CAUTION
Always wear goggles when cleaning the battery. Acid may splash into your eyes
if they are not protected!
Periodically, clean the top of the battery with a solution of baking soda and water using a stiff bristle brush. This will neutralize acid and clean corrosion from the terminals and battery case, which will keep the acid from damaging the battery and will allow a better electrical connection between the battery cables and the battery. Since this solution neutralizes acid, make sure it does not get into the battery itself.
If any acid has spilled onto the battery tray, clean this area in the same way. If paint has been removed from the tray, wire brush the area and paint it with a rust-resistant paint.
Remove the cable ends, clean the cable end clamps and battery posts, and reconnect and tighten the clamps. Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the terminals, which will help to retard corrosion. The terminals can be cleaned with a wire brush or with an inexpensive terminal cleaner designed for this purpose.
| Fig. 1: Clean the battery posts with a wire brush or
terminal cleaner made for that purpose
|
Some batteries were equipped with a felt terminal washer. This should be saturated with engine oil approximately every year. This will also help to retard corrosion.
