rorywquin
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2016
- Messages
- 9,488
- Reaction score
- 6,388
- Location
- North Yorkshire
- Your Mercedes
- An old B-Class.
Discalimer : I strongly recommend that you don’t do this as you are messing with sulphuric acid. I accept no responsibility as I’m posting this for discussion only.
Based on a suggestion from @Blobcat , I persevered and got one cap off after nearly destroying it. Then it all became easy.
I worked out a way to easily open the cells. Once I’d done that it took about 30 seconds for each cell.
The top of the cap (basically the top part is a dust cap so that crud doesn’t get into the cell when you unscrew it the cap ) is not where it seals but rather on an o-ring further into the cell. I drilled 2 holes (180 degrees opposite each other) into the top part of the cap. Pair of long nose pliers (1 jaw in each hole) twist and it unscrews very easily.
There was a slight puff of gas (hydrogen it think) being released as I opened each cell so don’t have a fag in your mouth.
I couldn’t see any liquid in the cells so it is below the top of the mat.
I’ll use some Clear Gorilla Tape (awesome stuff) to cover the caps once I’ve topped the cells and replaced them (actually I my try to find some new aftermarket caps).
That was the good news for me. The bad news is that after battling with the first one yesterday, I ordered a new battery which arrived today.
Based on a suggestion from @Blobcat , I persevered and got one cap off after nearly destroying it. Then it all became easy.
I worked out a way to easily open the cells. Once I’d done that it took about 30 seconds for each cell.
The top of the cap (basically the top part is a dust cap so that crud doesn’t get into the cell when you unscrew it the cap ) is not where it seals but rather on an o-ring further into the cell. I drilled 2 holes (180 degrees opposite each other) into the top part of the cap. Pair of long nose pliers (1 jaw in each hole) twist and it unscrews very easily.
There was a slight puff of gas (hydrogen it think) being released as I opened each cell so don’t have a fag in your mouth.
I couldn’t see any liquid in the cells so it is below the top of the mat.
I’ll use some Clear Gorilla Tape (awesome stuff) to cover the caps once I’ve topped the cells and replaced them (actually I my try to find some new aftermarket caps).
That was the good news for me. The bad news is that after battling with the first one yesterday, I ordered a new battery which arrived today.
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