They are getting more expensive, all of the time. I have a 1995 Yamaha 400 Kodiac 4-wheeler which I bought new, and have always just gone to Wal Mart and bought the best battery I could find for it. I think I have probably only bought 3 or maybe 4 batteries for it in it's life time. That would be about 5 years per battery, and the thing set parked outside on the porch for most of it's life and would set for days, even weeks at a time, except in the winter when I had to use it more often, usually 3 to 4 days a week, feeding cattle. 5 years is about all I get out of any battery for anything.
That battery might go a little longer, but sounds like its close to the end of its life. Honestly I'd probably replace it sooner than later...cranking with low voltage can cause starter solenoid contacts to weld together, and can cause problems with electronics too...
Yep, I would take it out, and take it to Wal Mart or O'Reilly's along with my tape measure and look for a battery of same size, and same terminals, with the highest cold cranking amps I could find, and go with it. And check the battery box/holder to see what the max size battery I could shoehorn in there, if you didn't already have the biggest battery that would fit, already. When I buy a battery for anything I want the highest cold cranking amps available, because I want to be able to drive to town the starter if I need to. Just kidding, but you get the point.
I tested our battery which ended up bad, it tested about 12.5 but under load the needle went to bad. They tested it at Advance Auto and they came up with a bad cell.
Not something that would work for everybody, but I use a lawn mower battery rigged up on a back tool box. Hate those expensive ATV batteries, lawn mower batteries are less than 30 bucks and I get about 5 years out of them. Also has more power for the snow plow.
There's really not much of any"extra" room for a bigger battery on ATVs. Obviously you buy the battery with the highest CCA.
New battery (Yuasa YTX14) battery arrived yesterday. Filled it with electrolyte and let it trickle charge overnight. Swapped it in early this AM. Cranks over so much better, lights are brighter, etc. Didn't realize how bad it was.
