What size jumper cables to carry?

[terrifictimbersllc]

I want to get a set of jumper cables big enough to start my 42 HP diesel LT40 super off of my truck.  Anyone know what cable size I should get, Sears has 4, 6, and 8 ga 15-20 foot cables pretty reasonable.

[sealark37]

The heavier the cable, (4ga), the lower the resistance.  Always buy the best jumpers you can afford and protect from theft.  Mark the (+) clamp so it is easily identifiable, even in the dark.  Regards, Clark

[JDB]

The bigger the better.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Thanks, I guess I should have asked, is 4 ga big enough for starting a 42HP Kubota diesel, or should I look for bigger ones somewhere else?

[Norm]

The 4 gauge will work fine.

[Ironwood]

Or find some 3/0 welding cable and put your own ends on them. NAPA has some REALLY nice commercial sets, got my wife a set for Christmas one year (her Mom didnt like that too much :D)

Ironwood

[Don_Papenburg]

Some MILs are not into practical gifts. ;)

I would guess that 4ga. would be fine  but 2/0  welding cable would make a real nice set  plus they can be used as extentions on the welder leads if you ever find the need for just a little more reach.

[ladylake]

 The bigger the better and good clamps, mine are 20' long and wieght about 30#.   Your diesel should start without jumping, mine will start down to 0 F and i don't saw any colder than that.  Steve

[DanG]

Long and fat!  If you only have a skinny set, you can let it sit there charging for a little while and drink an extra cup of coffee while it charges up the mill battery.  It's usually a good idea to do that anyway, even if you have big ol' fat cables. ;)

[captain_crunch]

2-0 welding cable X16 ft. What Sears has Ain't gonn a hold a candle to welding lead. Been there and done it. If you need em then spend the money and get ones that will out last you

[Magicman]

The weak link many times with small gauge cables is the clamp.  Good 4 gauge cables generally have better clamps.  Bigger is better in many ways.

[Sprucegum]

Make sure you get a set that can clip on to those skinny little side screws some batteries have instead of a genuine post. You don't want that frustration you already have a battery problem to deal with.

Thirty years ago I broke the bank buying 25 feet of welding cable and good quality clamps. They have paid for themselves just about every year since then. A couple months ago I was in a parking lot when a guy 2 stalls over needed a boost. He was going to try to find the other car owners to get them moved but I told him no need and pulled out my super cables. Ya shoulda seen his eyes pop  :D

[backwoods sawyer]

The 42hp Kubota takes about as much draw as a small car to start, but like everyone else, I carry a long, heavy set in every one of my vehicles. Glad someone else cared enough to give there wife a good set to.
Having long jumper cables saved me one morning. With the mill set up on a couple day job I found the battery very weak on the second morning. Lumber, logs sawdust and tailing pile made getting the truck in close for a jump out of the question, however the long cables reached right over the mill and the log deck with room to spare. Get a good set and keep track of them and you will be glad you did.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Exactly right.  If I thought I would need them I'd get a new battery. But one doesn't usually find out until it's cold and the glow plug relay quits, something was left on,  or there's some other hindrance to starting.

[mometal77]

terrifictimbersllc

With the price of copper at 2.50 a ib a few yrs ago I went to the local recyclers and got some heavy duty old welding lead and used the old clamps.  You can go as long as you want. The neat thing is if you make a set up they can be spooled up on a metal wheel.  Just an idea. But this worked for me.

[Don_Papenburg]

I remember years ago my sis got a nice set of jumpers for my dad.  They had a nice big round cable   cover . Looked  like 2/0 cable  , so looked a little closer , the darn things could not have been even 8ga. :(

[Buck]

I use welding leads and clamps from NAPA. Make them long enough to pull up behind a vehicle and reach it to jump it. I never get in a bind when there is plenty of room to get around or close.

[captain_crunch]

Your average jumper cables are long on insulation(makeing them look heavy duty) with Big plastic clamps. 2/0 welding cable with NAPA clamps will last you a lifetime

[AvT]

I have had a set of what one would consider medium duty cables for about 30 years.  No, they dont look very good anymore and should be replaced but I don't recall ever doing any repairs to them.  Any cable will start your little 42 HP motor.  I had a couple of D8 cats and a D6 and a bunch of other stuff and my cables got plenty of use.  If you are going to use them 10 times a year don't get the cheapest ones

[Bandmill Bandit]

I have yet to find a "good" pair of "store bought cables"! I make my own, and since the last 2 pair got "borrowed" off the back of my pick up they new set now resides under the passenger seat in the cab.

I use 30 feet of #2/0 welding cable cut in half to make 2 15 foot cables and buy heavy duty clamps with the stiffest springs i can find at the local industrial supply store. I solder copper tips on the ends of the cables and then bolt them to the clamps with1/4 inch bolts and tack weld the nuts to the clamps so they don't come loose.

They have never let me down but you gota protect em too cause any one that sees em will want them.  

[ljmathias]

I agree with the advice to buy or make the biggest you can- I've bought half a dozen sets over the years, and all my kids agree that those are the ones that work best.  Unfortunately, since they all have mine, I can't find any to jump my tractor when it needs it, like just last week!   :-[  Guess I'll have to put that on my list of things to buy (again) next trip to town...

Lj