Repair to damaged battery post

[magothy1]

On my boat I use a 24 volt set up, two pretty good sized 12 volt batteries in series. One terminal must have been loose and it melted part of the battery post. I used a new clamp, the heavy duty kind with a 5/16 bolt to clamp it to the post and a 3/8 bolt to attach the soldered eyes. I packed the void area inside the clamp with copper wire before I tightened it, so of course I have electrolysis going on. I once read somewhere about pouring Coke on the green looking corrosion fuzz to clean it up, anyone know about that ? Any other ideas to slow the corrosion ? I have to re-do the thing about twice a year. Are those little felt looking washers any help at all ? Thanks- Steve

 

[Wingate]

Ive heard that the washers work, and there is supposedly a spray that works... . Personally, after thoroughly cleaning and installing, I coat the entire area with high temp. silicone grease. I follow that with the rubber boots that cover the posts... I secure them tightly with ty-wraps.

What can't breathe can't grow! If I didn't have access to the grease, I would do something like the washers... or clean the posts twice a year...

 

[seafish]

coating the terminals with Vaseline (which is a very light, petroleum based grease) also works and is not real messy.

 

[cojhl2]

If it is truly electrolysis I'm not sure keeping oxygen away will help. But I don't think what you have between copper and lead is electrolysis. It's probably just plain ole corrosion from battery acid gas (which i don't understand either) causing the problem.

That being the case the above solutions all work. I use a Permatex spray made especially for battery terminal protection.

The coke I guess would have been used to clean the terminals. I would not think that would work because they always say use baking soda, which is base. I think coke is acid.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Baking soda works well. Next time you replace the batteries, get the maintenance free type. The ones with the two push down cell covers that cover three cells each are junk. They will ALWAYS leak and corrode everything the moisture gets on.

 

[Newf Limo]

I agree with the backing soda paste for cleaning. The spray didn't work on my corosion situation. If there is any leaking at the point that the post comes through the plastic housing, the anti corrosion donuts may help. If your battery terminals are the wing nut type, typically found in marine use, this link is for you:





West Marine: West Advisor



Good luck mate!

 

[BarryG]

The coke will clean but not keep it from happening in the future. I think the same with baking soda except when you wash it off the acid will be neutralized (if using coke make sure and rinse everywhere it ran very well). The washers seem like they work as I have used them before myself. However I did have a mechanic tell me once that they are in essence a sponge and again dont keep it from happening just keeps the ensueing mess down a bit. I second the coating stuff. Clean them up real good and then coat them with some type of protectant whether it be some type of grease or the spray type stuff

 

[magothy1]

Been a bit busy and hadn't looked in awhile, thanks for all the information. I'll try the vaseline and baking soda ideas, seems simple, usually the simple stuff works best.

 

[Moe]

I had an 8 D battery burn the post off. I just sawed the remaining post off and drilled a 3/8ths hole into the stub and tapped it out. Went to Auto Zone and got a new post with a bolt built in the post and screwed it in. Used the felt washers and a little diaelectric grease, good as new. HTH Moe

 

[cojhl2]

Been a bit busy and hadn't looked in awhile, thanks for all the information. I'll try the vaseline and baking soda ideas, seems simple, usually the simple stuff works best.

Keep in mind, the Baking Soda is only to clean the posts and neutralize the acid. It performs no protection against new corrosion.

Ooops, just noticed BarryG said the same thing!!!

 

[JLEONARD]

I use the baking soda for cleaning and then after it's all dry a little sandpaper or wire brush to get good material at the surface. Then I use the treated felt washers.

That seems to work best on both the truck and boat.

A friend of mine uses vasoline and that works for him. (on the battery post)