Replacing Battery Terminals

Rich1961

Rich1961

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Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2023
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59
Location
Spring Creek Nevada
I need to replace my factory battery terminals, as I found out during my winch install that the negative terminal doesn't tighten around the battery post very tight. Plus the issue of not having solid contact with the battery post. I've searched but not found what I'm looking for, so I thought I'd ask those that have done this upgrade to provide the best way to do this. My question is did you cut the two hole bar from the factory battery terminals, or does bending the tabs back on the bottom of the two hole bar release it to be able to bolt it to the new battery terminal? Or is it better to just cut the cables free and install new cable ends on both the negative and positive cables? I do have a hydraulic crimper and battery lugs.
 
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BLACKJKU said:
I like using this type of cable end and then using solder to hold the cable in.

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Then these clamps it's easy to add more cables or wires to them when needed.

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So you cut the factory ends off, and soldered the new lugs on the existing factory battery cables. I'll have to check mine to see if there's enough extra cable to do that.
 
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I cut my ends off and crimped on new copper lugs. I also used Vgate terminals. Couldn't be happier with everything.

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Rich1961 said:
How is the Yellow Top Battery holding up? I've read of issues with the Optima's since production was moved south of the border. I had one years ago in my CJ with no issues.
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I bought a Red Top last winter and it only lasted 1 month, bought 2 Red Tops for my Diesel 2.5 years ago and they are still going.
 
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JeepJeezy said:
I cut my ends off and crimped on new copper lugs. I also used Vgate terminals. Couldn't be happier with everything.

View attachment 126924
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Looks like time to upgrade the wife’s clamps. Did you get the A12 or the A20? Was there enough cable to install new connectors after cutting the old ones? What size was needed and were you able to simply clamp them on?
 
Danarch said:
Looks like time to upgrade the wife’s clamps. Did you get the A12 or the A20? Was there enough cable to install new connectors after cutting the old ones? What size was needed and were you able to simply clamp them on?
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I got the A12's. With the positive cable, I cut a slit on the oem clamp that's around the end of the cable. I heated up that end and pried the oem clamp off. This will also separate your positive cable into 2 singles. The negative cable had plenty of room to just cut the oem clamp off at the oem clamp and then install a new lug. I had an assortment of lugs and a lug crimping tool. That made life easier too! The Vgate clamps come with "shims" to fit any battery post. With my Optima battery, I did need 1 "shim" for each post. The Vgate clamps are now stupid tight around the battery posts compared to the OEM ones.
 
JeepJeezy said:
I got the A12's. With the positive cable, I cut a slit on the oem clamp that's around the end of the cable. I heated up that end and pried the oem clamp off. This will also separate your positive cable into 2 singles. The negative cable had plenty of room to just cut the oem clamp off at the oem clamp and then install a new lug. I had an assortment of lugs and a lug crimping tool. That made life easier too! The Vgate clamps come with "shims" to fit any battery post. With my Optima battery, I did need 1 "shim" for each post. The Vgate clamps are now stupid tight around the battery posts compared to the OEM ones.
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Thank you for the reply. Clamps and tool (not cheap tool) ordered. Most likely will attempt install Saturday, but I’d do volunteer to one of our club members for them to come over and help with their front end so we will see.
 
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Danarch said:
Thank for the info. I am going to give the other shot. Have lights, winch etc. etc. so the extra connection points will be nice provided they work well.
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For "extra connections", these clamps work great because the cables are attached using lug-type terminals and they can be arranged on the clamp... And I chose to go with the marine version on the new battery that includes the accessory terminals.
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