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Use a battery strap when changing a battery!

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Old May 9, 2021 | 06:16 PM
  #1  
Jon442's Avatar
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Gearhead
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 438
Use a battery strap when changing a battery!

Today, I was swapping out the battery in the wife's '68 Cougar. The old battery had a built-in battery strap, so no problem. The new battery did not, and I did not have a strap on hand. So I had to lower the new battery in by holding it on the bottom. It started to slip, and then it pinned my hand between the battery and the battery tray. The lip of the battery tray sliced thru my fingernail and into the flesh below. That REALLY hurt. Lots of bad words. So a word to the wise, use a battery strap when swapping out a battery! I now have one on order from Amazon.
Old May 9, 2021 | 07:29 PM
  #2  
Bfg's Avatar
Bfg
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,271
Battery straps are for sissies
Old May 9, 2021 | 08:15 PM
  #3  
gs72's Avatar
72Cutlass S
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,201
From: Bakersfield, CA
This is what i used during my Ford mechanic career and still use it at home.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...attery-carrier
Old May 10, 2021 | 02:39 AM
  #4  
fleming442's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,797
From: Mt.Ary, MD
Originally Posted by Bfg
Battery straps are for sissies
hahaha!
Old May 10, 2021 | 06:11 AM
  #5  
rocketraider's Avatar
Oldsdruid
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,600
From: Southside Vajenya
I have both strap and clamp battery carriers. I never maimed myself but I have gotten my hands caught between battery and car, and some cars it's like they were built around the battery.

I don't have strength in my hands like I used to so anything to make my life easier and not make me hurt, I'm gonna try to have it, sissy or not.

Just make sure the clamping washers on that strap carrier have a good bite on the battery posts! No fun when a heavy, clumsy battery gets loose!
Old May 10, 2021 | 07:17 AM
  #6  
Bfg's Avatar
Bfg
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,271
I had the clamping washers give way on a brand new battery as I was bringing it downstairs to my work bench, battery broke apart and battery acid all over the carpet, I think the clamp style battery carriers won’t let you down
Old May 10, 2021 | 07:31 AM
  #7  
Koda's Avatar
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12,655
From: Evansville, IN
We will have the nylon details wear on the battery picker on the line, and it will occasionally drop and rupture one.

I have found that some safety rules help.

-Always wear safety glasses when working (I left mine off last night while washing a wheel in a laundry tub and sloshed dirty water in an eye)
-If you have to stop to go find, get, or buy, the right tool, do so.
-Being tired is dangerous, it can usually wait till tomorrow.
-There is no harm with thinking about how you want to do it for a few extra minutes.

Most batteries have holes for a strap if you want one. I can still fingertip it for now.
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