I have never seen this product before, and didn't even know they were available for purchase. I have made shims out of pop cans and those have worked well for me.
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The link below has a video. If you want to skip to the relevant part of the video, go to about 9:30 Man Shot at by Cops Who Got Scared by an...
I've been working on cars for 55 years and this is the first time that I have seen these shims. Good idea for sue. Regular battery post cleaning can wear down the battery post. I suspect these shims might be more durable than using aluminum can for a shim and less susceptible to rapid corrosion.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It certainly looked heavy duty.
DeleteAs a stoopid teenager I used to use a wood screw between the ring and the post, it worked - for a while. As I got smarter I used to use some copper sheeting that my dad had lying around, they were about .005 thick. Corrosion would eventually get to them, though.
ReplyDeleteFinally got it through my head to buy the replacement terminal clamps and do it right! Haven't seen the lead "inserts" before, but why not? Works better than the copper because it resists the corrosion.
I never did the screw thing, but it ought to work. In an emergency anything is on the table.
DeleteMy kid bought a car that had starting issues. I checked the battery and it was good. But wait! What the hell is?... The previous owner had done "the screw thing..." Yeah, it'll make a connection, bit it's contact surface WON'T carry the amperage needed to start the engine! Technically, the rest of the clamp's contact surface would, but someone too lazy to change the clamp isn't going to clean an existing terminal and clamp before "doing the screw thing..."
DeleteThe screw thing has saved my butt several times over the years when I was stranded by a loose terminal. No, it is not a permanent fix but it beats walking.
DeleteLook at the video that follows.
ReplyDeleteProbably don’t have to buy anything for the same result.
Are you talking about the one with the cotter pin? That should work also.
DeleteThose blasted things work great until they dont. lead spreads under a constant load. it will get loose again but only when you're running late. Just bend the oe clamp until a replacement can be found. Pennies and bottle caps work much better.
ReplyDeleteAnd... AND... you end up with ANOTHER gap where corrosion will fester; the one between the terminal and the shim!
DeleteI just cut off the old clamp and put a new one on. I use the soft metal ones. That way, if the TERMINAL has been rendered too small, I can shave off some metal between the clamping points to allow it to close further. Those shims look really ghetto!... Might as well make them yourself, given that the purchased ones actually cost money and won't last any longer than home made ones!
ReplyDelete...If the terminals are properly cared for, this should NEVER be an issue!