Melted negative post on my Hitachi 300 LC-3C

[asleiman]

good morning Folks , it is been a while since I posted, I had to have my knee replaced great job long process. old football injury.
Anyway trying to get some of the equipment going again. service the Hitachi checking oil etc. put 2 new batteries, made sure the terminal all clean and tight.it is 24 V, once all the initial checking is done . put the key and turned it on, the dash lit up fine. Then I thought too give it a spin . starter did not run but heard hushing noise, looked at the battery and saw the negative post melted. never had that happens.
need little help the get my brain thinking again after laying out for nearly a year


Thank you all

 

[Ronsii]

How bout a pic of the wiring on the batteries, are you sure the post and inside terminal was bare metal clean?

 

[kshansen]

How bout a pic of the wiring on the batteries, are you sure the post and inside terminal was bare metal clean?

Agree with Ronsil on the clean terminal. The two most common causes of a failure like that is poor connection from corrosion or loose connection.

Some times the cable ends will close up the gap and make it feel like the connection is nice and tight but when asked to carry the high surge of amps it will fail. That's why I always used a pair of spreader pliers to open the clamp up so I knew it was clamping tight.

Also preferred the copper/brass to the lead clamps. The lead ones sometime would bind on the clamp bolt and give a false indication they were tight.
https://www.delcity.net/store/Battery-Terminal-Spreader-Pliers/p_800182.h_800194

 

[asleiman]

 

[John C.]

Times two on that battery connector. If you can find the molds anymore you can cast a new terminal onto the battery. I haven't been able to find one in years. Battery people will likely want you to buy a new battery.

 

[asleiman]

any one have apicture of group 31 screw type batteries connected to jacketed cables

 

[kshansen]

any one have a picture of group 31 screw type batteries connected to jacketed cables

Not really sure what you need a picture of or for?

Is your machine a 12 volt or 24 volt starting system.

Are you looking to replace what looks like a pair of 4D batteries with the group 31 batteries?

 

[heymccall]

Like this? http://www.centurytool.net/mobile/Product.aspx?id=48440

 

[asleiman]

Going with grp. 31 batteries screw type , I can be sure they are tight.
Also took off all connection , to ground , connection to relay . Cleaned with die grinder and stone

 

[kshansen]

Going with grp. 31 batteries screw type , I can be sure they are tight.
Also took off all connection , to ground , connection to relay . Cleaned with die grinder and stone

Clean and tight connections are sure to make things work much better!

 

[John C.]

So is that post mold for positive or negative posts?

 

[kshansen]

So is that post mold for positive or negative posts?

I did a search for the post molds and saw that one and wondered the same thing. I could not see any mention of which it was for or anything.

Not sure but I may have a set of those old molds out in the garage. They may have "accidentally" got stuck in my tool box when I retired! I really don't think anyone else at the quarry would have the slightest idea of what they were, like so many tools we had.

 

[John C.]

I left a set at the first coal company I worked for and I'm sure no one knows what they were for. Probably got thrown in the scrap barrel years ago. I've not been able to find another set since.

 

[asleiman]

Made progress the machine started like charm

 

[asleiman]

Now I have pin hole leak jn hydraulic cooler.
Any suggestion

 

[asleiman]

 

[Theweldor]

I still have a ste somewhere. They are in the ruck but it has been years since I have used them!!!!

 

[John C.]

That was why I left them way back when. Once I saw the problem I never let it happen again. Kept a box of terminal ends in the truck with bolt on connections for the wire. Put an eye on the wire, clamped the terminal down right the first time and never had another issue until the battery wouldn't take a charge any more.

 

[Birken Vogt]

View attachment 186100

I don't know where your leak is but what a photograph. I can count every flake of rust and fin that is folded over. Some things are better these newfangled days.

 

[asleiman]

it is not as bad as it looks . I had guy that worked for me and painted the machine , and over sprayed the cooler