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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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 Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: Battery Terminals |
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Is there any particular battery terminal that is better than others?
also, soldered or clamp on?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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T3 Pilot
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Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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kbeefy
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2006
Posts: 600
Location: Central Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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solder is best IMHO, crimp is good and stay away from the temporary 'clamp' on ones that have bolt on clamps.
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86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning
'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.
2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover
2006 Subbie OBXT
2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4
1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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any ideas where I can buy one?
QuickCable doesn't seem to do retail and I cannot find a retailer locally or using Google...
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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T3 Pilot
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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You can buy the quickcable lugs, clamps, etc. at a battery supply place; the kind of place that supplies fork lift companies, marine supply, etc. they are also a good source for good quality boots for battery and starter cable connections. They will also sell you the correct HD shrink tubing with an adhesive sealer, but I found these made the cable end too rigid, so I used liquid rubber to seal the ends of the battery + cable and the ground cables when I re-did them.
Good Luck.
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1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I would think that the usual one piece fitting (no clamps) where the lead goes right into the molded lead connector would be quite adequate. Failure to maintain a clean & tight connection is possibly the more common fault. |
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Since your cables are 27 years old at this point it might not be a bad idea to just buy new cables. When replacing clamps on old wires I personally prefer crimped clamps in conjunction with the use of electric grease or no ox and heat shrink over the joint to finish it off. |
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thatvwbusguy
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Joined: April 18, 2007
Posts: 1712
Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I am with Wildthings on this for sure. Since any original Vanagon battery cable is now a minimum of 22 years old, it has long outlived its intended service life. New custom cables are available online at surprisingly affordable prices. For the best results, I like to use tinned marine wire from sources like www.gregsmarinewiresupply.com. Just measure your old cable, tell them what you would like for a terminal on each end and they take care of the rest.
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Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Lathering the crap out of the clamps and battery post with Vasoline is always a good idea IMO. I just replaced the original negative battery cable on my '72 Dodge, not because the terminals were corroded but because the insulation on the cable was cracking and falling off from age. Experiment ended, 41 years was long enough. |
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msinabottle
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Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:59 pm Post subject: Soldered! |
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It was surprisingly easy to make a soldered-terminal cable for Winston's 'alternator to starter' upgrade, particularly after I found some truly outstanding 'How To' videos on YouTube. After that, for any BIG cables, I'd use the solder technique and shrink insulation for a cable I was building.
Best!
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'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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this is just for the terminal - I am not going to replace the entire cable
also do not think I can get enough of it loose as to use a torch for soldering
I sent Quickcable an email asking where they had retailer who carry their products near here...
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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