Forklift Battery Potential

[Nemo]

I've got a line on 2 forklift batteries.  They are relatively new (3 years), but probably not well maintained.  I believe I can get them fairly cheaply because the seller just wants them gone and doesn't seem to know their value.  Charger is not available as far as I'm aware.  Battery Specs are:
Type: DEKA 18-D125-15
Nominal Voltage: 36 V
Rated 6 Hr. A.H. Capacity: 875 A
Finish Rate: 44 Amps
Full charge Specific Gravity: 1.280-1.295

This would seem like a shortcut to setting up a beefy behind-the-meter system, but there are ALWAYS details and shortcuts are never as short as they first appear. I didn't think I'd be in this position for years, and even then with Li-ion, so I'm tossing it out to others who may have some good considerations.  Unfortunately I don't have a lot of the info I'd like to make a decision, like household peak/total power draw, solar availability throughout the year etc. I am also trying to educate myself through other sites, but I value the feedback from this community most.

Key Questions
- Are there easy ways to check/confirm ballpark SOH without a full charge/discharge?
- Can I use in a grid tied, behind-the-meter solar set-up at 36V or should I consider rewiring the two batteries into one larger 24V system?
- Is this too big? I thought there might be limitation with lead-acid that there aren't with Li-ion

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Sean]

Yes, they'll be usable - but how cheap is cheap ?

[Nemo]

Yes, they'll be usable - but how cheap is cheap ?

My understanding is that they're going to scrap them when they do their annual yard clean-up, so cheap = potentially free.  This sounds great of course, but I'm not really prepared and if they turn out to be boat anchors, or I can't do anything with them for a year or two and they become boat anchors I've taken on the cost to get rid of them.  Each weighs in at 2480 lbs (1125 kg) so we're talking pretty big potential anchors.

[Sean]

They'll have a scrap value, even if they have been destroyed through neglect - if you can measure a reasonable voltage across each cell theres a good chance they'll perk up under a hefty charge.

If you dont take them quickly someone else will, forklift batterys are quite sought after.

[Korishan]

I was trying to get a pair for FL batteries from a local store. They've had them sitting in the back room for almost a year (one of them actually is over a year). But they won't let me have them due to "Liability concerns". Another manager said that a Hazmat license would be needed. So, I'm going to see about getting that license, as it costs <$100. Worth it to get a pair of batteries for free.

As Sean said, even if they are duds, they have scrap value. The steel is worth a good price, and the lead is worth a good price. So in either situation, they were worth some sort of value, either electrical value, or monetary value. Go for it!