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Old 06-14-2018, 06:35 PM   #1
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Post Battery Question

Hi!
We are looking at a 2000 Thomas 5.9L Cummings, with an Allison Transmission.
It has been parked for a while and they said it needs a new battery but couldn't tell me what kind. Can you all point me in the right direction? I found an Odyssey Extreme Battery but they offer 5 different shapes/sizes and they all say universal?!? Thanks in advance.

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Old 06-14-2018, 06:54 PM   #2
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Hope you aren't the one bidding against me for the bus in South Carolina.

I picked up two batteries for about 325 to put in a 2000 thomas I'm trying to find a picture so you can have the brand and size
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Old 06-14-2018, 06:57 PM   #3
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I took this pic of the old ones and went to the auto store they got me the right ones
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Old 06-14-2018, 07:03 PM   #4
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Thank you very much! $325 sounds like a great deal. I'll check them out.
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Old 06-14-2018, 09:10 PM   #5
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I knew I would eventually need them so I picked up 2 of these 31-5T batteries. My bus has a single good battery that I will swap out for these.
$125ea/$20 core charge I was right at $290 + for 2 of them. More power than an Interstate, less money.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=31-5t+battery
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Old 06-15-2018, 04:24 AM   #6
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I paid $190 out the door for two brand new batteries at Rural King.
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:22 AM   #7
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i used a 10w solar panel and refrbished my batteries.
charger said bad cells. i said "no you stupid charger, you just dont know what the **** you are doing"
topped off with distilled water, and out emnin a sunny spot.
put back on charger a few months later, charger now says "a okay"
ie; i used a "desulfator" even though the panel doesnt quite work like that.
none the less, these tiny panels are great at bringing batteries "back from the dead" if you have the time and 30 bucks.
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Old 06-15-2018, 01:24 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
I knew I would eventually need them so I picked up 2 of these 31-5T batteries. My bus has a single good battery that I will swap out for these.
$125ea/$20 core charge I was right at $290 + for 2 of them. More power than an Interstate, less money.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=31-5t+battery
That's exactly what I got from the same place but mine were 325ish in South Carolina
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:46 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
I knew I would eventually need them so I picked up 2 of these 31-5T batteries. My bus has a single good battery that I will swap out for these.
$125ea/$20 core charge I was right at $290 + for 2 of them. More power than an Interstate, less money.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=31-5t+battery
Thank you 01marc , thats a sweet deal too.
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:49 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nachowarrior View Post
i used a 10w solar panel and refrbished my batteries.
charger said bad cells. i said "no you stupid charger, you just dont know what the **** you are doing"
topped off with distilled water, and out emnin a sunny spot.
put back on charger a few months later, charger now says "a okay"
ie; i used a "desulfator" even though the panel doesnt quite work like that.
none the less, these tiny panels are great at bringing batteries "back from the dead" if you have the time and 30 bucks.
Impressive, most impressive!
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Old 06-25-2018, 09:39 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladibug00 View Post
Thank you very much! $325 sounds like a great deal. I'll check them out.
Sounds like a terrible deal to me. See ECCB's comment. I bought two of these.


https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli8da


Which is the equivalent of 3 of his batteries (1400CCA each). The 5.9L probably dosen't need near 2800 CCA but then I went months with not starting the bus and it fired right up.
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Old 06-25-2018, 09:56 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
Sounds like a terrible deal to me. See ECCB's comment. I bought two of these.


https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli8da


Which is the equivalent of 3 of his batteries (1400CCA each). The 5.9L probably dosen't need near 2800 CCA but then I went months with not starting the bus and it fired right up.
3 of my battery is around 2700 CCA.
But I only need one G31 battery to start any bus I've owned. I run 2.
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Old 06-25-2018, 10:34 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
3 of my battery is around 2700 CCA.
But I only need one G31 battery to start any bus I've owned. I run 2.
Yup, I know; was just pointing it out for the O.P. I'd have gone the same route as you 'cept my bus came with the 8Ds so I stayed with it. Group 31 batteries will do just fine especially for a 5.9L. Price wise 2 of those is MUCH cheaper than 2 of the 8D batteries but that's not comparing apples to apples. It takes three of the Group 31s to equal two of the 8Ds. That's still cheaper using the Rural King price but is about the same elsewhere.
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Old 07-01-2018, 08:54 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Ladibug00 View Post
Hi!
We are looking at a 2000 Thomas 5.9L Cummings, with an Allison Transmission.
It has been parked for a while and they said it needs a new battery but couldn't tell me what kind. Can you all point me in the right direction? I found an Odyssey Extreme Battery but they offer 5 different shapes/sizes and they all say universal?!? Thanks in advance.
The battery size is usually group 31. It usually requires 3 of those batteries To start these diesel engines in very cold weather . The batteries would be wired in parallel .the exception would be if you used a Maxwell Capacitor start battery Then a single battery would started but you still required to have the standard batteries For the computer and ignition system And house batteries .
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Old 07-01-2018, 01:59 PM   #15
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after you get your battery invest is a solar powered, roof mounted panel that provides a trickle charge to the batteries when it’s sitting.
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