3-5 years life on any battery. Cranking Power is substantially reduced as the temperature goes down. This explains why every battery seems to fail only during low temps. Bottom line: You got your money's worth after 4 years. Those crappy small bateries bareley last three years. Keep in mind also that your battery was not made from NEW LEAD, its all recycled crap now. They melt old batteries and make new ones (at at least they sell them as new.) Get a fresh new battery and use the Battery Tender on it when its not used long term.

My Conquest battery last about 4 years before it went this winter.

Enjoy the journey.
eal51 in western CT

My 03 GT225 still has the original John Deere Battery. I keep it on a maintainer in the winter, and it doesn't get much colder than 20 degrees in eastern NC. You can get a good maintainer for $20 and it will probably double the life of your battery.

Sounds like mine was due, replacement from the dealer cost me $58. I may have been able to get one for less on line but my dealer is a great guy who has helped me out and I would hate to see him go bust.

For riding mowers, 3 years is the longest battery life I have experienced. My last battery was made in China, cost as much as any other, and thus far has been as good. I have a 1998 pickup truck purchased new that still has the original battery.

Well marineguy is correct... I have the Deltran jr maintainer (float charger) on my LT battery. I leave it on all the time when not using the LT. Deltran is one of the better maintainers (check Deltran website for info). I think I got mine new on ebay for less than most places. Be sure to get a float charger not a trickle charger as they are different.

My JD LT155 factory battery lasted 5 seasons, and I thought that was pretty darn good....the Lowes replacement is going on it's 3rd season and seems good so far........

Batteries are like vcr's three major U.S. manufacturers, JCI who makes the Dears Sie Hard, Ac Delco, etc, Interstate, and Eastern Penn who makes Deka, Car Quest, and Ever Start from Wally in the Northeast only. Yuasa batteries are outstanding if you can find one. EPA regulations have lowered the specific gravity to 12.6 or 12.7 when years ago it was 13.1. Deep cycling is the biggest contributor to a slow death, proper storage and maintenance is the key to a long battery life.

Note: Every time you use the electric starter to start the engine, in anything that uses a storage battery to start it, you will eventually have to replace it, depending on how often you use the starter.
Here's why: The lead (pronounce "led") is in the grids of the battery from the factory. Each time there is a heavy current draw, the lead grids shed a bit of lead, until it fills up the bottom of the battery, and eventually shorts out the grids, resulting in a dead battery! The bottom of the case has little "risers" that the grids set upon, and when the shedded lead fills them and touches the grids--bingo--time to buy a new one.
I watched a treatise on TV last week about what is done with old batteries! Yes, they use old lead, but it is melted down to liquid form and skimmed and poured into ingots, that are then sent to the battery mfgrs, and remelted into new grids, with full lead content. The old cases can and are used again, sometimes.
Now, the height of the grids, re. size, is what makes a good battery, or an even better one, because the height allows for longer life. And, those el-cheapo batteries are cheaper because of what you can't see, not because of the shiny label and case.
Talking about re-using the lead, we'd be in bad shape, if lead wasn't a recyclable product. Melting it down and skimming the stuff that floats to the top, saves tons of metal that would be thrown away! And, we'd need a large fleet of ships to bring the stuff lead is made from, just to keep the rolling stock, the phone companies, and all of the businesses that use recycled lead! Not to mention the power that would have to be used to do that.
So, it all boils down to how many times you use the starter on your tractor! If you turn off the engine everytime you get off of it to pick up some trash out of the yard, it isn't going to last as long as the battery that doesn't have to start the engine again!
Note: I am not a battery expert, just another guy who has found that ya might as well spend a little more, to get the better battery!
by: Rusty Jones

bogey123 said, "The machine started up fine a week ago and now the battery isn't strong enough to turn the machine over." Well, I have seen this exact same thing occur with various kinds of machines that get occasional use followed by periods of inactive storage. A battery "expert" from Deka explained it to me (because I asked why the battery goes bad overnight after being taken out of storage and returned to duty.) He said that while the battery is just sitting there in the machine, it is slowly discharging. As it discharges, the acid becomes "more concentrated" as the portion of the acid which is normally "locked up" (electro-chemically) inside the plates when the battery is fully charged, returns to the acid solution as the battery discharges. He said that the "stronger concentration" of acid in a partially charged (or discharged) battery "eats up" the plates and forms lead sulphate in the process. The lead sulphate covers the surface of the plates and sort of just hangs there clinging to the plates until the battery is subjected to (1) heavy charging or "boost starting" (2) vibration or jolting. When a battery that has sat for a while, not being kept charged, is put back in service, the lead sulphate gets shed or shook loose from the plates and falls to the bottom of the battery case. The amount of sulphate turned loose can often be enough to reach the bottom of the grid in just one period of use. That is why it started up yesterday after having sat for a while but it won't start today even though it "received a good charge". As mentioned by other members, he also stated that "trickle charging" (or battery maintainer) was the best thing one can do to increase battery life. He also said that keeping the top surfaces of the battery clean and free from "dirt" will go a long way towards reducing "parasitic self-discharge" because "dirt" has a lot of electrical conductivity, especially if it is moist.

The comment about old lead is somewhat misleading as it implies that lead can not be returned to its original pure state. As stated above it can. In fact any metal copper, nickel, iron, lead, etc. of any kind can be returned to its pure state and reused in any alloy. Most metals are mined as a metal salts, and refined to a pure state.

Plastics and similar materials can not be returned to the original pure state so it does make a difference if recycled plastics are used in a new part. The recycled plastic will not have the same properties as the original plastic polymerized from pure monomers.

Do yourself a favor and get a Yellow Top Optima battery. Mine's been going strong in my JD455 for well over 5 yrs. It also holds a charge from Nov. (when I store the tractor) to the start of Spring mowing season.

They're spendy buy worth it.

I start my LT once and don't shut it off until I'm done mowing . I've had a Yuasa battery last 8 years , a Sears Diehard Gold last only four , and a 20 dollar Wally World Everstart last 5 - going on six when I sold the machine . When the battery in my Broadmoor goes dead , it's off to Walmart to get the cheapest Everstart replacement !

The explanation above has some errors. The concentration of sulphate ions in the battery electrolyte is highest when the battery is fully charged. As the battery discharges, the lead plate combines with with the sulphate to form lead sulphate- PbSO4. During recharging, the chemical reaction is reversed, separating the sulphate and returning it to the electrolyte. Each charging cycle leaves a bit of lead sulphate unaffected and the battery gradually loses amperage output until it has too little to perform in the application. Yes, the lead sulphate does slough off and eventually short between the plates at the bottom. But the specific gravity of the electrolyte- highest concentration of sulphate in liquid solution- is greatest when the battery is fully charged.

Having gone to many web pages for research since busdriver posted his "clarifier", I must agree that the "expert" I cited was indeed a bit "off the mark" in chemistry. However, I can see where he might have been overwhelmed by the technical details of battery chemistry. I am providing just one link for those folks interested in learning a bit more about lead/acid batteries. The web page is like a lot of sites in that it contains some good info, but there is a commercial aspect as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: battery

Buying the cheapest Wal Mart battery is a big mistake. They have about 1/2 the capacity of a decent battery. You can get by that way if the engine is easy to crank but some of the big Briggs engine need every cranking amp you can throw at them. You get what you pay for in batteries as a general rule. The best battery I have ever purchased is an absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery. That's what the Optima batteries are. While they are not perfect they do not corrode the terminals and you cannot add water to them. More expensive but less hassle.
About the comment above about starting your engine too many times will ruin the battery......ridiculous. Batteries are ruined by deep discharging, lack of recharging, low electrolyte, corroded terminals, and over charging. Using a battery everyday (like in a car)is what a battery needs.

What i previously stated about starting the engine causes the lead in the grids to slough off, was explained to me many years ago, when i worked in auto repair. And, it was told the same in the TV show i watched recently. Another thing that makes the lead fall off is not having the battery solidly mounted, using the hold-down arrangement. A battery jumping around loosens the lead in the grids, and premature battery failure is the result.
But, for the "experts" if you get more than the usual amount of service from your little cheap, tractor battery, what with it hopping around in its holder, and lots of neglect, then i guess you could say i don't know beans about the subject!

Bought my JD LT150 in March of 2003. Have been using a battery maintainer for the last five or so years. I keep the battery on the maintaner in the garage during the winter and so far so good.

Mine is 6 years old. I had to jump it last season, and it made it thru. This year, it's fired up easily. Go figure. I would sayd 4 years is pretty good.

The big mistake was buying the Diehard Gold battery which barely lasted 4 years . The Everstart started that twin cylinder Honda 3813 for over 5 years with no problem . Besides what's the worse that can happen , it goes dead in my garage - 15 feet away from my charger ? I never even realized there was a close to $200 lawn tractor battery (Optima) made , total overkill for my needs and way more than I'd ever pay for a LT battery !

Optima yellow top...$173.00...I'am going to rush right out and get one....yea right...do they come with a 20 year warranty?????

Had to add that yesterday I load tested a 2001 OEM Sears rider battery in a LT1000 @ 9.25 V. Still cranked the tractor.And he didn't want a new one. Jaw dropper...

I used to work as the Chemist for Yuasa batteries (formerly Yuasa-Exide, Exide makes the Diehard batteries for Sears), so you could say I know a little about their batteries. I run the Wal-Mart Everstarts in everything I own if that tells you anything.

$173 for a tractor battery? Yupporamma! I'm all over the Everstart batteries, $18.88 at Wally, $21.88 for the 325 amper which will start even the most stubborn twin.

I paid $40 for a B&S 350 ah battery at Lowes, very nice.

Eight years for me: Just replaced the original Interstate battery that came with the tractor. Pretty amazing.

Tractor: Scotts/JD 1642
Year: 2000
Hours: 370

My last JOHN DEERE battery lasted 11 years , went out 3 times in winter during a warm break and started engine for 15 minutes. Could have helped who knows...

Sears Diehard in my DLT2K lasted 6 yrs, John Deere labeled Battery in my GT275 lasted 6 yrs, the present battery in the GT275 will be on it's 7 yr. this spring - The queation will it start or not? (the tractor has been sitting since Thanksgiving) This week is the week to crank it up. The DLT cranked up 3 weeks ago. Don't remove either battery or use a maintainer on either. 6 years on a 30/40 dollar battery = approx $6 per year ea. Them there optima Batterys would have to last me 30 years to = that.

But steve2........you're missing all the fun of boasting about spending "megabucks" for a mundane component. I too am more of a "common-sewer" than a "connoisseur" (speaking for myself, mind you). :^)

8 years on my DLT2K battery... but I guess it doesn't count if you have to use an industrial battery charger to jump start it. I really should get a new battery for it...

2001 GT235 still has the original battery. I've never taken it out over the winter, never had it on a charger.

I shouldn't post this. Probably gonna jinx myself.

My 18hp Briggs and Stratton MTD still starts instantly. It still has the original 29 year old "D" cell flashlight battery in it. Works great when I need to jump start my D9 Cat dozer too.

I guess that $173 comes with sarcasm included . There's a sucker born every minute and someone who would greatly overspend on such a ordinary component as a lawn tractor battery certainly qualifies as such !

They are the same people who only run synthetic oil in their super high performance lawn tractors.

Hmmm, I wonder where I can get the same battery as wally world at higher price!

By that I mean I avoid wall due to the fact they treat both the suppliers and workers like dirt.

I am willing to pay a bit more if it means the workers are not getting the shaft.

So, seriously, is there anywhere I can get the same battery even if the price is a bit more?

Rolf

PS - I don't dislike wally world because the are big. But the fact that they make their workers clock out and then continue working (documented at multiple stores throughout the US) is reason enough to pass on them.

I used to dislike unions, but I have changed and now see them as an important check on greedy corporate management.

Is there a Carquest or Advance Auto parts store in your area ? This was a topic here a couple of years ago and those two places had batteries for around the same price as the Everstarts at Wallyworld .

Here is a link that might be useful: Battery thread

the Optimas are now excessively priced....unless...

Well certainly the price of the optima is now excessive unless the specific need that they offer is truly required - for me I needed a spill proof battery since the deere batteries contain in their compacts are known for leakage causing damage to the frame and surrounding areas. They (deere) still use the same design - go figure

My Cub cadet has the original battery 6 years plus and just as fresh (VOM tested) as well as maintained using a battery tender series charger/float...

You really can extend the life of batteries significantly with proper maintainence and charging is really the overall point

You can get a sealed battery for a heck of a lot less than that ! And maybe some yellow paint sprayed on the top of it will impress those battery snobs easily fooled into overspending in the first place ?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sealed lawn tractor batteries

nine7xbam

You posted a good link overall - I have to look further to find sizes in 22NF and 51R that offer 500 CCA, are AGM/Gel and come in these standard dimensions (no room for larger size batteries). In my case I did the upfront work and looked around and also bought the optima when the prices were much lower from Costco - 109.99 somthing

For general use batteries paying Optima prices these days is not a good way to spend your money, and I agree with you that they are overkill for general garden tractors and the ROI (return) isnt there. Each case is different however for the owner...

I have a 1999 john deere gt235 and live in northeast ohio.This will be year 10 on the original battery from john deere that came with the tractor.I have never used a battery maintainer or anything like that.Just lucky?

My mower deck belt finally wore out last fall.That is the only part i have had to replace in the last ten years.Oil changes and air filters are keeping this tractor going strong.
The john deere gt tractors are built to last,and thats that.