[Healeys] 6 volt batteries

[Jean Caron]

While I believe and trust what you were told by your friend. I wonder sometimes what really causes the problems with some of these parts and accessories. I have a hard time believing that a company like Interstate, just because their batteries are made in another country, they cannot be of equal quality. Unless they change the method and the standard under which these are assembled, it should not matter whether they are made in Mexico, USA, Bangladesh or China. The quality should be the same, the only savings here should be that they are assembled by someone making $1.00 an hour as opposed to someone making $12.00 an hour and for all I know, they could be assembled by a robot, so it should matter even less.

If however, in order to keep the prices down, Interstate changes the standard the battery is supposed to meet, that is something else entirely.


Jean


________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net>
Sent: January 13, 2018 4:54 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] 6 volt batteries


On another note, the guy who has rebuilt a couple starters and a generator for me has this to say:

"I was a Interstate Distributor for 25 years, they were an excellent quality battery. These batteries are manufactured for Interstate by Johnson Control who was manufacturing the batteries here in California, however as all Companies want to make more profit about 5 years ago they shut down operations in California and started making the batteries in Mexico, well you can see what that will do, the quality started to drop down tremendously to a point were they have high battery failure we had to drop selling Interstate Batteries. Most mechanic will not install these batteries in their customers vehicle's. Now you can buy Interstate Batteries at Costco, even Triple AAA sells them, just junk batteries. There is a battery which we are currently selling called Deka,this battery is manufactured in the USA and they have an excellent record, we have been selling them for a while and have not had any problems."

I've had bad experiences with Interstate--OEM battery for my Mustang--and Motorcraft (also Hecho en Mexico but not sure if by Johnson Controls).  He thinks JC might still make batteries in the US, but only the eastern states get them.  He also theorizes that recycling lead may cause problems.  I have a Deka in my Mustang and so far, so good.

FWIW, my 'source' is Mexican.

Bob


On 1/11/2018 5:52 AM, Bob Begani wrote:

Immediately after reading the inquiry regarding 6 volt batteries, I viewed my friends new old car British made 53 Lagonda he had just imported from Portugal, which had 2 new Exide 6 Volt batteries under the bonnet.  I decided to see if they were available just in case they failed in the near future.  Googling Exide 6 volt batteries or 6 volt batteries went nowhere.  Found the most information from the Model T, and Antique Tractor lists because the 6 volt batteries are available as Tractor Batteries.



Autozone has a Duralast under the part number 1-6Volt. If you do not use that code you will not find it.  It is made by Johnson Controls a quality battery manufacturer who makes Sears Diehard and others.  Also,  Tractor Supply under Exide Heavy-Duty Commercial Battery, 1 for $69.99. SKU# 47050699  If you cannot find it ask for a Tractor battery at your local store.  They will say “oh, that one” because it is not listed as a 6 volt battery, just a tractor battery, and they are instock.



Also, when searching for a 6 volt battery try the generic description 6 volt Group 1.



Have fun.



Bob Begani

BJ8 ‘67






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