Page H-4
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
Repair and Service Manual
Read all of Section B and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to all Notices, Cautions, Dangers and Warnings.
(baking soda) and water and thoroughly dried before
priming and painting with a corrosion resistant paint.
The batteries should be placed into the battery racks
and the battery hold downs tightened to 45 - 55 in. lbs.
(5 - 6 Nm) torque, to prevent movement but not tight
enough to cause distortion of the battery cases.
Inspect all wires and terminals. Clean any corrosion
from the battery terminals or the wire terminals with a
solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and brush
clean if required.
To prevent battery explosion that could result
in severe personal injury or death, extreme
care must be used with aerosol containers of
battery terminal protectant. Insulate the metal
container to prevent the metal can from con-
tacting battery terminals which could result in
an explosion.
Use care to connect the battery wires as shown (Ref.
Fig. 5 on Page H-4). Ensure that all battery terminals are
installed with crimp up. Tighten the battery post hard-
ware to 95 - 105 in. lbs. (11 - 12 Nm) torque. Do not
over-torque the terminal stud nut, this will cause a
"mushroom" effect on the battery post which will prevent
the terminal nut from being properly tightened.Protect
the battery terminals and battery wire terminals with a
commercially available protective coating..
Fig. 5 Battery Connections
Prolonged Storage
Battery charger, controller and other electronic devices
need to be disconnected since they will contribute to
the premature discharge of batteries.
During periods of storage, the batteries will need atten-
tion to keep them maintained and prevent discharge.
In high temperatures the chemical reaction is faster,
while low temperatures cause the chemical reaction to
slow down. A vehicle that is stored at 90 F (32 C) will
lose .002 of specific gravity each day. If a fully charged
battery has a specific gravity of 1.275, and the battery is
allowed to sit unused, it will become partially discharged.
When it reaches 1.240, which it will do in less than
twenty days, it should be recharged. If a battery is left in
a discharged state, sulfating takes place on and within
the plates. This condition is not reversible and will cause
permanent damage to the battery. In order to prevent
damage, the battery should be recharged. A hydrometer
(P/N 50900-G1) can be used to determine the specific
gravity and therefore the state of charge of a battery.
In winter conditions, the battery must be fully charged to
prevent the possibility of freezing (Ref. Fig. 6 on Page
H-5). A fully charged battery will not freeze in tempera-
tures above -75 F (-60 C). Although the chemical
reaction is slowed in cold temperatures, the battery must
be stored fully charged, and disconnected from any cir-
cuit that could discharge the battery. For portable charg-
ers, disconnect the charging plug from the vehicle
receptacle. For on-board chargers, disconnect the
charging harness from the batteries. The batteries must
be cleaned and all deposits neutralized and removed
from the battery case to prevent self discharge. The bat-
teries should be tested or recharged at thirty day mini-
mum intervals
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Front of Vehicle
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