Newbie needs help ...

Lifting a battery is easy with a devise sold at auto parts houses for that application. It is a strap with positive grip ends that grip the posts. I have 2 of them and glad they are so handy.
 

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Dave, Good luck! However, Mod. A "Popout" ign. switches are known to short internally and drain the system. Don't ask me how I know! A good solution is the switch that Snyders sells for about $55. You lose the "pop out" part of it, but it's a good solid, seems to be well made switch, that won't let you down.
For me, the way I found out the old switch was bad, was just wiggle the key in the switch in the off position, don't turn it!, just wiggle it and keep your eye on the ammeter. If it's bad, you'll see the needle going from zero (Centered) to discharge. These can be rebuilt, but I'm not ready to try it.





Dave Young said:
Nice day today ... thought it a good opportunity to start the A and run it around a bit.

Went through the start up drill ... gas on, spark retarded, etc. etc. ... Nothing happened! No response at all to stepping on the starter button. Tried again, several times, same (non) result.

During this process, I had turned the ignition key on and off several times and suddenly realized that I couldn't remember which positions of the key were 'on' and 'off'. Then I discovered that I could remove the key from the switch in either position. The horrible thought suddenly occurred to me that I may have left the ignition 'on' the last time I used the car. A week ago. (who knew you could pull the key while in the 'on' position)

If that is the case ... what might I have done? Dead battery? burned up points, condenser, I really have no idea. This is where your help comes in.

First, I don't know for sure that's what happened and I assume that you knowledgeable guys would know what order to start checking things to find out what happened. If you can give me some ideas what to start looking for, I'd appreciate it. Keep it simple if you can, I'm no mechanic.

Dave
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I have a lifter more or less like the one in post #21. They work great. The battery is in an awkward place for anybody, whether arthritic or not, and there never seems to be a good place to get a grip on it. They're of course also useful for reinstalling the battery.
 
When the battery reclaimer would pick up dad's old batteries from his store, the guy used an box end wrench! I don't know what size way to many nights since then :-)
 
The battery lifting strap in post #21 makes picking up a battery easy, and they are cheap! Always important to me.
 
Big hammer said:
When the battery reclaimer would pick up dad's old batteries from his store, the guy used an box end wrench! I don't know what size way to many nights since then :-)
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I've done that...not the best way...be careful that your wrench isn't so long that it can touch both battery posts!!

A strap is much better....:)
 
Dave Young said:
Well, here we go again ... I figured I'd take the battery out, run it down to my local
service garage and have them check it out. If it's still good, charge it up, if it isn't, get me a replacement.

Got the floorboard up, took off the battery cables, removed the hold down bracket ...
then discovered that there's no way I can lift the battery out with my old arthritic fingers.

Now I'm sure I'm not the first guy to run into this ... There must be a device that clamps onto the top rim of the battery that will then enable it to be lifted out. If so, what's it called and where can I get one?

Sorry to be such a pain, but eventually I'll be able to answer questions instead of always asking them.

Dave
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Do as I said in #4 and save yourself a lot of trouble. Even the service station can't check the battery until it's been on the charger for hours. If they put it on the charger for an hour, test it and tell you it's shot, they haven't given it a good test.
 
You mentioned tackling this in the spring. By all means get the battery up to fully charged before too long. The longer it sits dead the more damage occurs. JMHO
 
Good afternoon...I believe that NAPA still has battery straps that have a clip for the two terminals and then a plastic strap in between. Most likely less than $20.00. Ernie
 
I made my battery lifter with two replacement cable ends and a piece of 1" wratchet. Strap It's works a treat and it's less then the store bought units
 
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