battery

[1963tjm]

Has anybody put a bigger batt in there 610 mule? I see thundehawk sells a kit, but it seems kinda pricey for no more then it is. Thanks tjm

[MrGiggles]

I'm sure you could, with a little modification to the battery tray. I don't know much about mules so I can't help a lot, but it might involve fabricating a new tray.

What is your reasoning behind a bigger battery?

[1963tjm]

The stock battery is very small and weak.

[MrGiggles]

Have you tried upgrading to a better higher amperage battery?

A Kinetik 600 will fit I'm assuming and is probably much better than the stocker.

[86klf300guy]

hello welll rcw will see this post he is most knowledgeable on these machines hell be able to tell you what you can do for the punny battery situation -corey-

[RCW]

I frankly think the OEM 610 batteries should be replaced for two reasons. The plates shed lead from the vibration and bouncing of the Mule, so the battery loses a great deal of its capacity in a very short time. The batteries are simply too small for the kind of use a Mule receives and must be kept on a desulphator type maintainer/charger when idle, or they permanently lose 60% of their capacity in just a few weeks.

There are two alternatives, go to the site sponsor, or to Batterystuff.com if they do not have one, and get one of their higher capacity AGM type substitutes, or modify the battery holder to use an Optima Red Top automotive battery.

My preferred solution is to use the Optima Red Top automotive battery, but it takes a bit of modification. You have to make the battery holder larger to fit the Optima, but the Optima can be mounted on its side and not leak or be adversely impacted by vibration.

I you have a reasonable set of skills, pull the passenger seat and measure the space really available with some slight modification to the compartment. The metal needed to make the modifications is readily available from places like Lowes, and can be handled with a sawsall and a metal cutting blade.

Then make a new battery box, and install the Optima - that is all I use. You will not regret that decision. I have Optima's still in service on diesel tractors that were the very first Optima batteries commercially available, and they are going strong years and years later. The Optima is completely vibration resistant, and will never corrode the terminals or eat through the battery box.

[86klf300guy]

that optima battery ie the best you pay a little more now but youll save a lot in the long run they are the toughest batterys made like rcw said you can lay on its side and it will not hurt this battery and vibrations ha nothing will hurt this type battery.try layin a normal battery on its side it doesnt end well.so if you have some fabrication skills or know sumone that does this will definitly make a big differece....see i said rcw will have the answer for this sounds like he been around the block wonce er twice with these machines ---corey-