Battery pole confusion

[slowrev]

I expect that the battery has a "+" and a "-" marked on it beside the terminals.

 

[MadReferee]

Always use a test light. Some older equipment is positive ground, especially IH stuff and stuff with generators as opposed to alternators. My dozer is 12v positive ground.

 

[daTeacha]

Say Bird, do you remember the Mopar products with the left hand threads on the lugs on one side of the car and the right hand threads on the other side? It was always fun to watch someone learn about that the hard way!

I had an old Dodge pickup with both those peculiarities.

 

[Dmace]

I say left, the one that is covered. They always cover the positive terminal. If you drop a wrench on the battery and it hits the negative terminal and the frame, nothing happens, it's already grounded. If that wrench were to hit the positive terminal and the frame, you would see a good spark. That is why they cover the positive.

 

[BTDT]

Pull cables and look. I have seen red cables used for ground, and vice versa. See which one goes to starter and which one goes to frame/block etc. to see for yourself. Nothing like being sure.

 

[mjarrels]

Stop and remove all jewelry before proceeding. Don't ask me how I know.

"Ask the Chief"

mark

 

[Soundguy]

That don't hold true on all tractors... I got a whole mess of em in my barn that won't work for..

Soundguy

I would guess the left is the positive since the cable is sheilded. When in doubt use a test light. Hook the clip to a good ground (not the battery) and when the light lights you have the positive post. Life would be easier if the battery manufactures would mark the batteries better. It seems like the +and- marking are always under the hold down or the clamp.

 

[ToadHill]

Say Bird, do you remember the Mopar products with the left hand threads on the lugs on one side of the car and the right hand threads on the other side? It was always fun to watch someone learn about that the hard way!

I remember some of my old cars that not only had right and left threads on the wheels, but had brass wheel nuts and brass nuts on the exhaust manifold to make sure they didn't rust on.

 

[Bird]

Say Bird, do you remember the Mopar products with the left hand threads on the lugs on one side of the car and the right hand threads on the other side? It was always fun to watch someone learn about that the hard way!

I remember some of my old cars that not only had right and left threads on the wheels, but had brass wheel nuts and brass nuts on the exhaust manifold to make sure they didn't rust on.

Yep, I sure remember those. And oddly enough, the last vehicle on which I found left hand threads on the left side was an old Ford pickup in Anchorage in 1991. I don't remember what year model the old truck was, but I do remember trying to turn those lug nuts the wrong direction.

 

[DieselPower]

You can still get left hand lug nut's and studs on a vehicle. You just have to buy a tractor trailer to get them.