Battery-Terminal Tip

[Teflon-Mike]

Lots of posts about at the moment with people messing with batteries. Must be the cold weather. Anyway, was re-fitting the battery to Snowie's Super-Dream, and thought a few of you may be interested in this little tip, that makes fiddling with batteries that bit easier.

Common problem is the 'semi' captive nut for the terminal screw. It likes its freedom, and usually makes a bid for it somwhere into the bowls of the bodywork when you takle the wires off!

Then it vexes you for ages, refusing to sit straight or stay still, while you try and put the screw back in, when putting the battery back on.

They like to tease, too, and the battery makers make the scres just that tad too short, so that when teh nut has tipped backwards, its not 'quite' long enough to reach the nut and get it back on its seat.

But, quick trick, helps aleviate all them fun and games.

https://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w269/teflons-torque/Little%20Dreams/BatTerm1.jpg
Cut a small section of rubber pipe, the thickness of the gap behind the battery terminal. Here I'm using some fuel hose I had lying about, but a short section of the plastic over-flow pipe that comes with a new battery, or off the old one works just as well.
https://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w269/teflons-torque/Little%20Dreams/BatTerm2.jpg
Use it to wedge the nut against the terminal post.
https://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w269/teflons-torque/Little%20Dreams/BatTerm3.jpg
Job Jobbed.
Provided your not too ham fisted, normally holds the nut in place well enough for you to get the screw in and tightened up, and its then held in place for next time, by the end of the screw poking through.

On the vertical screw terminals on some older bikes, the over-flow pipe is often perfect to lift the captive in them up to where the screw starts.

Teaching old hands to suck eggs, its an old trick, and its so simple and obviouse, it probably seems hardly worth a mention.... but how many people have been cursing the wobbly nut lately! So if it helps.....
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[dragstaar]

haha, My battery isn't like this, but i have had some which drove me insane, so i'll bear this in mind!

My one now has a thread in the battery terminal, so i just screw the nut in

[brianmm]

Nice one Teflon,I have been buggering about with my leatherman at odd angles keeping the things in place .Cheers

[Pete.]

The ones with a hollow cube terminals are even worse, I fit the nuts and fill the cavity with silicone sealer to secure them for next time.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[The Shaggy D.A.]

The CB has the hollow cube type - right fiddly pain in the arse. I tear a strip of paper/cardboard/tissue, roll it up and wedge it in to keep the nut from moving. Liking the silicone sealer idea, it stops the nut going walkies when you pull the battery out too
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[map]

A good tip but I have an alternative.

Those type of battery terminals have a V groove on the back to take the shape of the nut.

A small dab (and I mean small, minute, dot) of bluetac on the bottom of the nut seats it into the groove.
Then just a thumb on the top of the nut and screw in connector.

Works for me anyhow, more ways to skin a cat and all that.


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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Teflon-Mike]

VF has the open cube terminals. Thats where I discovered that a bit of the over-flow pipe is just the right diameter to fit inside under the nut, holding it up high enough to reach with the screw!

Another tip; especially if you have more than one bike, is to use a magic marker to label it on the back. I write which bike it belongs to, and when it was bought. Some note when it was last charged or topped up.

(I also try and write 'scrap' on confirmed duffers.... saves silly questions later.... but doesn't always work!)
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Blue_SV650S]

If we are going for battery top tips, then I have another one for you!

Basically, lifting out a battery can be a right pain/faff on some bikes ... the solution?? A Duck-Tape handle/strap!

Basically loop round the battery with the tape, make a section with a separate strip, sticky side to sticky side (handle area).

Now lifting your battery out is like picking up your handbag - job done!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[Walloper]

Ya bunchaphannies....

Some of you need to Man-the-fuck-up!!!

Batteries have been around for years.

If the battery is 'properly maintained' there should be very, very seldom any need to phuk wiv it.

One should have ensured the battery was in good nick to carry the machine through the winter.

Fail Fail Fail for anyone caught out.

The information is easily found here and abroad.


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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair