rogerL1961

Looking to brainstorm this!!!

Ok..I have battery cable connectors that seem to be tightened all the way and yet they aren't tight on the battery posts. Anyone have any ideas how to tighten them further without replacing the posts?

I thought about getting a piece if lead and pounding it real thin and then wrapping it around the battery posts before I put the Connectors on and also putting some Dielectric grease in there...What do you think?

Or anyone have a better suggestion?

They are tightened all the way and are still loose so help me with a trick!!!

mikmaze

I used to use a penny, give it a bend in the vise, slip it between the post and then tighten down on it........ cheap, one cent repair !

snoyes

Actually neat idea with the penny,

Try and find a "wheat" penny which is copper. Probably a better conductor than than modern penny.

Mr Bee

I have used copper tubing and slit it length wise (Home depot / Lowes
or even a hobby store.) That way you will retain contact the entire circumfrence of the post. and since it is already round, little or no shaping required.

Penny is a darn good idea....

Bad Ramer Jamer

If I'm thinking of this right, could you take the bolt out of the clamp, and then run a hack saw through the clamp, allowing it to tighten a little more.

vzdude

Take a die grinder and grind some of the space between the battery cable end where it comes together. For lack of a better description, here is a crude drawing. You can always open it back up when you replace the battery - so no big deal. NOTE!!! - Don't grind directly over the batteries! Sparks and batteries can be bad!

Foxborough

When you tighten the bolt all the way down you probably have no gap between the clamp. remove the bolt, open the clamp and remove some of the materal that is currently making contact (1/16 each side). Then when you tighten the bolt there will be a space and all clamping force will be on the post not between bolt. ... Oops sorry two guys already beat me to it.

snoyes

And one of them built a diagram... Man, those guys are good!!

vzdude

Oh LORD ! Don't give me any credit for the sloppy drawing!

DaveB.inVa

Actually any penny prior to 1982 is copper... well except for the 1943 steel and the rare chance you find one of the aluminum trial pennies made in the 70's.

Bad Ramer Jamer

I said it first. Na na, na, na na!!

InfernoB

Three minds that came up with a similar idea at realitvely the same time. You guy's are awesome.
Having done that before I know it works.

vzdude

The ones that get tricky are the "low torque" band type. You have to get creative to get those to tighten up! LOL

rogerL1961

Good Ideas guys.....I thought about cutting the middle of the clamp out like the diagram shows but when I looked at the bolt it is already at its end of where the head hits the clamp even...That doesnt make much sense how I wrote that. So I was hoping for a plan two.

I wonder if the penny trick would cause any kind of electrolisis.....you know...dissimiliar metals creating a corrosive atmosphere?

I went down to the the local Discount tire and found two lead tire weights on the ground........I hammered them out real nice and thin and they look like they will work. I am glad you guys posted what you did because it lets me know I am on the right track.
Now to read about which batteries are the best.....Optima? Interstate? Auto zone? Walmart?

Love this website....

Good work everyone....

Mr Bee

Optima batteries... TOPS