Battery terminal ring too big for terminal

ferry

Bit lost as to what to do with this one guys.
Bought a new 'compatible' battery online but the negative ring won't tighten around the terminal as just slightly too big.
Don't really want to send the battery back so is there anything I can do to make it fit or is an adaptor available etc

Any suggestions appreciated

F

27col

Wrap a few turns of foil around the terminal or a strip of very thin brass or copper.

forgotmyname

Send the battery back and buy the correct one or cut the terminal off and fit a smaller one.

Adding shims etc will work. But may reduce the cranking amperage.

mrmechanic

Have you removed the coloured plastic ring on the base of the battery post??

Not unusual for these to be left on which will stop you from getting the battery terminal to fit all the way down to the proper diameter at the base of the post allowing it to be tightened up properly.

marksandsparx

Are you putting the connectors on the right posts?

They are normally different sizes.

Positive is usually slightly larger.

colino

If it's an old soft clamp, you use a junior hacksaw, take out the clamp bolt and take an eight off the inner face of the clamp, reinsert bolt and it'll be nice and tight,


If your in a hurry, you break a steel nail in half, put it between the clamp and the terminal and tighten her up.

shaun_from_Africa

Do you by any chance know any roofers?

One of the best ways to overcome this problem is to get hold of a couple of inches of lead sheeting of the type used for flashing. This can be cut to size and wrapped around the terminal very easily and will mould to fit perfectly.

You can buy battery terminal adaptors but if you can get the lead, why bother.

ferry

Thanks guys great ideas

skivenov

marksandsparx wrote: »

Are you putting the connectors on the right posts?

They are normally different sizes.

Positive is usually slightly larger.

^ This

Not all batteries have + and - the same way round, so make sure it is the right battery for your car.

27col

forgotmyname wrote: »

Send the battery back and buy the correct one or cut the terminal off and fit a smaller one.

Adding shims etc will work. But may reduce the cranking amperage.

Shims! That was the word that I could not bring to mind.