Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 00:03:26 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: battery compartment
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="UTF-8"; reply-type=original
Hi Dave...
the clamp reaches down the side of the battery to engage with the lip on the
battery down there.
the clamp or bracket is L shaped..if you look at it from the side.
and the short side of the L goes under the nut under the seat.
the long side of the L goes down to the battery bottom edge.
I do think 'mostly' batteries are pretty much the same..
you pay for what you get of course.
I often get the very best one...like longest warranty ....60 month
batteries..
at a FLAPS for a vanagon that can be about 90 bucks.
lately I got some 60 dollar ones ...we'll see how that goes.
The only batteries I don't like are Sears Die Hards..
and Interstate is always a common decent brand.
but brand per se I don't think matters too much.
I go by CCA's and lenght of warranty.
ok, I'll send you a picture of the hold-down bracket.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <mcneely4@cox.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>; "Scott Daniel - Turbovans"
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: Re: battery compartment
Scott, your description of the bracket matches the one I have. If the 41
(or 48 as you get) has a lip to receive the clamp, then that might work with
the clamp I have (although the clamp seems to fit onto the bolt hole in such
a way as to lay over the top of the battery, not on the side). I need to
look at the clamp again tomorrow when I have daylight. Maybe it does fit
on the hole so as to fit like you described. Thanks for the offer to sell
one. Perhaps you could send a picture of the clamp, if it is not too much
trouble. Then I could compare the picture to what I have. Odd thing -- the
clamp was carefully wrapped in a San Diego newspaper -- my van used to live
in San Diego. Looked all over the paper for a date, thinking that might be
a clue to the age of the battery in the van. No date. The paper was a Viet
Namese paper, part in Viet Namese, part in English. The clamp was down
beside the battery in the box. What brand battery do you recommend, if any?
I have read that all batteries for sale at reasonable outlets are made by
about four or so makers. Don't know how accurate that is.
Dave
---- Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> the correct batter has a lip on the lower edge..
> two on opposite sides, the longer sides.
>
> on the forward side, an approximately 4 inch long 1/4 inch thick bracket
> extends down and pushes on the lower lip of the battery holding it there.
>
> on the rearward side, there's a cleft sort of ...in the battery box, the
> lower lip on that side of the battery fits into that.
> holding the battery down by the bottom edge is a very good arrangement.
> I always ask for the one for a diesel vanagon ..
> same physical dimensions, mounting arrangement, and terminal layout - just
> more cranking amps.
> it's a 48 I think.
> 800 CCA's maybe.
>
> if you just can't find a correct battery bracket anywhere, I can sell you
> a
> good one.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 4:14 PM
> Subject: Re: battery compartment
>
>
> >I would like to see an original clamp. I don't know if the one in my
> >battery box is complete. It does fit over the top of the battery and it
> >seems that it will hold it in place, but it looks as if there should be
> >another part to which it should be secured. I is only one piece, bolts
> >to
> >the front of the box (on the side toward the passenger seat). If it is
> >incomplete, how would I go about finding one? Certainly there are no
> >vanagons in junk yards around here (I've searched for them). Mine is
> >one
> >of only a handful in the entire state of Oklahoma so far as I can tell.
> >
> > I will be traveling to Spokane, Washington, arriving early next week.
> > Anyone on the list there, and can show me a proper battery compartment
> > setup? Anyone there have the complete clamp that I might buy?
> >
> > You may be right about the inner tube. the plastic terminal covers that
> > I've seen don't seem very thick or strong either, but they are of a
> > different material.
> >
> > I'll look into getting a spec battery tomorrow. I still don't feel good
> > about the battery being smaller than spec.
> >
> > DMc
> >
> > ---- Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
> >> In a rollover or collision, your 'too-small' battery with no positive
> >> post
> >> cover will likely short on the metal lid and may start a fire.
> >> I don't think a piece of inner tube is thick or strong enough to
> >> prevent
> >> metal to metal contact in severe impacts or abrasion.
> >> A piece of phenolic, bakelite, thin plywood or maybe even a plastic
> >> cutting board cut to cover the entire top may do the job.
> >> My Westy has the correct battery with the plastic positive post cover
> >> and
> >> is properly secured by the original clamp and bolt. My cover bolts
> >> down
> >> properly, also, and I still don't feel too warm and fuzzy about the
> >> whole
> >> setup. Oh well, what more can you do?
> >>
> >> Mike B.
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------
> >> From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 5:41 PM
> >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Subject: Re: battery compartment
> >>
> >> > Thanks to all who replied. I see that some agree with me that there
> >> > is
> >> > a
> >> > potential problem, others seem to think there definitely is not. I
> >> > decided to take steps to minimize any risk.
> >> >
> >> > First, I discovered that my battery is not the listed one. It is a
> >> > 53R.
> >> > Plenty of cranking amps, full spec on everything, just not the one
> >> > that
> >> > is
> >> > supposed to fit in the space. In fact, the spec battery is
> >> > physically
> >> > bigger. Mine has no cap on the positive terminal, either. But, it's
> >> > a
> >> > good battery -- tests good, anyway, and stays fully charged.
> >> >
> >> > I think I have fixed everything that I thought was wrong.
> >> >
> >> > 1. No bracket holding the battery in place. Used the bracket that
> >> > was
> >> > there but not fastened in. I got a new, correct sized bolt, and
> >> > bolted
> >> > the bracket in. It seems to be missing something to catch on the
> >> > battery,
> >> > but it will hold the battery down.
> >> > 2. Battery physically smaller than the box, so it potentially could
> >> > slide
> >> > around. Wedged it in with blocks of wood.
> >> > 3. Potential for the metal lid to make contact with positive post on
> >> > the
> >> > battery. Covered battery with rubber from an old inner tube, leaving
> >> > breathing space. Rubber cover is same size as the battery box lid,
> >> > but
> >> > with openings.
> >> > 4. new screws fastening the lid down properly, slightly oversize to
> >> > fit
> >> > the worn holes. fits tight now.
> >> >
> >> > When I buy a new battery, it will be the 41 that is specified. That
> >> > is
> >> > considerably larger than this battery (case dimensions). Perhaps
> >> > someone
> >> > can explain to me how a smaller battery could have as much or more
> >> > cranking amps and reserve than the spec battery. Seems the plates
> >> > would
> >> > have to be smaller, so less capacity, less longevity. Doesn't seem
> >> > so.
> >> > Talked with a fellow at a FLAPS about it, but of course, he didn't
> >> > know
> >> > much more if any than I do.
> >> >
> >> > I do turn the passenger side seat around sometimes in camp, when I
> >> > don't
> >> > have the jump seat in (of course, can't turn with the seat in place,
> >> > or
> >> > at
> >> > least can't turn all the way around). Will take care from now on
> >> > that
> >> > no
> >> > one is placing feet on the battery lid. We never stand on the
> >> > battery
> >> > box. I have a stool specifically for the purpose of reaching into
> >> > the
> >> > upper bunk (where we store stuff when in camp) and into the luggage
> >> > rack,
> >> > or simply to raise and lower the tent.
> >> > DMc
> >> >
> >> > ---- David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
> >> >> At 03:03 PM 7/8/2010 Thursday, Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> >> >> >On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com>
> >> >> >wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> > > Did it have the correct battery?
> >> >> > >
> >> >> >Yes it did Jeff - but I think the cover was a bit bent in or
> >> >> >something -
> >> >> >either that or I was mad and slammed the thing shut.
> >> >>
> >> >> Well, that's why the group 41 batteries come with a terminal cover
> >> >> for the positive terminal. Little plastic bridge thing with three
> >> >> or
> >> >> four legs. That's why it exists.
> >> >>
> >> >> Yours,
> >> >> DAvid
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> >--
> >> >> >Thanks,
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Jeff
> >> >> >'85 GL (Gertie)
> >> >> >'90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> >> >> >'86 (We call this one Scrap)
> >> >> >'78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > David McNeely
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
>
--
David McNeely
|