Re: [HSS] Battery Jack & The Sad Saga of the Optima

Unknown
Unknown
in Hudson 1916 - 1929







Paul,

 

This is disturbing stuff about Optima
batteries.  I'm running a 12v. starting battery in my big magneto-ignition
Sunbeam and it's behaving perfectly - gives me heaps of starting grunt and
recharges quickly.  On that basis I was planning to use another in my
smaller Sunbeam and do without a dynamo (correct British term for the era)
altogether, as the amount of night driving you do in a 1914 car isn't
great.  Optimas are very expensive, but my experience to date is
good.  Anyone else having problems like Paul's?

 

Cheers....... Peter R.

----- Original Message -----



Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 8:37
AM

Subject: [HSS] Battery Jack & The Sad
Saga of the Optima


Some weeks before Geoff Clark arrived in SoCal this
past Spring to resuscitate a trio of ailing Super Sixes, I ordered a new 6v
Optima battery to replace the 10 year old one that was in the 1929 Hudson. I
ordered from a local chain store that had in the past been able to supply
these in a few days. Weeks went by and after several trips to the store the
battery finally came and it wouldn't hold a charge. It was replaced after
another series of calamities and the second new good battery ended up going
into the '39 Caddie which was desperate for one getting ready for the Chino
Airshow.

Another new one was ordered for the '29 from an online source
called Battery Jack. Despite promises, this battery was delivered in weeks
rather than days and needed phone prompting to get that. The battery they
delivered was new in wrap, but would not take a full charge. After a few weeks
of trying both a 10 amp charger & the Battery Tender, I gave up and sent
it back to them. Another TWO MONTHS went by and after numerous phone calls I
finally received a package from Battery Jack - containing the old battery back
again.

I was so hot about this that I was sputtering & spitting and
threw it on the Battery Tender again just to verify it was still the same bad
battery. Sure enough, a red light! I checked it again after lunch and much to
my surprise, it green light was on and has been for several hours
since.

What gives here? Why would a battery refuse to take a charge a
few months ago but perform properly now? I didn't mark the battery in any way
and cannot be sure this is even the same one. All I can think to do is to put
it in the Hudson and see how it performs.

Battery Jack has the worst
customer service I have ever run across in an auto parts supplier and I will
be looking to try the place Jim mentioned a few weeks ago when the '26 is
ready for its new battery. Beyond the four months of grief and bad faith, I'm
still not clear on what to expect from these Optima batteries. In the past,
they have always needed little or no time on a 1.25 amp Battery Tender. Now I
have had two this year that would not hit green nor respond to the 10 amp push
from a regular charger.

How can I realistically tell when the new
battery is up to snuff and when it not? When is a continuing Red light a
warning sign?



Paul O'Neil
SoCal
1926 Hudson
Anderson Coupe
1929 Hudson Town Sedan
1939 Cadillac Coupe (How'd that
get in here?)

www.cichet.us
www.aeromark.net
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