Battery Comment - Not What You Think!

[Marcus]

Remember when your mentor (Dad, Uncle, Cousin, whomever) told you to ALWAYS use two wrenches when loosening and/or tightening the battery cables to the terminals, or you risk breakng the battery terminal away from the battery? Well, I didn't and I did: thank goodness it was a 12 year old Optima, and I have a "hot" spare. But still.......listening, JWL?? I won't do that again!!

 

[Mart]

Doh!

 

[paul2748]

Never used two wrenches in loosening or tightening the cables to the battery. never had a problem either. They certainly do not need to be that tight

 

[50fordcoupeman]

Remember when your mentor (Dad, Uncle, Cousin, whomever) told you to ALWAYS use two wrenches when loosening and/or tightening the battery cables to the terminals, or you risk breakng the battery terminal away from the battery? Well, I didn't and I did: thank goodness it was a 12 year old Optima, and I have a "hot" spare. But still.......listening, JWL?? I won't do that again!!

While growing up on the farm, that our instructions also!!

 

[WABOOM]

I was taught to put the clamp on about 3/4 of the way down and the hammer it down the rest of the way. (I don't do it like that)

 

[Lawson Cox]

Most of the cables have a flat where the head of the bolt goes, to keep the bolt from turning, and you can't get a wrench on it. My 2¢.

 

[mfirth]

Also, NEVER let your wrench touch the other post.....when you're hot ; you're hot....put a nice mark on my ring finger & pited my wedding band....talk about DUH.

 

[Craig CT]

Remember when your mentor (Dad, Uncle, Cousin, whomever) told you to ALWAYS use two wrenches when loosening and/or tightening the battery cables to the terminals, or you risk breakng the battery terminal away from the battery? Well, I didn't and I did: thank goodness it was a 12 year old Optima, and I have a "hot" spare. But still.......listening, JWL?? I won't do that again!!

Hello Marcus; So this is actually a post about a post. Very clever. I hope you and the Mrs. are well, Craig.

 

[cmbrucew]

Marcus
If the battery is new/good/expensive, take it to a battery shop that remanufactors or builds them, the post can be repoured.
Bruce

 

[JWL]

Yes, I understand and am paying attention.

JWL

 

[Ford Freak]

Never used two wrenches in loosening or tightening the cables to the battery. never had a problem either. They certainly do not need to be that tight[/QUOTE

x2!!

 

[Mart]

Learnt the hard way as a snotty nosed kid not to tap them in place with a hammer. The post went inside the battery.

 

[40cpe]

As others have noted above, it doesn't need to be really tight. I also hold the cable up close to the post in the opposite direction of the wrench force to support the post.