Forum

[Leon Novello]

A battery can be cleaned and acid spills/damage neutralized with a bit of baking soda and hot water, also cleans the housing where acid fumes/spills are causing corrosion and the paintwork is eaten away. It definitely needs to be done before painting. Often done on taxis I used to drive.

[jefrs]

Hot water and suds will do the same trick, soap contains soda. Household washing soda is for, washing, and cheaper than a pot of baking soda - but do not use caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, drain cleaner). I also remember pouring boiling water from the kettle over old batteries, do not do that because it can crack the battery. Using soda is for acid spills from a leaky battery. The corrosion on the lead battery terminals is electrolytic (electricity and water) not acid leaking.

[Rattlebattle]

Why waste ACF 50 (excellent but expensive product) on something that a bit of Vaseline will do?

[Gwilly]

Rainwater and sunshine will soon breakdown vaseline whereas ACF lasts for months..

One tin has lasted me nearly three years so far..

ACF in the garage and Vaseline in the bedside drawer.......

Horses for courses

[sofiaspin]

BSA Bryan is right - let it all hang out, strip away silly covers and lose weight in the process. Buy a repro Amal battery box and whack in a gel battery, losing more weight, and pretend to be old skoool. Job done.

[jefrs]

Whilst I don't treat the battery terminals, I do tend to use a tiny squirt of silicone spray where once I used Vaseline. If you've ever squirted an aerosol in to a jam jar you will have seen that they put out a lot of 'oil', so only a quick puff is needed. It goes a long way and lasts a very long time. It is a good protective agent but a poor lubricant on metals. On plastics like nylon curtain rails it is an excellent lubricant.

[Presto]

ACF every time. What’s this washing batteries with soap and water?! Spray ACF to remove corrosion, to prevent corrosion and general maintenance. The cost of one quick spray of ACF is likely to be less than soap, water and Vaseline – certainly quicker and more efficient.

[jefrs]

If you get white fur on the battery terminal, by far the easiest method of removing it is a little hot soapy water and a pot brush. Then tighten the terminal and spray something at it or plaster it with Vaseline, whatever rings your bell. Water is probably the best solvent and cleaning agent we have. Marvellous stuff, you might ever wash the bike whilst you're at it.