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Does anyone know the actual manufacture date of these MTD batteries? This is an MTD battery (not original to my Cub Cadet XT1 machine). It did come out of another XT1 I bought and sold.

Anyhow, the recharge date on it is March-2017. You can read on the label they recommend charging the battery if it is being installed in a machine after March-2017. I wonder if that date is based on, say 3 months or 6 months after the actual date the battery was manufactured.

it is at least 8 years old. replace it.

Ha, I thought that would be the response. Yes, it doesn’t owe me anything. It still tests good (two different testers) and is still able to crank the Kohler 7000 22hp in my XT1.

I will likely replace it this year. Last year at times it would stop at the compression stroke and I would have to cycle the key off and then on again to get it to clear it and start the engine. I did clean the ground and starter connection for this year to see if that helps.

Mine is a 2018 model. I see the newer ones (with larger engines – Kohler 7000 series 24hp) come with a smaller AGM batteries rated at 210CCA’s where as mine is rated at 300CCA’s and tests at about that. I fail to see how replacing my current one with the ones they are currently using will start mine. I would also have to get a new battery tray insert.

evh said:

Ha, I thought that would be the response. Yes, it doesn’t owe me anything. It still tests good (two different testers) and is still able to crank the Kohler 7000 22hp in my XT1.

I will likely replace it this year. Last year at times it would stop at the compression stroke and I would have to cycle the key off and then on again to get it to clear it and start the engine. I did clean the ground and starter connection for this year to see if that helps.

Mine is a 2018 model. I see the newer ones (with larger engines – Kohler 7000 series 24hp) come with a smaller AGM batteries rated at 210CCA’s where as mine is rated at 300CCA’s and tests at about that. I fail to see how replacing my current one with the ones they are currently using will start mine. I would also have to get a new battery tray insert.

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If it is sometimes hanging up on starting on the compression stroke, check the valves for correct clearance and adjust as needed.

My battery is 12 years old , and touch wood it still has enough life left to get me through Autumn/Fall and will maybe replace at the start of Spring/September
Currently attach trickle charger for half an hour before mowing and as Jackie Gleason said "Away we go"
Oz

What happens if you stop some day in the middle of the mowing for five minutes and it doesn't have enough to kick it over - "now what do I do, push it home? It's 100F outside." Generally Lead Acid batteries are good for 4 to 5 years max, the average is 3 - 4. Starters can draw more current and burn up windings when the battery gets low. What does a starter cost compared to a battery? Or stretch it till it strands you.

Just drive the truck to where that may happen and jump start it
It will not get to 100f/40c until next summer 1st December here so I am all good
Oz

A quick follow-up to my post. You will note above that I cleaned the connections for the ground and positive battery connection.

It is about 50 degrees where I am right now. That is about the warmest it has been since last year. The tractor has not been run for at least 10 day. I tested my battery, and it is testing at 12.40volts. Not good.

Well low and behold, it starts right up! No stopping at the compression stroke. Possibly a fluke and I will keep an eye on it. So, my plan is to milk this for as long as possible as I know its remaining life is short…

Load test it..

7394 has it right.

I gave up on the Lawn & Garden lead acid batteries many years ago, and have a pile of worthless ones laying in a pile on the farm, some of which only lasted about a year. They will show voltage, but quickly deteriorate to have no cranking amps left. I've tried regenerating them, adding mag. sulfite, and everything, but they are just made cheaply and don't like the bouncing, and the internal connections just become marginal. I switched to AGM sealed motorcycle/ATV batteries, keep it on a battery maintainer, and I get about 4 yrs out of them, bouncing around on the uneven terrain of the farm. I will never buy another Lawn & Garden lead acid battery again. The AGM Motorcycle/ATV batteries are small, easily ship from Amazon, no core trade-in required, and the price is about the same as a worthless L&G battery from Walmart or Home Depot. A battery maintainer is also cheap, and the best thing you can do to extend the battery life. When using the AGM batteries, they are smaller than L&G batteries, so I just use packing foam around the sides to make up the extra space and provide a little bump protection.

So yesterday I used the tractor for about 2 hours. I would guess I started it at least 8 – 10 times. All of the starts went well with none of them stopping when the motor hit high compression. Below are the test results from my battery tester after the mower sat for about 18 hours. Note, it is a 300CCA battery.

The voltage is still not where it should be. You can tell the age is starting to get to the battery. I am guessing the battery is about 8.5 years old. I won’t use it again for at least a couple weeks. I will see what results I get after it sits that long.

I would make sure you have a jumper pack on the machine just in case.