Battery 6 months

[Delduck]

This is the 3rd batt in my 2000 max 4 with a 23 hp vanguard. 1 was in the original 18 hp the other in the new 23 hp vanguard and now the 3rd. "the battery wherehouse" that only deals in batteries tells me it's from all of the bouncing around and hard riding. Any opinions would be appreciated.

[scimanstev]

Have you tried an Optima battery? They are gel cells, and while configured differently that a regular lead acid battery, they also have very low internal resistance. Every battery has internal resistance, which coupled with whatever load is on the battery, causes a voltage drop across the battery, even though it is supplying the power.
The equation E=IR means that the voltage equals current times resistance, and can be used to calculate battery resistance, or anything else in an electronic circuit. Resistance in ohms is R1 + R2 + R3 = Rtotal for series circuits, and 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R2 = 1/Rtotal for parallel circuits.

Steve

[Delduck]

I have not tried those although on my fishing boat I have 2 of them they are very good but temperature sensitive. When we dry dock the boat for the winter, we have learned they need to come in out of the cold weather. The max is only used from nov till march which is our colder months

[scimanstev]

That's interesting information for me about the temperature sensitivity. I had one in a 1994 Bonneville SSEI here in new Hampshire, and never had trouble with it, although I used the car almost every day. It may have been because I used it almost every day that I didn't have trouble, but it often saw temps around -15F when I was at work. I actually don't know about leaving it alone for extended periods of time, so I am grateful for your information. I had planned to get one for my new Argo, so I will watch it carefully. Well, I will be using the Argo constantly also, so I still may not see the temperature sensitivity....

Steve

[Delduck]

We pull the boat in oct and it sits till April that probably has a lot to do with it. And we certainly noticed it because those batteries aren't cheap. Good luck with your new machine.

[Toys4Me]

I use the mower battery's from oreilys and i usually get 2-3 years from them. I also have disconnects on them. When they are not being used I disconnect them. I also am not a fan of float chargers. I occasionally toss the regular charger on 2amp charge to keep them up. I use regular acid deep cycle batterys in my boat and just disconnect the grounds when I put in away Octoberish. I leave the batterys in all winter. In the spring I just hook them up and go no issues(knock on wood). Those batterys are about 7 years old. I have a boating friend and hes never had good luck with those battery warehouse batterys lasting.

[Delduck]

Thank you for that info we have good luck up until 2 years ago I wonder if something has changed. The disconnect is a good idea I have them on the boat but didn't think about them for the max only because we use it 5 days a week. unfortunately until my son takes the business I still have to go work, I keep telling him I want to be on the boat 5 days a week not the business. LOL

[Delduck]

Where are you Argo Jim? I'd like your thoughts you helped me put this thing together, motor, chains, clutch, driveshafts, etc.

[Rusty-Gunn]

I used a Polaris SxS atv battery in our Max IV. They claim its made to eliminate internal damage from bouncing around and such. We had ours one year with no problems bouncing all over the tundra.
Note... our battery burnt out due to an aluminum floor plate, (for cargo use, no rear seat) slipped back and touched the +/- terminals. I intend to buy another one in a few weeks.

[Noel Woods]

I have Oreilly's lawn mower batteries in some of my aatvs, even with a float charger, I get about 2 years and maybe a few bonus months. In my newest machine, Which is an Argo Frontier 8x8, I have an optima, also on a trickle charger. I have Optimas in my boat, and two vehicles, and on the backup power for a wrought iron gate. You get what you pay for in batteries. One of my Optimas just went down, and I was ticked off, until I saw that the date on the battery was January 2008, so nine years of lifespan (yellow-top) is definitely something I can live with.

[Toys4Me]

What optima battery replaces the lawn mower style batteries?

[ARGOJIM]

I like Deka 325 or 350 cranking amps ( drawing a blank). Higher cranking amp batteries have thicker plates, a cheap 150cca battery will probably last a year to year and a half.
Now check your voltage output, a failed over charging regulator will cook a battery quick, also check there is fluid in all cells at proper level of failed batteries.

[Reconrokon]

I have a cheap $25 Walmart battery in my riding mower that is 5 years old, so when the Max needed one, I picked up another WalMart battery. I keep a "Battery Minder" float charger on it and I think that is why they last. Without a float charger, sulfides build up on the lead plates and that is what kills most batteries. Generally not a problem on anything that is used on a daily basis like a vehicle, but if you let anything sit for days, weeks or months at a time without a float charger, the sulfides will severely shorten the batteries life. You can also "daisy chain" batteries (up to 4) with a Battery Minder. I normally limit it to 2 batteries due to space but the mower and Max are on 1 battery tender and I have 2 boats that are on another. No problems so far. RR

[msafi65]

The best battery I've had experience with is the odyssey. Just got my pc1200LT. Very expensive but when we get three years out of one in a jet ski where some Stock batteries don't last a year. I'm going to try and fit this into my MaxII. This battery is 1200 amp for 5 seconds and 550cca.

[Noel Woods]

What optima battery replaces the lawn mower style batteries?

I have modified the battery box on my Max4, and one Max2 to fit them, the Argo battery storage area is large enough to accept one in my Frontier 8x8. The other machines I have still use the lawn mower sized batteries.
One of my good friends says he adds life to his small batteries by giving them a 1' drop to the ground, his theory is that it knocks the scale off the plates and mixes the acid better and shakes up the mixture. He has some batteries that are 3 years old and going.