The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6 volt batttery recommendations

need to get a new 6 volt battery, replacing an Optima that did not seeem to last very long, recommencations ???thanks

Try Tractor Supply or a tractor dealer. Dont skimp on quality on this one!

Deka battery.
Made in USA.
Great battery.
I have had very good luck with them. In trucks, tractor, ect.
Was 24 month Warranty , first 6 months Free then pro-rated.
6 volt battery for my 1950 3100 is a 1-HD fyi.
Not sure on your battery size. This sits in original battery box of the truck under the floor.

This 6V Optima battery has worked for me for 7+ years.

I use heavy battery cables and grounds straps/cables : 2/0

Costco has the second best warranty
48 months free replacement not pro-rated
And they refund you the core at the same time
So you walk out with a replacement new battery and about $20 in your pocket
Assuming you even need the warranty (my bro let the battery run down and freeze and it popped open)
But᠁ you need to keep the receipt


Best warranty is Interstate
Every battery has a serial number they track
They know if it’s covered or not
No receipts needed, they don’t care how many times it may have switched hands
I have used their system to get coverage on junk yard batteries that were still in warranty period.

If you don't use your truck very often (or even if you do), consider keeping it connected to a battery maintainer like Battery Tender. It keeps the voltage from dropping below a certain level so that it won't run down and possibly sulfate.

My mom's neighbor has had the same battery in his 1957 T-Bird since 1993 connected to a tender. Battery is always fully charged and never fails to start.

I've been told DEKA batteries are worth considering. A couple of friends have told me their Optima batteries didn't work out as they had hoped. Those are made in Mexico these days...maybe they always have been. Once upon a time I was told they were made in the USA but not today. I bought a 12v battery at Wal-Mart that cost me about $85 and it is working fine (EverStart or something like that), but honestly speaking I don't expect miracles with any of today's batteries so I'm usually not disappointed.

Good luck.

Confucious say... "Ye who expects little shall not be disappointed."

Jethro Bodine say... "Since naught x naught = naught, get you a battery tender."

Thinking about your question, I contacted my battery distributor today regarding the availability of an 8-volt like we used to use in 6 volt vehicles and tractors. As far as Continental goes, they are out. He can get the usual 6 volt battery in either the standard continental or optima, but the only 8 volt ones he has access to are golf cart deep cycle types. For what its worth, the optima batteries that we sell from continental have the letters CBC ( continental battery company) before the part number. Other than that they look like any other 6 volt Optima battery. Personally the Optimas that we sell I don t much care for. We tried several times to use the 6 volt Optimas in tractors, and they just don t hold up in our instances.

There really aren t that many battery manufacturers out there. Most brands are made in one of a couple of places to a certain specification, and a sticker is shoved on it. Deka makes most of the Continental batteries that we personally sell, but it still depends upon the spec, as it s hit and miss. Our group 24cs's are junk, our xd-31's are the best by far marine battery that I ve ever used. Both make by Deka, both with Continental labels.

So I guess the point is, I would use whatever has the best warranty, that a local business keeps in stock. There s nothing worse than having to wait a week for a replacement warranty battery to arrive.

While we are talking about it, date codes are important. My delivery guy brought 12 group 65cs's this morning that i will be sending back next week. The little round sticker on the side of a lot of batteries gives the date. In this case, they where c22. That means they have been on a shelf somewhere since March of last year. I went into an Oreilly a couple of months ago and happened to notice that their particular 6 volt batteries had been on the shelf for two years, as they where marked d21.

Last point I ll make. Sometimes you ll see a battery with a round sticker showing the date code, and you ll notice another sticker on top of it. That means that at some point they tested a battery that has been on a shelf and is over the six month rotation period, and it tested ok, so they just stuck a new build date sticker over the old one. Thats not a practice that we would ever use at my place of work, but it very much happens elsewhere. For a bit last year the vendors where leaving off the date codes, and we where told to just sell the batteries that tested ok regardless of how long they ve been on a shelf. Yeah, Tonto no go to town. I had my helper engrave every one of those when they came in.

Don't use an 8v battery in a 6v truck.

And then there is that. The short version is cranking the regulator up for an 8 volt battery, some of your gauges may not care for it, as well as any lamps and or points/coils. Marginal wiring will not care for it. I have ran them for years when I could find them, especially with work trucks in cold weather, and never had an issue, but It s possible that others may have had bad personal experiences with it. I ve done a lot of jinky stuff though. I ve ran scores of 6 volt starters on 12 volts and got away with it. One of the more stupid/dangerous things was drilling into the the center of a buss bar in 12 volt batteries to get 6 volts for accessories. My battery vender always shook his head at that one. But, it worked and didn t require a resistor. At least I was ordering the batteries without the electrolyte already in them. lol

6 volt regulators don't like 8 volt batteries. Does not work.

About a year ago Consumer Union tested batteries and bang for buck was the Walmart battery.

I run diehard in my my 37 for years and still doing well.

I've also noticed lots of battery warranties are for a specific time period for free replacement with no prorating.

gmcreo Those little date stickers help WM get a lot of batteries gone off of their shelves,no matter how long they've been there. I've learned to use a simple 10 amp charger,if they don't come right on up REJECT EM !! Best source has been junk-yard take-outs and smaller car batteries are often just right for AD trucks drop right in the floor hole !! Would be 12 volt of course.

I'm joining into this coversation. I was looking for a 6v battery for my 1953 6400 with a 235 engine. Not sure what size battery & cold cranking amps are needed. Just trying to get this truck movable. I also need to install a negative battery terminal. My truck had neither a battery or the neg terminal when I bought it. I see Shaffer's 1950 says his 3100 uses a 1-HD. Would this be the same for my 53? I can't seem to find the specs anywhere.

I'd use a 00 size cable, connected straight between the battery negative post and the stud that holds the starter to the bellhousing. Clean the connecting point at the starter stud well before installing the cable.

Thanks for the size. THat location is also where the engine to frame grounding strap is located if my memory serves me right. Good recommendation.

Group 1 6 volt battery is what these old trucks used.

George

Costco has the second best warranty
48 months free replacement not pro-rated
And they refund you the core at the same time
So you walk out with a replacement new battery and about $20 in your pocket
Assuming you even need the warranty (my bro let the battery run down and freeze and it popped open)
But᠁ you need to keep the receipt

When you buy the first battery you have a core or you pay $20. When you take it back for replacement, you get a new battery. You don't walk out with $20 in your pocket.

My brother walked out with a new battery and a crisp $20
I was there
Maybe they made a mistake
-s

Maybe the battery price went down. Their core charge in Canada is $10. USA $15

Their batteries in the USA are Interstate.

This would be good if 1) I had a Costco near me, closest one is 45 miles away, & 2) if I had a Costco account. I did find a local autoparts store with one in stock for $102 + $27 core. with a 1 year warranty

I need a new battery also, the one in my truck is over 32 years old, as that was the last time I had driven it before parking 32 years. Pulled the old one out and it had blemished branded on it. Must have gone cheap back then, but it has lasted more than 32 years. It was dry as a bone.
Went to Tractor Supply this morning, they only had 1 6V battery that was close to Group 1 size. I forgot to get my old battery out of the shop and measure it. TS battery is
8.72" High, 9.02 Length, 6.72 Wide. Cost is $139 with 1 year garrantee. CCA are 640 and CA are 800. It is a Traveler battery made by Interstate for Tractor Supply