Wing nut stuck on battery terminal

[EmeraldCoastSailor]

I did a dumb thing in that I didn't replace the wing nuts on 1 of my 5 batteries with regular nuts and although you can't see much corrosion there evidently was enough that I now can't get the wing nut off. I can barely turn it with great force but it won't back off. I supposed using a Dremel to grind it or the terminal post would make quick work of it but the risk of sparks igniting explosive battery gases is scary. Any ideas for my dumb move?


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[smac999]

did the wings break off? if not I just use a cresent wrench to grab the 2 wings. if you have already broken the wings off. then I would try vice grips on whatever is left.

[four winds]

PB Blaster is a good rust buster. Spray then tap, tap tap for penetration.

That small amount you can turn it is your friend. Work it back and forth after the PB soaks for a minute.

Spray, tap, turn back and forth, repeat. It probably will come of.

Don't twist the stud loose. Watch it as you work. If it turns at all, even a little that's bad news.

[barnakiel]

Soak in WD overnight and try again morrow?

b.

[roverhi]

Unless the batteries are being charged there is little worry about hydrogen gas being present.

Assume the stud is no longer captive and is turning when you try and remove the wing nut. Having switched out the wing nuts for hex probably wouldn't have made any difference. Careful application of heat using the jumper cable trick and liberal dousing with penetrating oil might free up the nut. Failing that destructive removal is a last resort.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Careful application of heat using the jumper cable trick

Very careful as the lead terminals will go pretty quick.

[Blue Stocking]

50/50 mix Acetone and ATF, sparingly. The best penetrant, but flammable. Then again, so are most of them.

[Shenandoah]

I agree with others about PB Blaster - far better for this than other penetrants. Be sure to disconnect the other terminal. If there is no circuit there is no "gassing" of the flammable stuff. If it weren't a battery, heat from a propane torch would be good, but you don't want to go there. You might heat the broken wing nut with a soldering gun if you have AC available after you've let the PB soak.

[hamburking]

Disconnect battery. It only makes hydrogen when being charged...and even then, very little.

Douse with WD40, and let it sit overnight.

Use vice grips, and hope for the best.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by four winds

PB Blaster is a good rust buster. Spray then tap, tap tap for penetration.

That small amount you can turn it is your friend. Work it back and forth after the PB soaks for a minute.

Spray, tap, turn back and forth, repeat. It probably will come of.

Don't twist the stud loose. Watch it as you work. If it turns at all, even a little that's bad news.

PB Blaster is excellent. I would only make one adjustment to the above statement. I wouldn't spray it unless you have one of those thin red straw like things to make sure it goes where you want and only where you want it. I would spray a little onto a Q-tip or something similar and put it manually onto the recalcitrant nut. PB Blaster can eat away many things if you're not careful.

[Charlie]

I would think you need to be areful in regards to putting much pressure on the wing nut. If you apply too much then it could break free from the battery and destroy your battery. I think that cutting it off with a dremmel tool is a good idea. Then you can run a thread chaser and put a new wing nut on. If you worried about the gasses run a fan while working with the dremmel. Also take the battery out and work on it on a bench.

[Old Swampy]

Disconnect that battery! I once, when much younger, did some welding next to a tractor battery being charged. The battery blew up; the whole top came off. 'Lucky I had a welding mask on.

[Maine Sail]

I have seen loose wing nuts lead to arcing and then galling of the nut over the burns created by the arcing... You could have galled stainless to stainless..

[tinkrman69]

if you cut the nut, disconnect the battery use a fan to ventilator the area and then cut vertically just enough to go through the nut, then force a flat screw driver into the groove with a pair of vice grips. this will make the threaded hole in the nut bigger...ie ...loosening it on the post. this method will put minimal strain on the post, which is only held in place with plastic and attached to the lead terminal connecting the plates. it won't take much to dislodge it.

[a64pilot]

You can buy a nut buster and bust it, or if sparks worry you , just a trickle of water on the cutting disk will prevent sparks.
But I would not force it, may well bust the terminal that way, and then the battery is toast.


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