Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-17-2021, 07:37 AM   #1
old Tom
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 195
Default battery

What is the best 6V battery for a Model A
old Tom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 07:42 AM   #2
TMarsh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 131
Default Re: battery

Imho optima
TMarsh is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-17-2021, 07:48 AM   #3
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: battery

Go to a farm store and buy a tractor battery. If properly cared for will last 10 years.
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 08:17 AM   #4
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: battery

Yep, Any Tractor supply store.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 11:58 AM   #5
mgambuzza
Senior Member
 
mgambuzza's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 173
Default Re: battery

If you don't have easy access to a battery supplier, Optima would probably be the best. I am in close proximity to several battery warehouses, and I was able to get a factory blem (not Optima) battery for $55. Had it over a year so far and cranks like crazy (even in the winter). I'll have to report some time on the longevity of the battery as time goes on.
mgambuzza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 02:22 PM   #6
Oldgearz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Sagle, Idaho
Posts: 359
Default Re: battery

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Get a 6v red top Optima and you'll never regret it. That's what my A has. I have 5 old Ford 8ns (tractors) and 3 of those are still six volt. I've replaced the standard 6v batteries numerous times and they NEVER hold up more than 3 years. Have now replaced them with 8v cause they fit into the battery trays better than the 6v Optima. Bottom line is if you have cold winter weather and plan to drive your A during that time....Optima is the way to go. Highest cranking 6v out there.
Oldgearz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 02:25 PM   #7
wilfbrad
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 15
Default Re: battery

Keep your 6 v lead acid on a battery maintainer all the time and you'll be amazed how long your bat will last!!
wilfbrad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 06:00 PM   #8
d.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 510
Default Re: battery

another vote for 6v Optima. I have 2, dated 10-14 that kick like crazy.
When I bought them they were $113 shipped on Amazon.
Now it seems like the best deal is with Summit Racing and the price has got more like $199, but they last a long long time and put out a ton of power.
Optima will serve you well, given my experience.
d. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2021, 08:08 PM   #9
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: battery

$59 for a tractor battery, $199 for an optima. Guess that is why I have a tractor battery. I think it's 6 years old now, still going strong. If I get another 4 years out of it I'll not be surprised. 99% of battery performance and life is in how you treat it. Never let it go dead, don't overcharge it, keep the water level up, run a trickle charger on it periodically. I have a voltage regulator on my generator so that makes a big difference in life too. Abuse an optima and you'll ruin it too. I have nothing against optimas, they are a premium battery. I really don't own much that's premium I guess.
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 05:56 AM   #10
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,434
Default Re: battery

The best battery for your Model "A" is the one with the highest Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) for least cost.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 07:32 AM   #11
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
Default Re: battery

Are lithium ion batteries available yet for car starting? I would guess that they would be very expensive and require special chargers to keep the different cells equalized.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 12:01 PM   #12
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
Default Re: battery

The optima is best for setting around and longevity as long as it is used at least once a month but the latest price is above 200 bucks. The Group 1 wet cell 6-volt batteries are still around 100 bucks currently so neither will be cheap.

A wet cell that can be purchased dry charged for service would still last at least 2-years with regular use and service. I generally get about 4-years out of them but I take good care of investments like that. If you don't care for it then purchase an optima and drive the car at least once a month to keep it up. Purchase a modern charger that can cycle charge it for AGM type batteries. I don't see too many 6-volt capable chargers like there used to be. A person can charge as a 12-volt if you have two batteries but you better have a need for two batteries.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 04:25 PM   #13
Anteek29
Senior Member
 
Anteek29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 984
Default Re: battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilfbrad View Post
Keep your 6 v lead acid on a battery maintainer all the time and you'll be amazed how long your bat will last!!
I concur!
__________________
Alan
1929 Special Coupe
1941 Pick-Up
1955 Victoria
Anteek29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 06:15 PM   #14
Crankster
Senior Member
 
Crankster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 563
Default Re: battery

It became obvious to me once I started keeping my batteries charged up and on a float charge battery life is 10+ years (I don't know exactly because they haven't worn out yet) versus the usual 3 to 5, it's just not even close. In addition to that, they perform much better during the entire life cycle. A battery charger will easily pay for itself many times over.
Crankster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2021, 11:06 PM   #15
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by [I
Crankster;2057910]It became obvious to me once I started keeping my batteries charged up and on a float charge battery life is 10+ years (I don't know exactly because they haven't worn out yet) versus the usual 3 to 5, it's just not even close. In addition to that, they perform much better during the entire life cycle. A battery charger will easily pay for itself many times over.[/I]
Yes, but readers notice he said float charge... make sure you trickle charge or float/maintain charge. I've seen people use a regular charger and then complain that the battery is no good.
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2021, 09:14 AM   #16
Ayers1
Senior Member
 
Ayers1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Waynesboro Va.
Posts: 205
Default Re: battery

I have 2 6V batteries that are 5+ years old. I keep a maintainer on them and they are still going strong. I would say get a Tractor Supply battery and a 6/12 volt maintainer and go from there. Still much cheaper than an Optima.
Ayers1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2021, 09:47 AM   #17
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
Default Re: battery

How to kill a battery:

1. Let it discharge and let it stay discharged. There is some small internal current that naturally discharges a battery when just sitting. The amorphous lead sulfate will turn to the crystalline form and not be available for the battery to use. The battery maintainers help to keep the battery charged and some have a way to convert the crystal lead sulfate back to the amorphous form.

2. Let the acid level go below the plates. The sealed batteries don't have this problem unless they are overcharged.

3. Overcharge the battery. This can boil out the water and warp the plates. I have ruined more batteries by overcharging than anything else. The battery can literally burn up.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2021, 10:38 AM   #18
skeazle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Hershey, Pa.
Posts: 102
Default Re: battery

I put in an Interstate battery 5 yrs. ago and it is still going however whenever I hit the starter it seams very mushy. I think I'm going to replace it soon. Maybe the starter itself is going bad.
skeazle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2021, 12:46 PM   #19
Big hammer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,114
Default Re: battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by skeazle View Post
I put in an Interstate battery 5 yrs. ago and it is still going however whenever I hit the starter it seams very mushy. I think I'm going to replace it soon. Maybe the starter itself is going bad.
Check your cables, clean all of the connections, cheaper than replacing the battery !
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap
get a bigger hammer tap done
Big hammer is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2021, 04:29 PM   #20
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: battery

read my post on batteries.......Rural King for 50. a pop

four for the price of an Optima.
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:25 AM.