Recommendation for new "OEM" battery box

[ScottyG]

Does anyone have any experience with the flood of aftermarket battery boxes up for sale on E-bay? I'd like one as close to OEM as possible of course but am concerned by the quality that's available since the prices vary widely.

Are they 14gauge steel?
Is there a mounting post for the rear light?
How's the size/fit compared to original?
Any particular sales source that you'd recommend?

Thanks!!

[Bigdog]

Originals are still available from Case IH.

[johnbron]

You will be taking a gamble on the ones on eBay. I gambled and for $38 I got a real nice complete box on eBay BUT it is mighty flimsy on metal thickness. I am still debating whether I will use it or not. I dont remember who the seller was but if you see a picture of a nicely painted shine`y BLACK complete box on eBay it will likely be the same flimsy one I got.

[beaconlight]

Wengers sells a repro that is thin and flimsey pricy too.

Bill

[johnbron]

peluker is the E-bay seller you spoke of. He does sell the cheaper reproduction battery box kit.

I see a few original boxes sell, but most have pretty significant rust. The CASE/IH boxes are a good quality steel, not flimsy. You get what you pay for basically.

Nope it weren`t no Peluker that I got mine from. The seller I bought from is named Marmaduke. Here is another one he has for sale just like the one I got.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 36024&rd=1

This guy always has a lot of tractor re-pro parts for sale.

[ScottyG]

Thanks for all of your great advice guys. I'll check out IH/Case to price them out first. How about Joe's Farmall Parts?

[Ralph]

The boxes that OEM sells are the good ones about $100.

[Rick Prentice]

The aftermarket ones for sale on Ebay look nice from a distance, but you might as well throw your work light away because the flimsy brkt they spot weld on is worthless. You start your tractor up and the light starts vibrating back and forth and would probably brake off in less than an hour. Mine was purchased from Peluker. I had to drill out the spot welds and fabricate a new brkt like the original, now it's fine. You also have to watch for the tool boxes made. Some are heavy like the originals and some are paper thin.

[johnbron]

That was the first thing I noticed that I did not like on My new battery box was the flimsy work light bracket. I also am going to replace it with a heavier guage bracket.

[Rudi]

Get the originals from CaseIH. The price difference is not that substantial on the US side of the border as it is here in Canada. If the original is too pricey for your wallet, you might save 20 bucks by getting the box from Steiner. Better yet, try http://www.jptractorsalvage.com or http://www.tmtractor.com seeing as they are the board sponsors

My chum Gord has one from Steiner - not bad, but nothing to write home about.

As for the OEM boxes -- not sure, but based on some of the conversations I have with them, also their refusal to ship via USPS means that I WILL NEVER BUY DIDDLEY SQUAT FROM THEM EVER

Questions to ask - what guage steel are the boxes made from? 14 ga, 16 ga or 18 ga. If less than 14 ga - stay away. My boxes are 14 ga and are very close to the original. Same goes for the tool boxes.

Second question. Is the steel sand kote or bare steel?

Third question. What type primer and how many coats?

Best to be informed before bidding.

Yust me opinion mi amigos.

[George Willer]

The aftermarket ones for sale on Ebay look nice from a distance, but you might as well throw your work light away because the flimsy brkt they spot weld on is worthless. You start your tractor up and the light starts vibrating back and forth and would probably brake off in less than an hour. Mine was purchased from Peluker. I had to drill out the spot welds and fabricate a new brkt like the original, now it's fine. You also have to watch for the tool boxes made. Some are heavy like the originals and some are paper thin.

Rick,

You're right about the poor spot weld. That's exactly what happened to cause me to lose the bullet work light from my '51 as I wrote in another thread.

I wonder if the seller found that light laying along the road? I've told this story before, but I lost one like it when the !@#$% bracket on a !@#$%reproduction battery box broke off... Somewhere between Findlay, OH and Fremont, OH. I had just put it on for the show and didn't have the wire connected.

That experience was what made me start to make my own battery boxes. It was an expensive lesson. The light was far more valuable than the !@#$%^battery box.



As to the thickness of the metal... I think it isn't as important as most think. Thick or thin, if the rust gets a chance to start they will all quickly rust out. I think most rust problems with battery boxes, tool boxes, seat brackets, and platforms are caused by the battery acid from OVERCHARGING batteries. I use the same thickness as original.

[IH GIRL]

They boxes we carry are aftermarket (the OEM ones actually) (did carry thost "black ones" But stopped after we came across these nicer ones. ) Quality is pretty nice. Not sure what gauge they are, but not thin. Can sell the box with front and top which will come with the rubber grommets and J bolts for 95.00. Use to come in primer, but now in bare metal ready for primer.

[ScottyG]

IH Girl. Do you sell just the box? My top and front are fine.

[ScottyG]

How about it George? Are you selling those purdy boxes you're making?

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Scotty, Jamie doesn't get a chance to read the board to often due to business load, but you might want to email her at parts@jptractorsalvage.com