Stupid battery nuts

Monkeyman · 03-04-2012, 08:40 AM

What's the key to getting the nut back on the bolt on the battery? I just spent 2 hours with a screwdriver, pick and a flashlight trying to get it together. Finally got the damn thing together just now. Either I'd get the nut crooked or I'd knock it off the battery completely. Thank God I have a magnet or I'd have had to keep removing the battery. And after all that, I ran the wires from the tank wrong. Not sure if it was a good thing or not as now I don't have to use the metal clip things bolted to the tank bolts. I'm gonna call it cleaning up the wiring.

**Rasta** · 03-04-2012, 08:50 AM

My trick for that is I put about a 1/4in square of scotch pad under the nut, which holds it in place while you try to get the bolt started. Works most of the time for me!!

gyco · 03-04-2012, 09:13 AM

Battery grease

**cnc** · 03-04-2012, 09:18 AM

If the bolt is long enough and you haven't added extra wires the back of the slot where the nut is should hold the nut far enough forward to catch a few threads. If not, a Popsicle stick works best for me, it's flat, easy to trim the edge, and if your doing it on the positive terminal, you can't accidentally short it out against the frame.

Monkeyman · 03-04-2012, 09:55 AM

Those are some great ideas. I've added a couple wires for each (+/-). I knew it was going to be a bit tough to get the bolts started again but never figured I'd have so much trouble with the negative. I also know I have to remove them again so I want to be prepared.

**coacha** · 03-04-2012, 10:18 AM

I use a couple of zip ties. Put it under the nut zip it into a loop and it works good. Of course, you can't reuse them.

**ringadingh** · 03-04-2012, 10:32 AM

I use a stick as well, it usually takes a few seconds to tighten.

Monkeyman · 03-04-2012, 10:33 AM

I build computers for fun and I'm anal about wire management so I have boxes full of zip ties.

**schoeney** · 03-04-2012, 10:39 AM

12 year old neighbor has smaller hands and much more coordinated. Plus it is fun to watch him jump when I blast the Stebel about the time he connects the wires.

AlabamaNomadRider · 03-04-2012, 12:21 PM

Longer bolt is probably now required. I had the same problem when I added a couple of pigtails. Went to Ace Hardware and got a bolt about 1/8 inch longer and no more problems.

Monkeyman · 03-04-2012, 12:24 PM

I may have to do that. I didn't want it to bottom out.

AlabamaNomadRider · 03-04-2012, 12:36 PM

1/16 or 1/8 won't cause it to bottom out or at least mine didn't.

Monkeyman · 03-04-2012, 01:04 PM

Ok. From what I could see (which wasn't much), it looked like that would have made all the difference.

dmyers · 03-04-2012, 02:00 PM

I would get a couple of terminal blocks and just run a wire from each side of the battery to each block. then you just have one wire going to each post on the battery

ronnie · 03-04-2012, 10:01 PM

Speaking of battery terminals. I changed out the battery in my 06 nomad a couple of months ago. I figured it would be a very simple thing, but wrong. It's a pretty good job getting it swapped out. I'm just glad I was at home instead of out on the road.

03-04-2012, 08:40 AM	#1
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	Stupid battery nuts What's the key to getting the nut back on the bolt on the battery? I just spent 2 hours with a screwdriver, pick and a flashlight trying to get it together. Finally got the damn thing together just now. Either I'd get the nut crooked or I'd knock it off the battery completely. Thank God I have a magnet or I'd have had to keep removing the battery. And after all that, I ran the wires from the tank wrong. Not sure if it was a good thing or not as now I don't have to use the metal clip things bolted to the tank bolts. I'm gonna call it cleaning up the wiring. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-04-2012, 08:50 AM	#2
Rasta Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ankeny Iowa Posts: 3,697	My trick for that is I put about a 1/4in square of scotch pad under the nut, which holds it in place while you try to get the bolt started. Works most of the time for me!! __________________ VROC#34321 VBA#01867 2012 NCR Rally Savanna. IL. 2013 National Rally Estes Park, CO 2014 NC/SC Rally in the Ozarks, Mountain View AR 2014 NE US/Eastern Canada Rally,Lincoln NH 2015 VBA/VRA Eureka Springs AR 2015 Antlers Rally, Antlers OK. 2016 SCR Rally Salem MO. 2016 NCR Rally Hillsboro WI 2017 Eureka Springs AR 2017 National Rally Lake George NY 2004 Blue and Silver 1500 Nomad(RIP 9-26-19) 2000 Red and Silver 1500 Nomad 2012 Pearl White 1700 Voyager
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03-04-2012, 09:18 AM	#4
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	If the bolt is long enough and you haven't added extra wires the back of the slot where the nut is should hold the nut far enough forward to catch a few threads. If not, a Popsicle stick works best for me, it's flat, easy to trim the edge, and if your doing it on the positive terminal, you can't accidentally short it out against the frame. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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03-04-2012, 09:55 AM	#5
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	Those are some great ideas. I've added a couple wires for each (+/-). I knew it was going to be a bit tough to get the bolts started again but never figured I'd have so much trouble with the negative. I also know I have to remove them again so I want to be prepared. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-04-2012, 10:18 AM	#6
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	I use a couple of zip ties. Put it under the nut zip it into a loop and it works good. Of course, you can't reuse them. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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03-04-2012, 09:13 AM	#3
gyco Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St.Thomas, ON Canada Posts: 1	Battery grease
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03-04-2012, 10:32 AM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I use a stick as well, it usually takes a few seconds to tighten. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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03-04-2012, 10:33 AM	#8
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	I build computers for fun and I'm anal about wire management so I have boxes full of zip ties. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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03-04-2012, 10:39 AM	#9
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	12 year old neighbor has smaller hands and much more coordinated. Plus it is fun to watch him jump when I blast the Stebel about the time he connects the wires.
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03-04-2012, 12:21 PM	#10
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Longer bolt is probably now required. I had the same problem when I added a couple of pigtails. Went to Ace Hardware and got a bolt about 1/8 inch longer and no more problems. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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03-04-2012, 12:24 PM	#11
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	I may have to do that. I didn't want it to bottom out. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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03-04-2012, 12:36 PM	#12
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	1/16 or 1/8 won't cause it to bottom out or at least mine didn't. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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03-04-2012, 01:04 PM	#13
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	Ok. From what I could see (which wasn't much), it looked like that would have made all the difference. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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03-04-2012, 02:00 PM	#14
dmyers Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: springfield Mo Posts: 1,310	I would get a couple of terminal blocks and just run a wire from each side of the battery to each block. then you just have one wire going to each post on the battery __________________ Don Myers 2012 green vaquero custom bars V&H pro pipe FI2000 custom intake work in progress
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03-04-2012, 10:01 PM	#15
ronnie Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glasgow, Kentucky Posts: 92	Speaking of battery terminals. I changed out the battery in my 06 nomad a couple of months ago. I figured it would be a very simple thing, but wrong. It's a pretty good job getting it swapped out. I'm just glad I was at home instead of out on the road.
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