Napa(don't) know how.....

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,843
5,066
113
Eastham, Ma
I had an SUV and a van with the junk Walmart batteries. After destroyed battery trays, much corrosion and destroyed windshield washer pumps I had to give up. Yes, they replaced each leaking battery multiple times but the vehicle damage was on me. I agree on the cheap build and suspect that the Walmart buyers pressured the manufacture for every nickle possible. NEVER, NEVER AGAIN, not even a flashlight battery from this store.
YMMV........I have had nothing but good luck with the Walmart Everstart MAXX batteries.
 

DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,237
4,816
113
North East CT
Working on the SIL ‘62 Cadillac last month. Went into Autozone to get some light bulbs and I see their sign for tool rental. Asked them if they had a dwell meter for rent (I already new the answer) and the deer in headlights look that I got still brings a smile to my face.
You don't need a dwell meter to properly set the points on that engine. Once the engine starts, turn the Allen screw in till the engine just starts to stumble, then turn it the other way till it just starts to stumble, and then set it in the middle, and it will be correct dwell. Now you can set the timing with a vacuum gauge if you don't have a timing light.
 
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Yooper

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Lifetime Member

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3901 LA525
May 31, 2015
1,529
529
113
NE Wisconsin
You don't need a dwell meter to properly set the points on that engine. Once the engine starts, turn the Allen screw in till the engine just starts to stumble, then turn it the other way till it just starts to stumble, and then set it in the middle, and it will be correct dwell. Now you can set the timing with a vacuum gauge if you don't have a timing light.
That would be a new trick for an old dog 😉. Actually, your method is the alternative in the manual. And I will not argue with you. I used to leave my distributor loose and turn it to tune it to the gas after every fill up. Back in the day with the venerable 350 Chevy small block. Gosh, I miss those days!
 

Daren Todd

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
May 18, 2014
10,159
6,596
113
Vilonia, Arkansas
I had an SUV and a van with the junk Walmart batteries. After destroyed battery trays, much corrosion and destroyed windshield washer pumps I had to give up. Yes, they replaced each leaking battery multiple times but the vehicle damage was on me. I agree on the cheap build and suspect that the Walmart buyers pressured the manufacture for every nickle possible. NEVER, NEVER AGAIN, not even a flashlight battery from this store.
Were they over tightening the mounts and cracking the batteries???

Of course, I don't let them install anything for me including the battery.
 

will721

Active member

Equipment
LX2610, Ford 2n, Ferguson TO20
Jun 6, 2023
179
186
43
Quad Cities Area
Now I'm out of date by several years now, but outside of imports or "boutique" all batteries were made by one of two companies. East penn and johnson. They are unofficial partners and they pretty much determine who gets what in what state based on whether they are east or west of the Mississippi. That also includes the fancy optimas, interstate, delco, all of them.

Battery construction at scale is not a perfect science, and at the end of the process they are broken up into batches depending on final output. The various brands then get to pick a batch, slap their name on it and go.

Past that usually what determines the lifespan is luck of course, but mostly how it was stored. Many walmarts for instance store them outdoors in shipping containers or aren't cycled properly hence their bad reputation. Nothing wrong with the battery itself just how its stored, so in some areas where theres a good store people have good luck with them. Others not so much.


The leaking Battery in question was probably the result of someone stacking batteries at some point. Likely at the store itself when stocking the shelves. Odds are they wouldn't recieve credit for it when sent back, and that in most cases comes out of the managers bonuses which is based on several factors including warranties. Still bad customer service at the end of the day, but might explain their motivation.
 

lynnmor

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601-1
May 3, 2021
1,445
1,159
113
Red Lion
Were they over tightening the mounts and cracking the batteries???

Of course, I don't let them install anything for me including the battery.
I too never let anyone install batteries. These were Chevrolets with the mounting clamp at the bottom which causes no problem with over tightening. The batteries had internal problems that caused them to cook out electrolyte.
 
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