Battery Terminal Help

[AntneeUK]

While changing a battery (which it appears has an ever-so-slightly smaller + terminal than the old one) I managed to sheer the thread off of the clamp. I bought a replacement terminal for the cable but I don't really want to be hacking off the old one if it's not necessary.

a) Can I get the bolt part for the existing terminal and
b) Can I get a shim for the battery terminal to increase the diameter?

Cheers guys

 

[LEE69]

You have to open up the clamp more and hold it down hard whilst tightening it.
Take off the terminal and see if the bolt can be replaced, not sure.
If you have to put a strip of copper in the gap.

 

[AntneeUK]

The bolt has come out completely. If you're not familiar with them then I guess it's hard to explain, but basically they're an inverted wedge shape so that when you tighten the nut at the top, the bottom comes up and pulls the two sides together. It's definitely a replaceable part, as in it's easy to do, but whether you can get them (and where from) I don't know.

So a copper shim will do the trick will it? I don't have any copper lying around... Something that's easily picked up?

 

[LEE69]

I know how it works
Have you got the same size battery as i thought the terminals would have been the same size.When i Have replaced them in the past, they have fitted straight on.
Any metal will take up the gap, but ideally you shouldn't have to.
Is the new terminal a tight fit?

 

[AntneeUK]

Sorry Lee, your original reply didn't read too good

When you say "have you got the same size battery", are you referring to the physical size or the capacity? It's physically slightly smaller, but the same capacity. The terminal is just that little bit too small; probably all of 2 or 3mm smaller in diameter. The new clamp for the lead is one of these (or very similar):

It appears to have much more flexibility than the OE clamp, but I don't want to have to replace it if I don't have to

 

[Fl@pper]

+ & - are slightly different sizes by a couple of millimetres mind so it's not got the terminals the wrong way round has it never know

the clamp itself original comes with the cable iirc - ill try and check it out later

if you want a universal one like above gimme a shout i have loads on the shelf - they are marked N for negative and P for positive usually

 

[LEE69]

Not come across the clamps being different sizes tbh.
Doesn't look like you have much choice but to replace it, so long as you can attach the extra wire for the fuse board that sits on top.

 

[AntneeUK]

No, it's on and working, it just, um, comes loose occasionally. Yes, the + and - are different sizes, and yes this is on the right way around

My concern is mainly that the MOT is booked in for the 4th of January and I want to make sure that it's sorted by then. My brother in law suggested that I just wedge a nail in the clamp and it'll make contact. D'oh!

 

[AntneeUK]

Fl@pper, are you saying that if I replace the whole lead that the clamp comes on it? How easy is it to replace the lead, and how much are we talking (off the top of your head). I already have one of those clamps as above, I just don't want to have to use it

 

[LEE69]

No, it's on and working, it just, um, comes loose occasionally. Yes, the + and - are different sizes, and yes this is on the right way around

That's why i suggested a thin piece of metal wound around the terminal then the clamp over the top.

 

[AntneeUK]

OK Lee, cheers. Out of curiosity, is there any check in the MOT for anything like this? Having never put a car or bike through an MOT before I'm not sure if I should panic or not (have always either had new or sold before the MOT came up )

 

[Fl@pper]

Sorry about wrong way round but you saying it was a couple of mm smaller had me wondering

Hard to describe exactly as they show a standard diagram and list loads of different numbers to match each car/model but usually pretty much a main lead from the battery to the starter motor as you have currently

 

[LEE69]

Mine as a cover over the battery, was never removed to inspect any fixings.

 

[AntneeUK]

Cheers Fl@pper. #2 on that diagram, right? Doesn't look hard to replace... just need to get one

 

[andycupra]

battery security, (as in it doesnt move about is part of the mot). some may check security of wires, but most dont.

 

[AntneeUK]

Cheers Andy. The battery is fastened down properly and isn't going anywhere

 

[Fl@pper]

aye #2 thats the one

the part number is in ( ) so that means : the part is not illustrated, but it corresponds to the figure without bracket's

in laymans terms: it that one in the pic but may not look exactly like that one shown

AMK 210 /BAM 225 are listed the same part

1J0 971 228 BD

about £20 at a guess

 

[andycupra]

going back to one of the original queries.. it would appear to me that pretty much any bolt and nut thats of the correct size would be good to replace the stripped thread as there doesnt appear to be anything special about it.

 

[AntneeUK]

But the bolt has the wedge part attached doesn't it? You're not going to tell me that I've been stupid enough to not realise that it's just a bolt through the wedge piece are you?

 

[LEE69]

There is a bolt that you can attach other terminals too, without disconnecting the main bolt for the terminal.
Far to cold to go outside and look, sorry