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Corroded Battery Terminal

NoBite

NoBite

Member
I'm pretty sure baking soda mixed in water cleans battery terminals. But, is there anything better at removal corrosion like in this picture? I need to remove this battery from my Ford 1900 to replace it. The negative terminal wasn't nearly as corroded.



 
This is what I use. Works good.
a150087.jpg
 
[b:3c291cbca2]Thank you both!
[/b:3c291cbca2]
I'm out to try the simplest fix first. If no go, I will look for the Kleenseek.
 
Thanks, guys. I got the corrosion off and was able to remove the nut. Now, that nut is but a thin shell of its original self! I will replace at least the nut. Would you advise that I replace the entire clamp? If so, how is that done? Or, should I give it a try with a new nut and see if I can get a tight fit?

 
BTW, the sticker on the battery is November 2006. Pretty sure it will need to be replaced. I'll get it checked to see if it is good to charge, but I'd be surprised.
 
(quoted from post at 14:38:55 01/29/17) Thanks, guys. I got the corrosion off and was able to remove the nut. Now, that nut is but a thin shell of its original self! I will replace at least the nut. Would you advise that I replace the entire clamp? If so, how is that done? Or, should I give it a try with a new nut and see if I can get a tight fit?

Click to expand...

I scrape and brush the terminal clean and install a new bolt from an auto parts store or even Wallyworld. You may have to clean up the hole a little with a 5/16" bit.

They have the bolts in the battery dept., might not have the shouldered nuts, though.

036493.jpg
 
I haven't had one that looked like that in 30 years. Once you get it cleaned and put back together spray it with a battery protector.I have used the one below and others like it and they work great.
a150104.jpg
 

Thanks, Bob. I studied that bolt and it appears the section of the bolt that is centered in the clamp is of a smaller diameter than the section of the bolt that sticks through and that the nut goes on. This may be an optical illusion or corrosion over time, but I am not sure I can get it out! Thanks for the size, 5/16". I can try drilling it out if nothing else.
 
I would just replace the bolt and nut, scrape the inside of the clamp with a knife.

The cable end that is on there is still good, a lot better than one of the bolt-clamp type.

Be very careful removing and installing the clamp on the post. Don't hammer it on, be careful tightening the bolt as to not stress the post.

The post is sealed where it comes through the case. That seal is easily broken. When that happens, gasses and acid come up around the post and promote corrosion, like it was on the old battery.
 
Stick the cable end in a paper cup with water and baking soda and go do something else for a while.
 
I always remove the entire bolt from the terminal when working on battery clean up or replacement. You cannot properly tighten a terminal if the bolt is corroded into the terminal. I stick to just plain old chassis grease and work some into the threads and in the hole bolt goes through. Comes off quickly and easily next time.

Reminds me of a customer many years ago. He was having cranking problems on the Farmall 450 diesel. I asked him if the cables were clean and tight. He said, well they never been off so they should be. By the way, he was pretty well off and I never achieved that status so he must have known something I didn't.
 
If you don't want it to corrode up again, seal the area around the post and case. Acid leaks up around the post and corrodes the terminal. I seal all my batteries when I buy them and never have this problem. Be sure to clean and dry the battery before sealing.
 
(quoted from post at 20:20:21 01/29/17) If you don't want it to corrode up again, seal the area around the post and case. Acid leaks up around the post and corrodes the terminal. I seal all my batteries when I buy them and never have this problem. Be sure to clean and dry the battery before sealing.
Click to expand...

Well, how do you seal it? I have had new batteries on equipment that doesn't run much develop corrosion. Whenever you want to seal anything else you have to get down into it and clean it first for it to last more than a week.
 
(quoted from post at 22:20:21 01/29/17) If you don't want it to corrode up again, seal the area around the post and case. Acid leaks up around the post and corrodes the terminal. I seal all my batteries when I buy them and never have this problem. Be sure to clean and dry the battery before sealing.
Click to expand...

How do I seal the battery? Is that what happens when you use the battery terminal protection spray?
 
(quoted from post at 07:16:25 01/30/17)
(quoted from post at 22:20:21 01/29/17) If you don't want it to corrode up again, seal the area around the post and case. Acid leaks up around the post and corrodes the terminal. I seal all my batteries when I buy them and never have this problem. Be sure to clean and dry the battery before sealing.
Click to expand...

How do I seal the battery? Is that what happens when you use the battery terminal protection spray?
Click to expand...

After you install the cable on the battery, apply some grease from your grease gun. Work some of the grease in underneath the clamp, and then cover all of the exposed, bare metal with the grease, including a small part of the insulation. Cheap, crude, but it works.
 
If you seal battery terminals with battery terminal protector they will look like this and they don't collect dust and dirt like grease.
Here's a photo of what it looks like and if this was mine I would have gave it one more coat.
a150202.jpg
 

[b:5afdb8f12d]Wow! [/b:5afdb8f12d] So it's sort of like a paint that won't allow moisture and corrosion to get in. That is very nice.
 
(quoted from post at 08:41:27 01/30/17) If you seal battery terminals with battery terminal protector they will look like this and they don't collect dust and dirt like grease.
Here's a photo of what it looks like and if this was mine I would have gave it one more coat.
a150202.jpg
Click to expand...

I have been using the equivalent product from Permatex for probably thirty years and have been very happy with it.
 
(quoted from post at 20:20:17 01/29/17) Stick the cable end in a paper cup with water and baking soda and go do something else for a while.
Click to expand...

[b:3c58a2fe01]Gab[/b:3c58a2fe01], that's just what I did and then I [i:3c58a2fe01]was[/i:3c58a2fe01] able to unscrew it! Surprised the heck out of me.

 
Use something like chain lube spray. It is thin enough to get into the seam around the post. It then turns semi solid and seals. Rubberized undercoat may work too.
 
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