Just want some opinions, and experience on what batteries to look at or stay away from. I want to get a battery with more CCA, as it seems to be pretty cold around here latley[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

I always prefer a fully charged one to a dead one myself......

Sorry, couldn't resist V2rider. I purchased my last battery for my 4-wheeler from wal-mart. I took the measurements off my old battery (length, width, height) and noted the postition and type of battery terminals and went and looked at the batteries. I was going to get a sealed personal watercraft battery but I found a a different battery for a riding lawn mower that had more CCA. Plus the battery was $22. (OK, $22.98) The stock batteries are almost $100 from the dealer!

New battery has held up extremely well here this winter. My machines are stored outside and they have never had difficulties starting. They even sat for a almost a week in 20 below and they both fired right up. I use one of those battery tenders on my machines though. It keeps the batteries at full charge by running a trickle charge top them. (I think it is .2amps or something) It senses the charge in the battery and turn off at full charge.

I purched one from Wal-mart and the other tender from Cabelas. I think it comes inreal handy and extends the life of the battery.

SJ

 

Good point about the battery tender SJ, what I do is if I am not using one of my machines (ATV, garden tractor, car, etc.) for an extended period of time I put the trickle charger on it once a month. It helps, especially with the outragious cost of batterys [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

The newer ATV's all run on a 12volt system so a 12V car battery would worka s well as long as you can find some place to strap it down

When pondering this more I came up with a additional question, that I cannot answer:

If your battery is dead, and your pull start rope broke can you still start your 4 wheeler by push starting it? I am pretty sure the answer is no for an automatic but what about a manual ATV?

I know you can do this for a clutched motorcycle but an ATV?

Not that any one of us would ever have his battery go dead AND have the pull rope break.

SJ

 

Some of the sport quads have a hand clutch and can be push started, but as far as I know all the utes and the majority of the sporties have the automactic clutch, that doesn't work unless the motor is running. My owners manual only lists the "recoil starter" for emergency starting. No where is mantioned a push start.

 

these are the best batteries IMO

link

I have installed one on a generator that was being abused in power output and it has put my worries to rest.

 

I cant find a battery for any Arctic Cat 650 on that link squeege. But they are good batteries!

 

they have a phone # listed.............you really only need a few dimensions and maybe the code off the side of your battery

It says right on the site "Heavy duty, high performance drycell batteries for work or for fun in your Dune Buggy, Sand Rail, ATV, or Jeep."


link

 

Well i used to have an old honda 300 with the auto clutch, but manual tranny and you cna push/pull start them. what you have to do is shift throught first and hold the shifter up like your about to drop second get'er rollin and let the lever drop she'll turn over and start. i have do do this ALOT on the ranch.
even my 05 crf 50 with the 3 speed tranny will do it.

HR

 

HR,

Just gave it a try yesterday and I could get it to turn over but could not get it to start of fire. Must have something to do with electrical stuff.

Also, in case any body else has done this, I would not advise charging one of these small ATV batteries with anything more than a tricke charge. We litterally blew up a battery a while back on a friends machine. He tried charding the battery with either a 10amp or 50 amp charge ,don't remember which, next thing I know POP and I was helping him to the garden hose to flush his face with water to get the acid off it.

Since I hard wired those battery tenders in I have not had any trouble with my batteries. I am looking at those solar cells that will do the same thing in an RV catalog and from Cabelas. Might try those for when I ride out in the sticks.

SJ