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 07-15-2020, 11:07 PM   #1
bdtutton
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 113
Default Best 6V battery

It has been a long time since I purchased a 6V battery and my car and tractor are both turning over kind of slow lately. I was wondering what battery brand people are most happy with. I am OK spending a little more to get something that lasts a long time. I have a 6V Die Hard gold in my 1940 Ford 9N that is 12 years old so I appreciate things that last for a while.

Any recommendations ???
bdtutton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 03:49 AM   #2
Wick
Senior Member
 
Wick's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gwynn's Island Va
Posts: 1,380
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I use a Napa 6v about $98-104.00 That batter can sit for a year and still start the A with no problems.
Wick is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-16-2020, 06:37 AM   #3
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Before you invest in a new battery, clean ALL the connections.
As Wick says I'm also using a NAPA battery.
Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 08:00 AM   #4
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I with 1931 flamingo, clean the starter and battery connections.
Inspect battery cables.
If not present, add an additional cable between the battery frame connection to the Bell Housing.
Load test your battery - https://www.harborfreight.com/100a-6...ter-61747.html
Check your battery electrolyte level, charge with a smart charger - https://no.co/genius5 or https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G750-Adv.../dp/B004LX3AS6. teh 750 ma will work , just takes a lot longer.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 08:14 AM   #5
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I use Farm and Fleet batteries but take care of them, last me 4 or more years. Check the electrolyte levels every few months, put a NoCo 750MA smart charger/maintainer on them every month for few days in the Winter.


Have had good luck with the 5 amp NoCo above restoring a couple of my kids batteries - one where the battery hardly would crank the car, electrolyte level had dropped, and a motor cycle battery that had not been used for over 2 years. Brought them back to close to like new.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 08:59 AM   #6
Purdy Swoft
Senior Member
 
Purdy Swoft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU View Post
I use Farm and Fleet batteries but take care of them, last me 4 or more years. Check the electrolyte levels every few months, put a NoCo 750MA smart charger/maintainer on them every month for few days in the Winter.


Have had good luck with the 5 amp NoCo above restoring a couple of my kids batteries - one where the battery hardly would crank the car, electrolyte level had dropped, and a motor cycle battery that had not been used for over 2 years. Brought them back to close to like new.
I always prefered Delco six volt batteries when I could find them . I now mostly use twelve volt batteries that I can pick at Walmart . I don't have to answer any questions about what automobile that the battery is for . Usually if you admit that any part is for a model A Ford , the answer will be that they don't have one . I can pick the battery that I want off the shelf without problems at Walmart . A twelve volt conversion is very simple .
Purdy Swoft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 09:09 AM   #7
37 Coupe
Senior Member
 
37 Coupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,835
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Optima Red Top,nothing better.
__________________
"Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II
37 Coupe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 09:30 AM   #8
uncle buck
Senior Member
 
uncle buck's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Snohomish,WA
Posts: 1,024
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Optima 6volt available at your local NAPA # N996VRED . I've had perfect performance with mine.
uncle buck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 09:41 AM   #9
Robert/Texas
Senior Member
 
Robert/Texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Burton, Texas
Posts: 678
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I couldn't agree more about Optima batteries. My cars often sit for months without tenders and when I check their voltage they are always at 6.2 or 6.3 volts. I don't need to top them off with water and they don't corrode anything. Two are laying on their sides. As for cost, my experience with them is that they last about 12 years so they save me a money.
Robert/Texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 10:53 AM   #10
ryanheacox
Senior Member
 
ryanheacox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northwest CT
Posts: 1,092
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Just replaced an Interstate that was 8 years old with a NAPA. That old Interstate replaced an 8 year old Exide. Those two old batteries were in a completely stock charging system, never sat on maintainers and only got jumped occasionally after long periods of sitting. I've since upgraded the generator with one of Tom Wessenbergs EVRs. I imagine that should gain me another year or two out of this new battery.


I guess what I'm getting at is that most conventional 6V batteries seem to be just as good as each other (hell, they probably all come out of the same factory with different labels).



Optima might be a good route but if you only get 12 years out of them I couldn't justify almost double the price for an extra 2-4 years of life.
ryanheacox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 12:49 PM   #11
Kurt in NJ
Senior Member
 
Kurt in NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,140
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I got 16 years out of optima, replaced it with another, was 120$ shipped, a friend has been using a optima that I found in the trunk of a junk car--- it's over 20 years old by the date code
Kurt in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 01:38 PM   #12
SoCal_Alden
Member
 
SoCal_Alden's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 76
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I've been using Napa 7244 batteries for years - as previously stated - they last for a long time and perform very well.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_1950.jpg (59.5 KB, 44 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_1952.jpg (41.1 KB, 41 views)
SoCal_Alden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 04:38 PM   #13
Chris in WNC
Senior Member
 
Chris in WNC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Spruce Pine, NC
Posts: 1,458
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I've had good luck with both O'Reillys and Tractor Supply......
__________________
our next Model A is out there in the unknown......
Chris in WNC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 05:58 PM   #14
d.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 510
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I'll add my vote for the Optima 6v.
I've got 6 years on mine with the occasional battery tender for a few days and I get 6.5v. or better readings...plenty of juice to kick it over.
You cannot ignore the easiest best practice of using proper 1 or 2 gage cables with clean contact surfaces.
> the added ground cable from frame mount to transmission top or flywheel housing bolt is also highly recommended.
d. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 09:38 PM   #15
M2M
Senior Member
 
M2M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Australia/USA/EU/Soviet Russia
Posts: 1,105
Thumbs up Re: Best 6V battery

Optima 6V yellow top

__________________

M2M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 10:19 PM   #16
gz
Senior Member
 
gz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,664
Default Re: Best 6V battery

I have two 6V Optima's that are currently in use and are both 10++ years old.

I have never seen a 6V Yellow Top Optima before. More cranking amps or ?
gz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 10:30 PM   #17
M2M
Senior Member
 
M2M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Australia/USA/EU/Soviet Russia
Posts: 1,105
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by gz View Post
I have never seen a 6V Yellow Top Optima before. More cranking amps or ?

6V yellow is available in UK and Europe. The yellow CCA is a bit less at 765 but capacity is more at 55Ah compared to 50Ah for the red top. Wish they had a 6v blue top
__________________

M2M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 10:41 PM   #18
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: Best 6V battery

When I took delivery of my CCPU, I found it had a red top Optima battery in it. Nice surprise!
I have no idea how old it is but from the time it was delivered to a friend in Arizona who sent it on to me to when I saw it, 18 months had passed. It started the engine without hesitation.
NICE!
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2020, 03:58 AM   #19
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Whatever battery you choose, make sure the tag on it has a fairly recent date on it. The older the battery is, the more likely there is something wrong with it for several reasons.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2020, 08:02 AM   #20
chl
Member
 
chl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Nicholson, Pa.
Posts: 84
Default Re: Best 6V battery

Replaced my optima this spring,it died after 5 years. went back to a conventional
battery and find it performs better.
chl 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 05:11 AM.