gel battery repair
Submitted: Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:08
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gary a1
Hi. My gel battery (a FullRiver)has a small hole thats weeping acid. Does anyone know how to repair? (it is mounted in a Tvan, on its side, directly on metal. Thats the way it came out of the factory.
One of the bakelite fittings shattered from a rock hitting under the mud guard, (there are several terminals bolted directly onto side of mudguard) shorted out the fuses, lots of smoke---and my adrenalin levels are slowly returning to normal!
A small piece of that fitting escaped my attention and got under the battery.
Reply By: Bigfish - Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:15
Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:15
I know some years ago I used some of that thick bituman type stuff on a battery. The stuff they put on corrugated iron roofs as patches. Worked for about 18 months. No leaks and I got 4 years out of the battery. Cant hurt to try it. Pabco I think was the brand name. Possibly sikaflex?
Good luck.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: gary a1 - Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:30
Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:30
I do happen to have some of that bitumen up in the shed. If nothing else comes up, I'll give it a go. Thanks.
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745782
Reply By: Rockape - Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:55
Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 22:55
garry,
kneadit should fix it ok. just clean the area and a light sand before putting the kneadit on. Available at most hardware stores.
Have a good one,
RA.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Rosss- Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 23:03
Monday, Nov 28, 2011 at 23:03
On a dozer we had the battery box fell apart and rubbed through the side of the battery, emptied the acid out of it and cleaned the side up and used a piece of an ice cream container stuck on with sicaflex as a patch,put the acid back in equal in each cell and topped up with
water, was still on there 2 years after when we sold the machine and still going strong.
cheers
Ross.
AnswerID:
471236
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 00:48
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 00:48
Your battery has a pressure relief valve (VRLA battery) so is likely to leak again when pressure develops inside the battery.
Capacity will have decreased because of lost acid, and a patch up job would be risky especially if you use the TVan on rough roads. I think you need a new battery.
I wasn't satisfied with the lack of short circuit protection of the TVan battery so added a large fusible link at the pos terminal.
I'm surprised yours is mounted on its side. Is it in the normal position under the spare tyre?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: gary a1 - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 08:13
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 08:13
Thanks for your reply Phil, (and the others)
My Tvan is only months old (june) and the new spot they have for the battery is in a box under the floor right at the back of the van.
As I said in my post, it's mounted on its side. One of the mechanics who saw it mounted like that was aghast, telling me that the battery would have more padding on bottom, none on it's side and that position is a recipe for disaster.
Well, so far hes right!
Im going to look at modifying it today, hmmm. (it also leaks dust in, and thats combined with the acid to make a rather gooey mess)
Unfortunately I cant tell how much acid has leaked, so your right, I may need a new one.
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Follow Up By: Boobook2 - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 13:52
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 13:52
Gary a1 it is equally valid to mount an AGM on it's side, end, or normal. That is not an issue.
I seriously doubt that you could have a reliable battery with any predictable capacity if you repair it with some kind of bog.
Have you spoken to Track Trailer. If it is only 1 month old then I am sure they would want to hear about it and help you. Though June to November used to be 5 months in the old scale.
Phil the new MK 111 vans have the batterys below the floor at the back, and are on their side, not up front. That is the main reason I bought a new TVan instead of a second hand one recently. I hope it is not a bad design.
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Follow Up By: Boobook2 - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 13:54
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 13:54
Oops Gary I misread 'months old' as '1 month old'.
I must be getting old!
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Reply By: nowimnumberone - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 07:52
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 07:52
if i remember corectly mr bonz done a cut and shut on a battery once
hopefully he will see this post and answer this question
cheers
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Reply By: Bigfish - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 08:23
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 08:23
Surley the manufacturer of the van has a responsibilty here for a dubious design?
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Follow Up By: gary a1 - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 09:33
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 09:33
my sentiments also!
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Reply By: oz doc - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 09:46
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 09:46
Gary, Tvan is a
well known name and don't come cheap. As you mention- yours is new and this is a new location for the battery. Have you contacted the manufacturere to let them know what has happened? Feedback such as this is extremely important and allows them to act on the problem and prevent a recurrence in the future. In my opinion a responsible manufacturer should also contribute to the cost of your repairs. Their response will be a revealing measure of their integrity.doc.
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Follow Up By: gary a1 - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 10:07
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 10:07
I emailed them yesterday but no reply yet.
I feel they should cover the cost also (entirely) as the design is at fault. I've just seen a battery repair place, and they advised against repair and also advised not storing on side. I'm just about to ring TrackTrailer now but wanted to know where I stood first.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 12:08
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 at 12:08
Track trailer are exceptionally good to deal with and will want to know about your problem.
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Follow Up By: oz doc - Thursday, Dec 01, 2011 at 08:20
Thursday, Dec 01, 2011 at 08:20
HI Gary, any response from the manufacturer?doc
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Follow Up By: gary a1 - Thursday, Dec 01, 2011 at 15:07
Thursday, Dec 01, 2011 at 15:07
Hi od.
yes, Graham from the service end rang and is waiting on my photos. I've had busy (wait a minute, isn't it 'always' busy?!) time lately, so just doing it now.
Oh, the joys of modern technology's time saving, at your fingertips, unbounded possibilities and endless new discoveries, otherwise known as a computer.hmmm.
(I had sent them to someone else, but they've left)
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