Battery hold down clamps
 

What is the best way to hold the battery down? I noticed, on the clamp that goes all around top of battery, the negative terminal clamp crosses over the top of the hold down clamp very close. I am concerned that there is potential for this terminal clamp to come in contact with the hold down clamp and short out. Is this a concern?

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

Bob Bidonde posted a picture of a battery clamp he made that works very well. I can't locate the post. I'm sure Bob will chime in.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

I was also concerned about the frame being so close to the battery post. I used a disc grinder and sanded some of the frame for clearance and then tapped up the frame. The battery is now locked down securely.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

This is the hold down I made, 12 Volt battery

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

I bought an extra clamp/rubber bushing that routes the cable away from the pedal assembly, used the extra rubber bushing on the negative cable where it crosses in close contact to the hold-down frame. I was making replacement cables, so the rubber bushing slid over the new cable easily. If you install on existing, just slice half and it will wrap around the cable nicely.. kb

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

with the factory battery support bolts at opposite corners, using the full-frame hold down method I placed shrink tubing around the ends of the two battery cable clamps and have never had any issues or seen any wear thru from vibrations. 22 years and going.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

I just took the grinder to it.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

Here is my homemade battery clamp. It is made from 5/16" diameter steel rod with washers MIG welded to each end. Besides buying the rod, you can obtain it by repurposing a brake rod, or repurposing a radiator support rod.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

I use a short length of garden hose and slip it over the battery cable and up to and over the part of the clamp that comes close to the hold down. Also watch the swap meets for the old, red plastic group 1 hold downs. They work nice and are non conductive.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

I had the same concern. Went back to the original style hold-downs on the corners

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

Thank you all for the ideas. It is nice to know that it is not just me. The original designed corner hold downs do not work on the new style batteries that are in my cars. The new batteries are a little smaller than what I believe were original to the car. I do agree that the corner hold downs would be my preferred solution, they just need to extend over the top of the battery a little further.

Re: Battery hold down clamps
 

Steve

With your knowledge and skills you can extend the original ones.