Battery >> OPTIMA ?

TWO GUNS

TWO GUNS

Senior Member
Does the Optima Battery Company sell a battery that will fit into the RTV. ForEVERY parts store I've run into, all their batterys are to big.They are a great battery, we haveseveral on the place, in trucks & equipment etc.... Plans are to replace withOptimawhen the OEMfizzs' out .... </p>


...... two guns</p>
 
How do you mean they're "too big"?</p>


I didn't get an optima but when I got my deep-cycle marine, I did have to change the hold-down strapping system. The strapping systems are quite varied based on your needs. They're also cheap and available most anywhere.</p>
 
[quote user="bczoom"]</p>


How do you mean they're "too big"?</p>


The size of the battery itself. The ones I've purchased & others seen at the retailer, don't think will fit into the battery tray / box of the RTV. Time to get out the ruler & write down some true measurements.</p>


..... two guns </p>
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The battery in my Kubota tractor after13years of reliable service finally gaveup this past autumn. It was still capable of a charge but was just notputting out the amps that it used to and I knew come winter that it would not hold up to those cold winter starts. So off to the local automotive big box I went. Informed the clerk I needed a battery of L x W x H dimensions and with a CCA of XXX. </p>


"What make and year of car is it for?" asked the counter clerk all decked out in his snappy frock with name tag and big box logo.</p>


I responded that the battery needed to L x W x H in size with top post in accordance with the little drawing I'd brought along and needed the CCA and reserve that I had gleaned from the operators manual.</p>


" Sorry sir" came the reply. "Need the make and model and year "</p>


I informed him it was for a Kubota compact tractor model B1700 and it was a 1996.</p>


"You'll need to go to the lawn and garden section, they sell the lawnmower batteries" came the 'educated' reply.</p>


Hmmm! Decided a different approach was required so advised him that it wasn't a riding mower and because he obviously would not comprehend what a compact diesel tractor was, I told him it was a farm tractor....that should work...He robotically types in Cabuto and waits for the system to respond.It took a while as the computer diligently did a search for Cabuto but finally responds with no items found.</p>


By this time Ole Kanook is getting a little frustrated and it likely became apparent in the louder voice that told the young man behind the counter and in front of a wall of batteries that were in all different sizes and specifications that it was spelled K U B O T A. So he types in KUBOTA and the system comes back with a response. Finally we're getting somewhere......NOT...The man who knows it all responds " the system shows ".... and he lists off several Kubota models that I recognize as Kubota consumer grade lawn tractors aka mowers. He then directs me to the lawn and garden dept..."they'll fix you right up" he smugly informs me. Just as I was about to go ballistic, over walks an older employee who had been listening to the to the exchange from his post at the tire counter.</p>


"Maybe I can help" says the man who at least appeared to know which end of a screwdriver was the working end. He listened to my requirement and ....miracles still happen.. he pulls out a tape measure and proceeds to measure battery dimensions and read the specsheets. and finally produces a battery that met the dimension criteria and produced slightly higher reserve capacity and CCA numbers than my requirements stated.</p>


We'll see how long this one lasts.</p>


BTW...The wifes dad ran freight trains and one of his duties was to run a way freight down a spur that had a battery factory. He had the occasion to chat with one of the battery employees and he asked what the difference was between the dozen or so brands of batteries that were being loaded into the boxcars. "Nothing, just the brand name on the out side" was the response.</p>


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The RTV battery is still just fine, even though it is an 05 model. Recently, during the cold spell when temps were down in the single digits for day after day, I was hauling firewood on an every day basis. The RTV ALWAYS fired up without a bit of sluggish battery syndrome. Gotta knock on the ol wooden brain here.</p>


Keep pursuing the OPTIMA route. I have one in a BMW motorcycle that is NOW 4 years old. Having in the past to replace the "normal" battery after 2 or 3 years, using all kinds of brands since 1972, I find this fantastic. I don't know if it is one of the "dry cell" kinds or AGM or what, but it is worth getting.............Good luck.....Dennis</p>
 
I put a new battery in My '05 RTV. This battery was really for a '94 Toyota pickup.. I just made sure it was a maintance free .or else it could have had the screw in/out caps. The battery hold down was then too short so I used a small iron clip on the protruding battery base to bolt it on the tray with an existing hole there. I also use a tight rubber strap just in case . I have never had any problens in 2 years. It is very secure feeling this way. Now I'm sure it would be a good idea to get some all tread and just make longer legs for the original clamp down bracket but so far so good. Those new model Honda accord batteries are small too... Bordercollie</p>
 
Yea Muleman , Brett got hit pretty good. I'm surprised he could still walk off the field. Let's hear it for us "old" folks and determination.. Bordercollie</p>
 
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