Pages: 1
Posted by: swampyjunior
I always prefer a fully charged one to a dead one myself......
Sorry, couldn't resist V2rider. I purchased my last battery for my 4-wheeler from wal-mart. I took the measurements off my old battery (length, width, height) and noted the postition and type of battery terminals and went and looked at the batteries. I was going to get a sealed personal watercraft battery but I found a a different battery for a riding lawn mower that had more CCA. Plus the battery was $22. (OK, $22.98) The stock batteries are almost $100 from the dealer!
New battery has held up extremely well here this winter. My machines are stored outside and they have never had difficulties starting. They even sat for a almost a week in 20 below and they both fired right up. I use one of those battery tenders on my machines though. It keeps the batteries at full charge by running a trickle charge top them. (I think it is .2amps or something) It senses the charge in the battery and turn off at full charge.
I purched one from Wal-mart and the other tender from Cabelas. I think it comes inreal handy and extends the life of the battery.
SJ
Posted by: swampyjunior
The newer ATV's all run on a 12volt system so a 12V car battery would worka s well as long as you can find some place to strap it down
When pondering this more I came up with a additional question, that I cannot answer:
If your battery is dead, and your pull start rope broke can you still start your 4 wheeler by push starting it? I am pretty sure the answer is no for an automatic but what about a manual ATV?
I know you can do this for a clutched motorcycle but an ATV?
Not that any one of us would ever have his battery go dead AND have the pull rope break.
SJ
Posted by: swampyjunior
HR,
Just gave it a try yesterday and I could get it to turn over but could not get it to start of fire. Must have something to do with electrical stuff.
Also, in case any body else has done this, I would not advise charging one of these small ATV batteries with anything more than a tricke charge. We litterally blew up a battery a while back on a friends machine. He tried charding the battery with either a 10amp or 50 amp charge ,don't remember which, next thing I know POP and I was helping him to the garden hose to flush his face with water to get the acid off it.
Since I hard wired those battery tenders in I have not had any trouble with my batteries. I am looking at those solar cells that will do the same thing in an RV catalog and from Cabelas. Might try those for when I ride out in the sticks.
SJ
Posted by: Bear4570
Some of the sport quads have a hand clutch and can be push started, but as far as I know all the utes and the majority of the sporties have the automactic clutch, that doesn't work unless the motor is running. My owners manual only lists the "recoil starter" for emergency starting. No where is mantioned a push start.
Posted by: Catterman
Good point about the battery tender SJ, what I do is if I am not using one of my machines (ATV, garden tractor, car, etc.) for an extended period of time I put the trickle charger on it once a month. It helps, especially with the outragious cost of batterys
Posted by: JimJa
I thought I was pretty smart about batteries since my Dad sold them and I worked around them most of my formative years. Then I bought a NEV (neighborhood electrical vehicle) and began looking into batteries and prolonging their lives and found I didn't know squat. If you really want to know about all the various types (full float, AGM, maintenance-free, etc) Google "deep cycle battery" and you'll find a wealth of information that will dispel old wives tails and give you a very good knowledge base. A couple of things to remember. You should not - ever - run a battery to discharge before recharging (the wives tale of - you should discharge the battery completely once a month and then recharge it to maintain long life). Batteries are measured at a standard temperature for their number of cycles at a 50% DOD (Depth of discharge). So a battery that costs more but has a larger number of cycles may be a better buy than a cheaper battery with fewer cycles. Optima falls into this cheaper, fewer cycles category. Always recharge immediately after use (your quad will do this when you ride, but if you always use a trickle charger, charge right away after use - every time). Those trickle chargers from Del-Trans (sold at Cabela's as someone mentioned) are EXCELLENT and will keep a battery alive for a very, very long time (the small, motorcycle one is .750 amp, the larger one is 1.25 amp). True story - I kept a battery working for 16 years using one of the Del-Trans 1.25 amp chargers (it got signifiantly discharged and died immediately). An AGM battery cannot recover from a significant discharge if left discharged (like a quad in storage for the winter). Oh, BTW, if the battery is DEAD, you cannot start and run your machine by pushing or pull starting. This is because, if dead, there is NO (as in NONE) current between the positive and negative terminals so the machine cannot run. It's like a short. Anything above dead (however slight) and that is not true. Installing a low, or partially charged battery is not good for your charging system. This is because the charging system has to work like crazy to bring the battery up to charge. Charge it completely first. Don't believe that - lay your hand on your car/truck's alternator. If you've got a new, fully-charged battery, the alternator will only be warm. If you've installed a low charged battery the alternator will be too hot to touch. How do you suppose that will affect the life of your alternator if repeated often enough?
Posted by: HR
Well i used to have an old honda 300 with the auto clutch, but manual tranny and you cna push/pull start them. what you have to do is shift throught first and hold the shifter up like your about to drop second get'er rollin and let the lever drop she'll turn over and start. i have do do this ALOT on the ranch.
even my 05 crf 50 with the 3 speed tranny will do it.
HR
Posted by: squeege
these are the best batteries IMO
link
I have installed one on a generator that was being abused in power output and it has put my worries to rest.
Posted by: squeege
they have a phone # listed.............you really only need a few dimensions and maybe the code off the side of your battery
It says right on the site "Heavy duty, high performance drycell batteries for work or for fun in your Dune Buggy, Sand Rail, ATV, or Jeep."
link
Posted by: v2rider
Just want some opinions, and experience on what batteries to look at or stay away from. I want to get a battery with more CCA, as it seems to be pretty cold around here latley
Posted by: v2rider
I cant find a battery for any Arctic Cat 650 on that link squeege. But they are good batteries!
