Terry Field Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 Unelievably, while checking the battery levels a steel bolt from the retaining strap dropped into the battery.The cell is fizzing slightly and I have removed the battery into the open.What is the best thing to do? I cant see the bolt so is it safe to poke around with a screwdriver?Any other adviceThanks Took a chance and poked around and managed to retrieve it without any obvious damage apart from the bolt now looking a bit dull. Hopefully I haven't damaged the battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 7, 2022 Member Share Posted December 7, 2022 I wouldn't put anything metal in there. I wouldn't use the battery.A plastic hook might work.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative DerekH Posted December 7, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted December 7, 2022 Plastic tweezers would be my choice. The acid will be eating the bolt and contaminating the cell.It might not recover well or make no difference at all.DerekH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted December 7, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted December 7, 2022 That's very bad luck. I"d replace it, unless you know somewhere which could remove the acid & the bolt then refill it.A warning to the rest of us to be particularly careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted December 7, 2022 Author Share Posted December 7, 2022 Couldn't have done it if I tried! Used a couple of wooden BBQ skewers in the end and got lucky - all fired up okThanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 7, 2022 Member Share Posted December 7, 2022 Well done.Did it need topping up?...I'd now check the state of the battery by measuring the voltage at rest and minimum during cranking. And then do the same as part of routine checks. That should give early warning of any deterioration.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted December 7, 2022 Author Share Posted December 7, 2022 Hi JonathanThe topping up was minimal, hardly worth bothering about.I am just about to lay it up for a couple of months, so will do all the battery checks as part of the revival!Meanwhile I will read up on battery operation to try to understand the technicalities of dropping a steel bolt into it!Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 #7:Meanwhile I will read up on battery operation to try to understand the technicalities of dropping a steel bolt into it!Well, the fizzing was the hydrogen produced by the redox reaction between the steel bolt and the sulphuric acid (electrolyte). A small amount of iron(II) sulphate (note the old-fashioned spelling) would become dissolved in the electrolyte. I'd suspect that the concentration of that sulphate would be very low (especially if you were quick to extract the bolt), and that it would have a marginal effect (if any) on battery performance. But follow JK's advice re tracking performance.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 Thanks John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Sounds like the sort of thing I'd do. I can imagine the state of panic that ensued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 #10 I think I broke the world record for getting a fizzing battery out of the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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