BCM Community

Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: luvrbus on September 17, 2015, 10:12:31 AM

Title: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 17, 2015, 10:12:31 AM
What do you guys use,I found a product at Dollar General called the works for only a buck for 13.5 ounces that will clean the batteries terminals so easy just rinse it off with water and terminals shine like new beats the 4 bucks a can for the so called spray on cleaners try it 
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: PRZNBUS on September 17, 2015, 10:15:10 AM
Plain old baking soda and water poured over the terminals, old toothbrush then rinse. Emery cloth makes 'em shine.

Bruce
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 17, 2015, 10:20:01 AM
Been that route for years Bruce looking for something easier in my old age and this stuff even removes the green stuff from the cables
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: PRZNBUS on September 17, 2015, 10:28:09 AM
As you probably know, once you get them clean, a finger of grease protects them.
I also sent you a private message.

Bruce
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: gus on September 17, 2015, 07:03:55 PM
I've never used liquids, I always brush and scrape. I'm afraid of getting liquid into the batt fill holes.

I found that brushing alone will not take off the shiny black corrosion that forms in a year or two. It shines after brushing and looks clean but is actually is a thin black coating that insulates.

I scrape this off with a sharp knife, the brush won't touch it.

Then I apply a light coat of Corrosion-X to the post and clamp and bolts. I find it collects less dirt than grease.
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: TomC on September 17, 2015, 09:32:37 PM
A simple solution to cleaning batteries-use AGM batteries. I replaced my 2-8D AGM Lifeline batteries after 7 years. In those 7 years I did absolutely nothing to the batteries-not even clean the terminals since AGM batteries do not out gas-hence to gunk or green stuff to clean. With the lack of maintenance necessary on AGM's, I'll more than willingly pay double for the pleasure of no maintenance. Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 18, 2015, 06:26:49 AM
Very funny TomC if only I could post photos here of the mess I am trying to clean up from 6 -8D AGM batteries  ??? ??? ??? mine are Trojan built by LifeLine now they are passing the buck on what caused a thermal runaway as they call it,you need to read rev D issued by Lifeline on 4/14/14 no more installing a Lifeline AGM battery in tight quarters with no ventilation   
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: eagle19952 on September 18, 2015, 08:40:43 AM
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/t31.0-8/11952867_1640212936235030_5075889842200835796_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: eagle19952 on September 18, 2015, 08:42:16 AM
can the photo be seen ?
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 18, 2015, 09:24:33 AM
You can see it Donald thanks that is one of the better battery of the 6  :o
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: Lin on September 18, 2015, 10:30:16 AM
I keep a spray bottle filled with a baking soda/water solution.  I spray the terminals, wire brush them, and wash them off.  I am sure that there are better chemicals available, but this works okay as long as they don't get to bad.  If so, I repeat the process. 

The one real problem I have is remembering to put on a pair of my special battery cleaning pants.  If I don't, I can expect to be making a new pair.
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: Sam 4106 on September 18, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
After you get your battery terminals and cable ends clean, do yourself a favor and coat them with Permatex Anti-seize Lubricant Item# 80078. If you fully coat the posts and cable ends before assembly and then touch them up after assembly you will eliminate future corrosion. It says on the container, under uses, to coat the threads on spark plugs and oxygen sensors so I think the anti-seize is conductive. I have been using this method for many years and have not had any corrosion problems as long as nothing rubs through the coating. Try it, I think you will like the results.

Good luck, Sam
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 18, 2015, 11:26:25 AM
I do that also Sam the never seize is a remarkable product  ;D works good on wheel nuts too
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: niles500 on September 18, 2015, 01:40:38 PM
Trojan batts manufactured by Lifeline  ???
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 18, 2015, 02:05:08 PM
Yep anything over a group 31 AGM is outsourced by Trojan my understanding it is all in the Godber and Speer family that is why the plants are only 20 miles apart in CA and Concorde is looking to build a plant in Georgia.

They sent down a rep yesterday from the new Concorde Battery(Lifeline) plant in San Dimas Ca to check out the Trojans lol I am not the only 1 this happen too or those guys would not have driven 3 and 1/2 hrs just to look at batteries
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: HB of CJ on September 18, 2015, 04:42:17 PM
Don't forget the apron, long shirt or coveralls, heavy rubber gloves and FULL face and eye protection.  Also if in doubt, check the ventilation.
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: TomC on September 18, 2015, 09:49:01 PM
Well Clifford, I can only go on my experience. Sorry to here about yours. Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 19, 2015, 07:24:11 AM
I think the 118 degrees plus the charging is tough on the AGM I don't have good luck with the AGM batteries here but I never heard of a thermal runway before ?.

The guy told me they can catch fire so now they want their batteries well vented with air movement it kinda does away with the AGM features of the past.

I'll know next week if they give me any relief my cost on 6 of those suckers is 3 grand plus shipping and I need to redo the battery compartment which is not going to be a easy task
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: Boomer on September 19, 2015, 07:48:31 AM
I thought you were done with owning converted coaches ?
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 19, 2015, 07:53:03 AM
I am Boomer it's Sonja so now I do as I am directed and I don't have the cash to buy her out  ;D I been thinking about taking it to Larry and let him worry with it
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: Boomer on September 19, 2015, 08:10:39 AM
Larry is finishing up Ben's Flx and an RTS and after that he says he has two more Flx's coming in, one is an unlimited funds corporate rig; no budget or time restraints.
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: luvrbus on September 19, 2015, 08:16:29 AM
Did Ben sell his Prevost yet ? Larry does such good work he is like getting a appointment with a good heart surgeon   
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: gus on September 19, 2015, 10:22:18 PM
Quote from: Lin on September 18, 2015, 10:30:16 AM
I keep a spray bottle filled with a baking soda/water solution.  I spray the terminals, wire brush them, and wash them off.  I am sure that there are better chemicals available, but this works okay as long as they don't get to bad.  If so, I repeat the process. 

The one real problem I have is remembering to put on a pair of my special battery cleaning pants.  If I don't, I can expect to be making a new pair.

I've used baking soda in years past but found it must be washed clean and coated with something oily or the soda just causes more corrosion.

It is also batt sudden death if any of that solution gets into the batt!
Title: Re: Battery Terminal Cleaning
Post by: pvcces on September 20, 2015, 12:33:21 PM
It's been my experience that the black coating forms only on the positive terminal and it is harder than hell. It's more an insulator than a conductor. I ran across some information that the coating is lead oxide, not lead sulfate.

It forms on the outside of lead posts from the post seal seeping a trace of electrolyte into the joint, which then oxidizes. You shouldn't find that on the stud type post. I also find that the age of the battery makes it worse.

Cliff, there were two group 27s in our coach when we bought it. Temperatures were getting up to 115 degrees when I tried charging them up. They had a case of thermal runaway. When they erupted, I just got well away from them for fear that they might explode.

After the excitement, there was not a trace of power in either battery.


Tom Caffrey