I removed the battery the other day, and I am trying to put the positive terminal back on, but i am having a big problem with the screw that tightens the terminal connection. The screw goes into a 2 pieces block, and every time I start to tighten it, the two blocks come apart, and it nevers tightens the terminal properly.
Can someone tell me the secret of getting back on, and if possible take a closeup picture of the terminal, so that I can see how it all goes together. Maybe I have it wrong.
Is there a PDF technical document out there that show it better?
Thanks,
Sean

 

Perhaps you over tightened it once and have stripped the threads. Not sure though. I've never had that issue and I remove the battery every year.

 

Never overtightened it. i cannot get it back on properly. I just need someone to take a picture of it when it is on, so I can see what it looks like when done.

Do the two pieces separate as you are tightening it? I just tried it again, and it seems to be holding, but I am not 100% sure, and I do not have a similar car close to me to see if it is correct.

Thanks,

Sean

 

I'll try and post a pic for you later. If you can post a pic of what you have going on that may be helpfull also

 

Yeah that's fun isn't it? Thanks Ford for reinventing the wheel once again by making something simple, difficult. I went through that same hell when my battery crapped out a few months back. About all you can do is tighten the little bolt just enough that it grabs the first few threads, and wriggle it onto the post. That **** had me so mad I was ready to start kicking the door of my car - I'm serious.

 

Here are a couple pictures of the end result after I tighten up the screw.

Not sure if this is how it is supposed to look after its tight.

 

Sean,

If you look at it closely, you will see that there is a metal bar that runs from the bottom wedge (block) to the outside of the clamp and they clip together with about 3/16" of the bar sticking out the left side of the clamp. It looks like your bar came lose, so as you tighten the bolt down, it isn't pulling the outside of the clamp against the inside of the clamp. So no clamp... It should be an easy fix.

As you tighten down the screw, the wedge surface pushes the top part of the block to the left while pulling the bottom part of the block to the right. This tightens the clamp nice and even.

Personally, I've found this design to work VERY well in the six or so times I have taken the positive terminal off. It loosens up easily and clamps securely without having to over tighten the bolt. It also keeps the bolt itself away from the actual post, which should slow down the rate that it corrodes.

 

Can anyone please post a picture of yours. A picture says alot.

 

here ya go

 

Related to this, why is Sean's so close to the battery, where Glenn's isn't?

Mine is like Sean's... and a Ford shop put in the new battery... and now I can't get my cover to properly cover it due to there being no clearance between the wedge and the battery now... Le Sigh.

Edit: Wait... Sean's is backwards to what Glenn's showing... I'll check mine for that. Probably what it is.

 

Thanks Glenn for the picture. Mine is for sure on wrong. I will be fixing that today. The top portion must have swung around on me after I disconnected it, as I was concentrating on getting it connected that way, and did not try it any other way.

 

is it all fixed up now???

 

Glenn,

There is far too much dust in that engine bay.

 

just on that half of the battery the rest is spotless. I was actually doing a little cleaning in there yesterday.

 

Hey Glenn,

Yes its all fixed up. I have no idea how it got flipped around. I had to really loosen up the screw to get that top block turned around.

Thanks for your help on this.

Sean

 

Anyone know where I can find one of these? Had some bad corrosion on the Boss and mine busted, not sure if it was from me trying to tighten it up or what. Ford parts here says they can only sell the whole cable assembly for $300+

 

I would just go buy one from autozone or the like. It won't be a match.

 

My main concern right now is if the cables are long enough. Probably going to pick one up tonight and see if I can get it to work.

 

I would check out an audio shop if there's one out there. They have much nicer cable ends that you can just splice on. Won't be factory but a lot nicer than you will find at a parts store.

 

Good call Al, there is a place on the way home.