I just checked the Optimas on the shelf (made by Johnson Controls), no s/s sleeves in those.
Battery Connection Problem
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Drifting
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Well, mine is a Walmart (Everlast is it?).......and it has metal thread inserts. I had the battery out of the car and on my work bench (ok, humongous wheeled recycle bin - I hate those space hogs) while trying various bolts from my Pig Pile of Bolts (a container full of bolts and stuff).
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,957
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Sorry, but the 3 year old Walmart Everstart battery I replaced yesterday had no metal thread inserts, nor did the new replacement Everstart I got, nor did any other Everstart battery on their shelves have a metal insert in their lead threads. And I looked at them all just to be sure. Show us a pic of these metal inserts. You sure your threads are not just shiny and look like something else is in there? A pic would solve whether or not this exists.
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Well, mine is a Walmart (Everlast is it?).......and it has metal thread inserts. I had the battery out of the car and on my work bench (ok, humongous wheeled recycle bin - I hate those space hogs) while trying various bolts from my Pig Pile of Bolts (a container full of bolts and stuff).
Wally-World batteries are a private label made by Johnson Controls, who makes Autozone's, Sears, K-Mart's, Kirkland, etc, including Optima. JC controls supply half of the batteries made in the U.S.A.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seekonk MA / RI border
It's like 104 degrees in my garage right now. 
When you put the bolt in the battery the bolt isn't even touching that lead surround. You can 'clank' it right against the insert. It sounds and feels like a metal insert.
I did not bother to take a picture while it was out. I figured it was no secret.
I bought the battery in late, late April or early May (April was quite winter-like this year in New England).
When you put the bolt in the battery the bolt isn't even touching that lead surround. You can 'clank' it right against the insert. It sounds and feels like a metal insert.
I did not bother to take a picture while it was out. I figured it was no secret.
I bought the battery in late, late April or early May (April was quite winter-like this year in New England).
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,693
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From: Denver, NC
Guys - do you really think lead is holding a bolt - c'mon. There are inserts molded into the lead. If the threads were lead, they'd be stripped the second the bolt was snugged. Just because you see a lead post doesn't mean there isn't an insert.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Sorry Ed, there are no inserts molded into the lead side terminals despite what you want to believe. That's why they are so easily stripped out if way over-torqued. The terminal bolts are steel, the threads are lead.
Here's another method of repairing stripped out threads - and notice in this video, there is no SS insert in the terminal.
Here's another method of repairing stripped out threads - and notice in this video, there is no SS insert in the terminal.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
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From: Denver, NC
[QUOTE=mrlmd;1597892461]Sorry Ed, there are no inserts molded into the lead side terminals despite what you want to believe. "
mrlmd, respectfully, every side post battery I have ever installed - automotive and motorcycle have an insert. Lead can not be used as a thread. If it's really threads in lead, I weep for quality. Insert can be seen in this guys video. In the video you referenced some ham handed mechanic probably destroyed it. Think about it - those side post bolts strip a lot - lead isn't harder than the bolt. Many people don't see them because the lead is molded around them.
Also in the video you reference in the above post at 0:29 the guy says one of the lugs is stripped - burnt out and the other is missing. Then he says he drilled it out.
You can clearly see inserts in the video below where the lead that was molded around them has been damaged and is gone. But hey, I'm not omnipotent, so if there are lead threads out there, that's sad. Also, it was a little snipey how you stated "despite what I want to believe"- so perhaps you may now see and believe.
mrlmd, respectfully, every side post battery I have ever installed - automotive and motorcycle have an insert. Lead can not be used as a thread. If it's really threads in lead, I weep for quality. Insert can be seen in this guys video. In the video you referenced some ham handed mechanic probably destroyed it. Think about it - those side post bolts strip a lot - lead isn't harder than the bolt. Many people don't see them because the lead is molded around them.
Also in the video you reference in the above post at 0:29 the guy says one of the lugs is stripped - burnt out and the other is missing. Then he says he drilled it out.
You can clearly see inserts in the video below where the lead that was molded around them has been damaged and is gone. But hey, I'm not omnipotent, so if there are lead threads out there, that's sad. Also, it was a little snipey how you stated "despite what I want to believe"- so perhaps you may now see and believe.
Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Aug 30, 2018 at 11:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seekonk MA / RI border
