UR or UL battery terminals

[gloughery]

I am following Charlie’s advice and ordered an Interstate C75DT-XHD battery and not sure if a right-side positive will fit all 169 and older IHCC’s. I looked at all of mine and there is a mix of UL and UR but I see hints in older wiring that the positive is on the right. I need this for a 70 thru 169 and hopefully don’t have to worry about different battery box sizes. Is there anything else I’m not thinking of, these batteries aren’t cheap so I want to get it right. I seem to need a new battery every 3 to 5 years. Thanks all!

 

[bjames]

I don't think that battery will fit without an altered battery box.
You need a U1 battery. I've never thought an Interstate was any better than others but I don't know.

https://www.interstatebatteries.com...-garden&subcategoryKey=&ignorecategoryid=true

 

[snicklas]

On the 1x8/9, Quietlines and 82 Series, when standing behind the tractor, it is on the right, with the posts toward the front of the box. I believe (dont have one handy to look at) on the narrow frames, I believe it is, standing behind the tractor (or sitting in the seat) it is on the left, with the posts toward the steering wheel side, so the post on the same side.

 

[gloughery]

I doubled checked the measurements and the battery I ordered is too big as BJAMES thought. The original wires on the 122 have a short red wire on the right side that will not cross over to the left side without stressing the connections. I think I need a UR battery, or a UR1, for this wiring; unless of course the PO changed the wiring. I guess it really doesn’t matter as long as I have extra wire? I’ll have to go back and look at the 169 in the box too. I have a mix of UL and UR batteries now and don’t know how I got this so mixed up

 

[mgwin]

I am not an expert on batteries, but I have done some experimenting with them.
I have found out that an expensive battery goes bad almost as fast as a cheap one. I also found out that cold weather is very hard on a battery, along with not keeping it charged up. Sitting on a shelf in the store is hard on a battery also.
I have been told that a battery sitting on a cement floor will ruin, but I have not tried that yet. I do place mine on boards if I do sit one on the floor.

The battery in my S-10 was getting very weak because of age. Since I drive it less than 500 miles a year, I did not want to buy an expensive battery. I went to wally world and bought a cheap battery that had a new manufacturer sticker on top. These stickers give the month of manufacture.
It was late October, and the battery had a Oct. sticker on it. I figured that was a "fresh" enough battery for me. LOL
Around January, it got cold, down in the teens. (don't laugh Charlie!) I thought, "now I will see what kind of battery I have." I had not cranked my truck in over a week, but it cranked right up just like it was a warm day! My truck has sat, at times for almost two months and still cranks fine.

I bought a high dollar gel battery for my fourwheeler, and it lasted about one year longer than the cheaper batteries. I now have a cheaper battery. LOL!
As for a battery for my cubs, I go to wally world in the spring when the batteries are "fresh" and buy the cheaper garden style battery (usually around $25). These last just as long as the expensive ones, and sometimes even longer. I do keep my cubs in a somewhat climate controlled area. This helps a lot also.
This has been my experience with batteries. Hope this helps.

 

[snicklas]

I agree with Marty on the batteries. I use Interstate Economy batteries in all my vehicles. even my 6.0PSD which takes a ton of power. They are ~$50 at the the Interstate Battery store. I think at this point I've bought almost a dozen of these. Not because they fail quick..... they last as long a the expensive ones, I've put them in that many vehicles. I am on the 3rd set in my diesel, but if you get much past 4 years on a set in a 6.0 you are extremely lucky (I've has the 6.0 for 13+ years, that's also why I am on the 3rd set).

For garden tractor batteries, I get the ~$20 from wherever, Wally-World, Orschlein, Auto Zone, Big R..... etc. They seem to last 3-5 years for me, however, my tractors stay in the attached garage (if they are in the barn. it's for longer storage and they have no fuel (run till stalls) and no battery) and it is fairly climate controlled. The furnace-A/C is in there , so it stays warmer in the winter (mid 50's+) and in the summer cooler than outside. I can normally hop on, and hit the key and they fire right up, summer or winter. At Dad's a garden tractor battery seemed to last maybe a year. But his garage/shop is not climate controlled. It's a corrugated steel building, so it's hotter than h**l in the summer, and a deep freeze in the winter (East Central Illinois). Several years ago, he started using a "battery tender" (not the brand, the concept) and the batteries are lasting much longer now. Go out, hit the key and they fire up. He even uses one on his car that doesn't get driven much. I have one here for which ever vehicle is "off duty"....... that seems to help a bunch.

 

[gloughery]

Well three batteries for the price of one is a good deal, I will go that way. I still have the problem with the location of the positive terminal, so maybe I’ll just make longer wires. Thanks all.

 

[mgwin]

How are you placing the battery in the tractor? are you putting it in with the terminals close to the dash tower?
Here is a pic of my 100 and how I have the battery placed. You should have pretty much the same setup.

 

[gloughery]

Perfect picture, thank you. Yes that’s how I set mine as well. I just need to get longer battery cables and it won’t matter if it’s UL or UR. Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[Brinley149]

I have a Orschlen battery I bought for my zero turn that's on its 6th mowing season now. I pull it out at the end of every season and charge it and store it in the garage through the winter. No complaints and I bought one for the 149 and hope it last as well.

 

[bfolkersma]

Interstate batteries and everstart are both made by johnson controls.