question - installing a battery
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: somewhere in New Hampshire
question - installing a battery
This weekend I plan on installing a pair of new side mount battery terminals with the extended threads for accessory connections. Lacking a torque wrench, what's a good rule of thumb for tightening them up? One of the few tools I don't have is a torque wrench but I'm not sure that there's even room to use one due to the extensions on the terminals. So for example do you get them tight and then give another quarter turn? Probably sounds like a silly question but I've seen many comments on here about electrical problems being caused by improperly torqued terminals so I want to get it right. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Killarny MB
My rule of thumb is that I get them tight, or basically where it stops turning then just add a little more pressure to make sure it's tight. Don't tighten another quarter turn after it is tight as you can strip the threads. Lead is pretty soft so you do not want to over do it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,998
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From: somewhere in New Hampshire
My rule of thumb is that I get them tight, or basically where it stops turning then just add a little more pressure to make sure it's tight. Don't tighten another quarter turn after it is tight as you can strip the threads. Lead is pretty soft so you do not want to over do it.
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My rule of thumb is that I get them tight, or basically where it stops turning then just add a little more pressure to make sure it's tight. Don't tighten another quarter turn after it is tight as you can strip the threads. Lead is pretty soft so you do not want to over do it.
I have a small 5/16 ratchet wrench. I do exactly what he does. Tight is tight and no more. Don't go overboard ! 
Burning Brakes
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From: belle plaine ks
just a tip
You can get batteries with the side post and the top posts as well. It adds a little versatility to your situation. You can buy two marine battery clamps and attach your trickle charge leads to them, or use the top posts to attach jumper cables if needed.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: South Jersey
You can get batteries with the side post and the top posts as well. It adds a little versatility to your situation. You can buy two marine battery clamps and attach your trickle charge leads to them, or use the top posts to attach jumper cables if needed.
Jerry
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Remember you are dealing with aluminum threads in the battery and a metal bolt - so like stated above "DO NOT" go crazy tightening things up, snug it up and then give it little more for the tightening
Thanks,Matt
Thanks,Matt