Batteries For Lawn Mowers

The right lawn mower battery helps keep your mowing routine on track, whether you’re tending a small yard or tackling grass around the barn. Finding a replacement starts with knowing what powers your machine. Gas-powered riding mowers and lawn tractors often have a 12-volt starting battery to crank the engine, while cordless electric lawn mowers run on rechargeable battery packs designed for their particular power system. Before choosing a battery for your lawn mower, check the owner’s manual for the required voltage, battery type and size. For riding lawn mower batteries, terminal placement and cold cranking amps, or CCA, matter, too. The battery needs to fit securely in its tray, connect to the cables without stretching them and meet the mower manufacturer’s starting requirements. A matching voltage alone doesn’t guarantee the right fit, so comparing these details can help you avoid a replacement battery that won’t work with your equipment. Taking care of your lawn mower battery can help it stay ready through mowing season and storage between cuts. With a gas-powered mower, slow engine cranking or repeated trouble starting can point to a weak battery, but loose connections, corrosion or charging-system trouble may cause similar symptoms. Follow the owner’s manual for inspecting terminals and connections, and have the battery tested before deciding it needs replacing. For battery-powered lawn mowers, choose a replacement pack approved for your mower’s battery platform and pair it with a compatible charger. Amp-hour ratings can help you compare capacity within a compatible lineup, though mowing time also depends on grass height, moisture, terrain and how hard the mower is working. Follow the battery manufacturer’s charging and storage directions, especially before putting the mower away for winter, and keep batteries away from extreme temperatures. A little attention to battery fit, charging and care goes a long way toward keeping your mower ready for the next round of yard work.