4 wheeler battery corrosion ?

[redka]

My son has a 4 wheeler that the battery terminals and clamps will corrode within four days after being cleaned, so much that it won't crank. Surely this is not normal. Anyone know why it happens, and what can be done to fix it?
Thanks.

 

[mrmikey]

Is the battery gassing off due to a load being on it or possably an internal load on the battery and the vapour causing the corrosion? I use dielectric grease on battery terminals and plugs, it stops a lot of corrosion due to moisture......Mike

 

[JerryK]

If he is young, he might be 'hot rodding/bouncing/jumping" around, like we did when we were younger. You might try cleaning everything up real good, and then spraying both terminal areas with battery spray. It is usually a yellowish waxy spray you can get at most auto stores pretty cheap. One can will last for many years. Mine is about twenty years old.... It drys in a couple days and keeps the terminals usually corosion free.

 

[redka]

mrmikey, how would we know if either of those conditions are happening?

JerryK, he's not young(40), and not hotrodding. Uses it only occasionaly to ride the kids around the property, and to carry the sprayer to spray weeds.

 

[JerryK]

That spray wax is made for battery terminals. I have been doing all my top terminal batteries since the '70's.... That's one of the first things I did to my new Mahindra. If you coat it good and let it dry, it should solve your problem. They sell those little treated washers for the battery terminals, too... That is supposed to keep the gas that may leak around the terminals in check... but the wax works for me... Does not take much jouncing to slosh the battery fluid around.. that's what I meant by hot rodding... [ I still remember doing it, barely.... I'm older now, and loosing a little of my hair, I'm ONLY 64..!!!! ]

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

I would check that the battery is not getting over charged by the machines alternator. If not I would replace the battery. You are getting too much vapor around those terminals, either from off gassing or the seals around the terminals are bad. The other things mentioned in this thread will help but if it is happening that quickly something else is wrong.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

One more thing. Those batteries use a little plastic hose down the side and out the bottom of the machine. Is that hose there and is it open. If it was kinked or pluggged it might cause this kind of problem.

 

[redka]

I would check that the battery is not getting over charged by the machines alternator. If not I would replace the battery. You are getting too much vapor around those terminals, either from off gassing or the seals around the terminals are bad. The other things mentioned in this thread will help but if it is happening that quickly something else is wrong.

How would we determine overcharging?
We'll check the hose.

 

[JerryK]

You could put a voltage meter on it after it has run awhile, and see if it is over 13.8 volts. Anything over about that voltage is considered too high, and will try to 'overcharge' the battery.

 

[mrmikey]

Best way to check for any minor load on the battery is to disconnect one cable and hook your multimeter inline with the battery/cable. Make sure it's on the AMP setting, high range initially and if notihing then go to low range.
Be sure everythings off and don't try to start it, you'll blow the fuse in the meter......Mike