Why a 500 CCA battery in Deere LX280?

[chobbs1957]

I have a 17HP Kawasaki in an LT180 that recommends a 160 CCA battery, but my LX280 with a18 HP Kawasaki recommends a “500 CCA Group Size 51” battery, sounds like overkill to me.

These are two used units I picked up planning to fix up and flip. These LT180 sounds like too small a battery to me for sure, and while it cranks and runs, sounds a little sluggish turning over. The LX280 does fine, as I’d expect, but that sounds like enough juice to crank a big diesel!

I plan to upgrade the LT180 to a 350 CCA for sure, a $70 battery, but am scratching my head over the LX280. It uses car type batter cables. It looks like most 500 CCA batteries go for around $165, a good bit of added expense.

Comments and thoughts welcome!

 

[chobbs1957]

I read somewhere that this model’s transmission remains engaged always, that the starter must turn the motor and transmission, thus more battery power is required. Go figure!

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

I have a 17HP Kawasaki in an LT180 that recommends a 160 CCA battery, but my LX280 with a18 HP Kawasaki recommends a “500 CCA Group Size 51” battery, sounds like overkill to me.

These are two used units I picked up planning to fix up and flip. These LT180 sounds like too small a battery to me for sure, and while it cranks and runs, sounds a little sluggish turning over. The LX280 does fine, as I’d expect, but that sounds like enough juice to crank a big diesel!

I plan to upgrade the LT180 to a 350 CCA for sure, a $70 battery, but am scratching my head over the LX280. It uses car type batter cables. It looks like most 500 CCA batteries go for around $165, a good bit of added expense.

Comments and thoughts welcome!

Most mowers a 300 CCA is the way to go for an average of about 3 years life on battery.