dead battery question

[salamander]

Been a long time gone from the forums here, been a real busy guy lately, not much time for the internets, but, its good to be back!

The stock battery that shipped with my '06 Bigfoot died; I looked into Optima Yellow Tops and other dry cell AGM batteries, and it looks like only the smallest ones out there ( Optima D51 for example ) would fit without modifying the battery or the battery compartment.

I'd like to put a larger one into that space, say the Optima D35, but I'm not sure what the best way to go about it would be? Any ideas from those who have already done a battery upgrade??

[Roger S]

The battery "box" has two bolts that mount it to the frame. You can see them with the battery out. Also can grease a hidden idler shaft bearing while in there. Never increased battery size myself. I did put a lighted switch on the blower so it wouldn't pull 8 amps when it wasn't needed.

[Rock Doctor]

I guess my first question would be WHY?
What are you running that you need a larger battery?

I have seen a couple versions of battery mods.
One was a rebuilt battery box, (a little wider and might have been a little longer) to accommodate a larger battery)
The other was a battery mounted under the gastank (floorboards had to be modified)...........I was not impressed with this one at all(something about sparks and fuel that I don't like, I guess)
Sorry, I don't have any pics

Someone just did one of these, might have been "Cory Alaska"????

I uaually carry one of those "Booster Packs", you know, the ones that have a Battery, Blower, Air Comp, Trouble Light, DC Plug, and a Radio all built into one unit? It's gotten me out of alot of jams, and would say that it's a tossup between that and the chainsaw, as to what tool I use most often when out with the Argo.

RD

[alaskacody]

about two weeks agoe i put an optma batt in my argo conquest i just took the old batt box out and built one just like it for the optma batt it is wider but it is the same length not much to it it took the some of a half day to do it ( i had to think about it a while then a little more it is a three beer job) any way it works great it is I have three diff kind of lights on there and elet over hydrolic snow blade and boy it is as diff as night and day every thing works good now Skip

[McCoy]

I just went to Advance Auto & bought a yellow top Optima that would fit in the existing battery box without any modifications. So far, it has worked great.

McCoy

[lewis]

Battery

These small batteries do not last as long as the full size batteries. Did it die completely or was it just dead from not being used. If there is a extended amount of time between runs you can purchase a solar powered trickle charger that will keep the battery up between starts. Modifying seems a little drastic. In some cases it is justified but in most cases not. A higher end battery that will fit in your existing box would be a simpler solution. Manufacturers are know for using a cheaper battery from the factory. I think Rock and McCoy have the most simple approach. This is just my 2 cents.

Lewis

[salamander]

winter days are short and my road is long

I killed the stock battery by using the trolling motor a lot and the recharger too little, maybe a little rough riding on the side.

Last winter was harsh, gotta have the extra power to winch the plow and run extra lights at the same time if plowing like that again. (the plow blocks the beams of the headlights when raised)

I'd also like more run time with the trolling motor on the water.

Something about electricity, water, and gasoline so close together by installing under the gas tank doesn't sit right with me either RD... the 'new' tiny group 51 Yellow Top that fits is better than what I had in there so far, but seems like its a bit small for the job... thats why I was thinking about modifying to get a full sized 6+ inch wide yellow top in the original space, and about double the reserve capacity of the group 51 battery.

Got any photos of that 3-beer job you mentioned Skip- or other battery tray rebuilders?

[alaskacody]

no pictures but it is just like the OEM one only wider the hold down the same type the two bolts and I put an optima deep cycle batt in it I to have diff lights becouse of the snow plow and tail lights + a rotating light on top and i too have a troling moter for when i go fishing and a four thousand pound winch so a deep cycle was the only way i could go at first when I built the box i thought that it was going to rub the out side but after I put it in it looks like an OEM I know i shuld of took a picture but as thay say hind sight is 20/20 thanks Skip