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Can anyone recommend a decent make of battery?.
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baconsdozen



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 1119
Location: Under the car.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:30 pm    Post subject: Can anyone recommend a decent make of battery?. Reply with quote

My fairway taxi seems to kill its battery on a regular basis every winter.The last one wasn't cheap and has only lasted just over a year. Anyone got any recommendations for a decent heavy duty battery?.
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Greg



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 445
Location: Dreamland Margate

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're not worried about looking like a 'period' battery and you require 12v
Optima batteries are superb.

http://m.optimabatteries.com/

All the best,
Greg
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is possible that the batteries we can buy here in Canada, differ from those I used to buy back in the UK.

First they have to deal with extreme cold. Providing the block heater is plugged in, so the oil is warm, then there is no problem cranking at -40C.

Second, they seem to last much longer. The truck is still running on its original battery, over 5 years old. We have friends who have vehicles that are 10 years old and still on the same battery.

I seem to remember back in the UK that we bought batteries more often.

Incidently. A battery for the truck would be about $80 Cnd (approx £55) is that reasonable over there ? The $80 here is OK.
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baconsdozen



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That seems pretty cheap for a truck battery.
My Dagenite merc battery lasted ten years and the Lucas one on the rover about the same but its hard to sort out the good from the junk in the UK now so much cheap tat is imported and passed off as being of good quality.
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welshrover



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

a lot of lucas stuff these days is tat. its not original just cheap chinky stuff in lucas boxes. you can tell it by the edges of the lucas lettering its not crisp its blurry . Rolling Eyes
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

baconsdozen wrote:
That seems pretty cheap for a truck battery.
My Dagenite merc battery lasted ten years and the Lucas one on the rover about the same but its hard to sort out the good from the junk in the UK now so much cheap tat is imported and passed off as being of good quality.


This may be of interest. Not my photos, so not the best. Costco, charge $9.50 if you don't bring the old battery back. Attempt to stop them going to the landfill.

http://mikenv.hubpages.com/hub/Kirkland-Car-Batteries
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Phil - Nottingham



Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I get 8-10 years from batteries whther on dynamo or alternator on our 7 classics.

I currently use YUASA 069 on some of the Rovers/Land Roverswith 2 yr guarantee and have an Exide Excel 063 with a 3 year one on the Mini.

Try this place

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290710526947?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I had a Durastart fail in 12 months but that was replaced FOC

I have had various makes but I think its useage and the state of the charging system that determines life - under/oversize capacity batteries will fail earlier than the correct capacity for the load
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baconsdozen



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks but I'm very wary of buying batteries etc on ebay,you can't leave feedback after a year saying battery died etc.
I'd forgotten about Yuasa, I have used their batteries on boats and found them excellent,I'll see if they do one suitable for the taxi.
I know there's a lot of 'iffy' Lucas stuff about,years ago I was offered a load of brake pads familiar looking boxes but a pity they'd spelt Girling with a 'D'.
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Kelsham



Joined: 18 Jan 2009
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Location: Llandrindod Wells Powys

PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is your system charging correctly? One year for a battery seems very poor.
Even my BSA Trike used to last two years when I ran it without the dynamo.
I just ran it on battery for the coil ignition and recharged it when I could.

Once the primitive three brush system was repaired, the next battery lasted five years.

I would think any modern battery should last more than a year.

Regards Kels.
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Phil
I can understand undersized having problems, but why does an oversized capacity cause problems?
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Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Last battery I had lasted 6 or 7 years, and was only a cheapy from the local factors - but I had a conditioner hooked up when the car wasn't being used regularly (which was most of the time). Keeping it exercised seems to help a lot.
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought my first battery for my old Jag from:
http://www.marine-batteries.com/

This was beginning to show signs of weakness after 10 years of intermittent use (6 months each year) but when I went back to complain Wink they refused to replace it so I just bought another one from them. The replacement has done about 9 years now but shows no sign of weakening yet.

Proper hard rubber batteries. They do all types. Not just marine.

Peter
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Churchill Johnson



Joined: 11 Jan 2011
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Location: Rayleigh Essex

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try Varta or Bosh not cheap but good. with the Varta stop start battery one get's two year's road side assistance if the battery fail's.
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Phil - Nottingham



Joined: 01 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Over sized batteries will not receive sufficent "deep" cycling so may not last as long as a correctly sized one that will discharge/recharge sufficiently besides paying for CCA that you will never need
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welshrover



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i try to get ones you can maintain yourself ,fill etc .not to keen on sealed ones .maintenance free i think they call them. i like too see whats happening inside water levels and the like .same with grease points i like to be able to grease them myself. i dont trust sealed for life uj's ,ball joints track, rod ends .and sealed wheel bearings. give me the taper rollers that you can clean ,repack and retension ,
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