Community Forums

rheinz · 11-17-2019, 09:03 AM

I have had issues getting my batteries to stay charged since I put my 99 Bounder in storage and now one of the terminals has broken. Is it possible to be able to fix this terminal instead of buying a new battery?

Jim_HiTek · 11-17-2019, 09:09 AM

If you're careful, you can drill a hole into the old terminal, thread it, and add a bolt. I've done that in the past. Battery was old anyway and wasn't going to last much longer. Gotta be careful not to drill to deeply though.

In future, just leave the battery grounds disconnected after servicing and charging the batteries. They'll last all winter without problems. They're good down to -76 F. An older battery probably good down to -40 F.

Come spring, plug in the RV so they get charged up. If your rig does not charge the chassis battery, get a AC operated 1.5 amp float charger for $25 and attach that to it for a few hours. Or you can buy a Trik-L-Start which is designed just for RV chassis batteries and what it does is steal a bit of current from the house batteries to keep the chassis battery charged up.

WaltJ · 11-17-2019, 09:59 AM

I've had this happen on other equipment. Go to Walmart or a auto store and buy the screw on battery post adapter for threaded battery connections. Drill and tap the broken post to fit the threads of the new post, be careful the old post is only so thick, don't let your drill bit get down into the battery plates and damage them. Tighten the new post down enough to make a good contact but don't strip the threads (lead will strip threads easy) I see you have a bolt on cable SO while your at the store buy the other adapter to take the "post" back to a bolt on fitting. Put it all together then put a drain on the battery and check the post for Heat. A good connection, the post repair will be cool.
Hope this helps.
Walt

Soppy · 11-17-2019, 11:26 AM

If you have to replace the battery , they should all be replaced at the same time or at least in pairs. Tour batteries are coming up to 4 yrs old so replacement would be due in a couple of yrs or so.

Mark_K5LXP · 11-17-2019, 05:35 PM

Shops that service batteries have facilities to cast a new post. It's not expensive and can be done while you wait. If you go with the drill and bolt solution, use stainless hardware .

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

chuckftboy · 11-17-2019, 06:06 PM

Trying to repair a post on a 4 year old battery seems like a lot of work for little gain. New GC batteries are pretty reasonably priced at Sam's Club

asuperheat · 11-17-2019, 07:18 PM

Yeah time for a battery. It appears to be swollen in that picture any way. Probably why it won't hold a charge and for the record dead battery's freeze and make a mess.

Mark_K5LXP · 11-18-2019, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Trying to repair a post on a 4 year old battery seems like a lot of work for little gain. New GC batteries are pretty reasonably priced at Sam's Club

Last time I had it done it was like $10 to cast a post. Maybe in this particular case one would justify a new battery but I've done it numerous times to keep a set of matched batteries (age/cycles) together. Practically speaking for lighter loads a screw driven into the stump will probably work well enough but just presenting options.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM