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Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:43 am
by Paul Hatfield
Probably not passing along new information to some, but I just did this and found it to be amazing. I wanted to clean the badly corroded and blackened wire bundle at the positive battery clamp. I renewed the clamp rather than replacing it with a new one I had on the shelf. (Anyone ever notice the new ones are making a 90 degree turn in the wrong direction?). Anyway, it then came to the task of cleaning the bundle of dirty/corroded copper wires. I little Google search and I knew I just had to try what was mentioned.

Take vinegar and your least favorite coffee mug out to the car. To the cup add vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt. Hold the cable in the solution for about 2 minutes. I also used an old tooth brush to help things along. After 2 minutes it was as shinny as a new penny! Once removed from the solution, toss the vinegar mix out, wipe out the cup, and then add water and one tablespoon of baking soda. This mixture will cancel the acidic remains of the first solution in the wire braid. Let the cable sit in that for about 2 minutes. Your done!

Before I started, my cable looked like it had never been cleaned. Filthy.

Result is in the photo.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:54 am
by Paul Hatfield
Since my previous post might not have made sense on the reproduction positive battery clamp, here is a photo to better describe it. The one with the wires connected is original. Note the green tint on the clamp is just a reflection from the hood of the car- which is Irish Green. You could turn the new one upside down to get the post on the right side, but then the slotted bolts would also face down instead of up.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 1:20 pm
by Vic Skirmants
Not to mention that the battery posts and clamps are tapered; turning it over is not a good idea.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:41 am
by Paul Hatfield
Yesterday I did the ground strap. It was also just plain filthy. It is the original one, not reproduction.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:14 am
by Martin Bruechle
Dielectric grease helps too. Keeps out corrosion.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:56 am
by C J Murray
Hi Paul, I only have one coffee cup and one tooth brush so I used them. Now my teeth shine like a new penny!

Seriously; good advice, thanks.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:59 am
by C J Murray
Maybe the reproduction battery clamps are for RHD cars?

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 12:37 pm
by Paul Hatfield
Glad to have helped Cliff!

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 12:46 pm
by Doug McDonnell
CJ Does this mean that you are "well grounded?"

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 12:48 pm
by Ron LaDow
C J Murray wrote:Seriously; good advice, thanks.
Piling on, but this makes what was a miserable, messy hour with a scratch-brush (and little .015" holes in your fingers) into something civilized people will do.
Nice job, Paul.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 12:49 pm
by Brad Ripley
Paul, Great tips for battery terminal/cable clean up.

As for positive battery terminals, see here https://www.stoddard.com/catalogsearch/ ... ?q=611-311 for currently available versions. The terminal Paul refers to is a DIN72 331, Form D links which is discontinued. These types of terminals are mostly only available in Europe. You may find some domestic ones at NAPA, etc.; after all, the top of the battery is covered and the terminals can't be seen.

Re: Electrical Starts Here

Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:22 pm
by C J Murray
Doug McDonnell wrote:CJ Does this mean that you are "well grounded?"
My doctor says that I will be after another 240 sessions.
Paul Hatfield wrote:Glad to have helped Cliff!
LOL, funny picture!
Brad Ripley wrote:after all, the top of the battery is covered and the terminals can't be seen.
Oh Brad!