still good. Too many collector cars and a damaged brain to maintain them all with. Because the GEL battery has a different charging rate as a regular batter you need to study up on the charging of Optima batteries, they are different than the standard battery. I bought a special charger just for doing these types of batteries. Very low amperage charge, kind of like a trickle charger. I've read they can also have problems charging if they sit for a very long time which I'm about to go charge up that one in the garage and hope it comes to life. If it's bad, it's not Optima's fault, its mine. It was new a 1 1/2 years ago and it's never been charged. I'm back. I almost forget to charge the battery. I was feeding the chickens and looked over at the garage and remembered. Just in an hour I had almost forgotten what it was I was going to do and I'm only 63, not 93. Stupid Stroke!!!! Anyway, I was working on all kinds of stuff on that Model A Roadster at the time of my stroke. I had bought it years ago and parked it in the garage with all the other future projects. I bought the Optima battery for it and then I had a stroke. The battery was in it, hooked up and t's been that way over a year since I last started it, I figured it would be dead. Nope, it cranks away. Hooked up the charger and it says it needs a charge which is expected, so I'll leave the charger on it for a day. I might need to change the fuel in the car since it's been so long. I was mechanic for the phone company for 30-years. We had a cabinet with at least 20 new batteries in it and about 400 vehicles in the yard to maintain. The company put out different stuff for a bid every couple of years. One year a company won the CA battery contract. Their batteries would only last a year, they were absolute junk. Imagine the cost of not only replacing the batteries but having trucks towed back to the shop. Not to mention the downtime of the drivers. The mechanics tried to argue with them, and it didn't matter. What mattered was they could manipulate the paperwork to show the savings they had made switching to these batteries, so they got their bonuses. That's how big business works. When I retired, they had been using Interstate batteries for as few years. Those batteries held up really well. It's worth paying for the best. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 08-15-2024 at 09:31 PM.

08-16-2024, 10:18 AM	#9
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: 6 volt battery NAPA.135$ with tax and AAA discount. Paul in CT

08-16-2024, 10:47 AM	#10
slowforty BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tinley Park Ill Posts: 1,200	Re: 6 volt battery You can get Optima 6volt batteries at Amazon. If you get their credit card you can get almost a $100 Off

08-16-2024, 12:28 PM	#11
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	Re: 6 volt battery how can you test an old optima battery. My charger says fully charged but both delivered low horn sound. Can't start the car with either.. Starter is sluggish. I CAN read the votlage output with a meter but what about delivering amperage? I have 2 suspect optima batteries one is 10 years old and the other is 6 years old.

08-16-2024, 01:00 PM	#12
ndnchf Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 1,205	Re: 6 volt battery Go to Harbor Freight and buy a battery load tester. I have one of these and it works great. https://www.harborfreight.com/135-am...ter-58944.html

08-16-2024, 01:01 PM	#13
47topless Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 496	Re: 6 volt battery That's the big problem with Optima batteries. They are a bugger to re-charge. I left the key on for three days and apparently ruined my 30 day old Optima battery. It will not recharge. Going back to a "normal" brand battery. Like Interstate.

08-16-2024, 02:02 PM	#15
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	Re: 6 volt battery The optima battery fits into my original battery tray, do these other batteries fit into the original size tray? Many ears agi I bought an origibal designed ford battery which was junk, but have since hollowed out the case so the optima batter will fit inside the original battery case. Not important, but I just don't want some odd shaped battery that will reqire that I install a NEW battery tray. These damn things are so convoluted a guy can go nuts, or perhaps I am already nuts. When I remove the optima battery from the case to switch it out for another also old optima battery I found a dead dried out mouse iin there. Maybe that was an indicator telling me the battery was dead.

08-16-2024, 02:04 PM	#16
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	Re: 6 volt battery I have been having a lot of engine problems beginnng with my starter which I had to replace and now trying to get the spark to just between points. Maybe this was a low battery problem?

08-16-2024, 02:25 PM	#17
Model51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 934	Re: 6 volt battery Anyone have a specific suggestion of a good Optima battery charger? A quick look on-line and the price point seems to be $100- $150. I didn't realize I needed a special charger, so that's good to know. __________________ 1935 157" 1 1/2 ton stake truck undergoing full original restoration 1936 131 1/2" panel truck rescue preservation Author of the 1935-1936 Ford Model 51 V8 Truck book published by the Early Ford V8 Club of America

08-16-2024, 02:57 PM	#18
ndnchf Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 1,205	Re: 6 volt battery Something to think about regarding chargers for an Optima. They may recommend an ideal type of charger for best life and performance of the Optima. But when driving your car, the battery is subject to much more extreme charging conditions - especially with a 3-brush generator. With a 3-brush you can manually set the charge (current) rate (but how many people regularly change the charge rate?). But there is NO voltage regulation with a 3-brush generator and cutout. A 3-brush generator normally puts out 8 - 8.5 volts, not just 6.4 - 7.2 volts like you might think. This is normal. I rebuild a lot of generators and see this all the time on my generator test stand. While current may be set to say 5 or 6 amps, it is being delivered at 8 - 8.5 volts, sometimes even more depending on generator RPM. This tends to boil out electrolyte on normal batteries. That's why Ford manuals said to check electrolyte levels frequently. 2-brush generators use a rather mis-named voltage regulator. They do regulate voltage, which is a big improvement. Ideally not to exceed 7.2 volts. But they also contain a cutout and a current regulator. These 3 components work together to regulate both current and voltage and to disconnect the generator from the electrical system when the car is off. This is good for use with an Optima. So what I'm getting at is running an Optima with a 3-brush generator works, but it will be hard on the battery. The trickle charger you choose may be ideal for an Optima, but then when the 3-brush generator car is driven, the benefits of the special charger are somewhat mitigated by the unsophisticated 3-brush charging system. That being said, there is an option and this is what I've done with my own '35 Fordor with 6v Optima battery. I installed one of Mike Hill's Electronic Voltage Regulators (EVR) inside my '35's 3-brush generator. The EVR replaces the 3rd brush assembly entirely, essentially converting it to a fully regulated 2-brush generator. Mike designed these for model A generators, but with a little work they can work in flathead V8 3-brush generators also. Steve

08-16-2024, 03:44 PM	#19
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	Re: 6 volt battery Years before I bought the optima red top battery I bought Ford logo batteries NiCad from Macs. These only lasted one year. I assume they were more in line with the standard nicad auto batteries. Mac's stopped selling them because of customer complaints. 200 dollars for a battery that lasts only one year.

08-16-2024, 04:03 PM	#20
47topless Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 496	Re: 6 volt battery I found out that deeply discharged Optima batteries, are read by a normal charger as "BAD" and the charger will not turn on to the charging mode. BUT, You can fool the charger by hooking up a good, "normal" battery and the discharged Optima in series. Then hook the "normal" battery up to the charger and turn it on. The charger will read the "normal" battery and will then give it a charge. Meanwhile, it will also be charging the Optima. Once the Optima is recharged enough to be read properly by the charger, you can eliminate the "normal"battery and just recharge the Optima. I will give this a shot.