Car battery to start a Ford 4000 tractor

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

I am needing a new battery but want to avoid spending a lot replacing the 180ah truck size battery already in place as the tractor is not used much. The best value I can find searching is a Yuasa silver 5000 size 019 from Halfords priced at 139.99 Euro which works out at £100 and is £20 less than Halfords UK are charging probably due to the recent strong pound, the idea is that I can use this also in the car. Anyone know if this is a bad idea or will the battery get knackered double quick. The spec for the starter motor states that it takes 325 amps so the Yuasa battery having a 900amp cca should be ok ? Have been using a Clarke 400 amp assisted start charger/booster but this used with a failing battery will not turn the starter motor fast enough so I am also thinking that the claims made by Clarke of 400amps may be exaggerated although it starts cars and vans easily even with a completely flat battery.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I would say it will be OK, the 019 size battery is the same size as my 3ltr diesel Touareg.

 

[ford34/2]

try this company, had batteries off them cheapest on net, next day delivery, some quality stuff at competitive prices.
I would recomend them based on previous purchases. Also excellent to speak to being very knowledgable etc.
Stan
http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/


Euro car parts will be cheaper than Halfords, if you have a branch nearby

 

[Topleymike]

If your tractor starts well it will probably be ok, but if it takes a lot of turning over before it starts you wil want the capacity of a bigger battery especially when it gets cold. Most modern diesel engines start first turn so they do not need that big a battery.

 

[normspanners]

The truck/ind batteries are usually cheaper, in actual fact than 'big' car batteries because of the amount sold, check with eurocar parts etc
I allways used to try and shoehorn truck batteries in my vehicles for that reason

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Google "Bristol Batteries" They good a good range of batteries suitable for non frequent use.

 

[penfold]

Is there any life left in the existing battery? If there is a trickle charger/conditioner would keep you going for a while and be a lot cheaper than a new battery.

 

[PTvor]

Have you tried the old dodges like a quarter teaspoon of Epsom salts in each cell and charge the battery? I've found they work a bit and can get you out of a hole - sometimes. Then there are new-fangled battery renovator/chargers.

I'd have thought swapping the battery between a car and a tractor was a right pain.

If you buy a new battery for the tractor, if possible keep it on a float charger when the tractor isn't in use. They don't cost much. Lead acid batteries degrade when they are not fully charged and degrade very fast if they are totally flat. Also, they self discharge. The float charger just balances the self discharge.

 

[cianh91]

we usually go to a scrap yard find a new enough van and get a battery from them for the tractors iveco or merc type

 

[beebee]

you may find a cheaper alternative here ?
https://www.tayna.co.uk/019-Car-Batteries-G11.html

 

[Bill Edwards]

Do you use the tractor in winter?
If you do, forget the idea of a small battery as it'll be so much harder to crank when cold. As a good rule, tractor batteries should be the most powerful that'll physically fit - but with that said, I have used car batteries on good starters and they manage when it isn't freezing cold. It's not ideal of course.

 

[brightspark]

buy a cheapo and use jump leads if its going to only get used minimum in winter thats all i do on mobile compressor .double the output 2 battries in parallel

 

[awemawson]

I have a 4000 and a 4600 (which is basically the same)

Recently bought a Fluke DC clamp meter and to try out the high amps scale put it round the starter lead of both of them. They both peaked at 525 amps on a warmish day so no doubt much higher in the winter

 

[Gareth J]

I dunno but I think you might be able to get a cheaper battery somewhere. Had to replace the battery on a new Holland tm140 the other day and it was about £100. This thing is massive, needs two people to lift it would be 1/2 as big again as a '4000 one I recon.

This was from a NH dealer too.

You might even find a slightly bigger, more common one will be cheaper than yours if it's an odd size

 

[AndyStobbs]

Hope you never get fuel starvation issues on your 4000, you'll regret a small battery if you ever have to bleed the fuel through on it.

I regularly see vans pulling 600+ amps on startup.

 

[normspanners]

Just a couple of 643's

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW...863?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c9c171e87

£59.99

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-90AH-...624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19e683c880

£75

 

[Robotstar5]

try this company, had batteries off them cheapest on net, next day delivery, some quality stuff at competitive prices.
I would recomend them based on previous purchases. Also excellent to speak to being very knowledgable etc.
Stan
http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/

I've used them a few times too, good service & prices.

 

[awemawson]

My 4000 and 4600 tractors both have Yuasa 623HD cargo batteries from these people:

http://www.batterymasters.co.uk/Pro...ment-and-passenger-service-vehicles_2526.aspx

They were best price but failed to meet their delivery promises both time - they turned up eventually