Battery Reconstruction

[Donald B.]

A battery shop in Los Angeles says that it is possible to rebuild my old battery - tar top. The cost would be $25 - $50. Has anyone ever had this done and what was it worth it?

[William C.]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

It used to be done regularly to tar tops, install new plates, and add new tar, reusing the original case. It's very hard to find a shop that will do that anymore, I'd ask the shop on more specifics about what the "rebuild" consists of.

[Dale S.]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

When I was in college(1955), I worked at the battery shop of the Rock Island R.R. That was all we did. There is a waxed rope that is pounded in around the cell's and the rubber case before the heated tar was poured. hope I am not boring anyone. Dale

[Dick W.]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

Clup, if you will think back to the 50's and 60's it was very common to see rebuilt batteries. About 1/2 price of a new one (and last about 1/3 as long as a new one). Used car dealers loved them. I really thought that the art was dead due to polution and safety regualtions.

[Rob M.]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

Dale,

A bit more details and backgound would make an excellent story in the NCRS Restorers magazines!

Keep theme comming, all those great stories!!!

greetings,
Rob.

[Scott Butville]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

I have just the opposite situation, a good correctly dated tar top battery with a hairline crack at the top of the case. I have routed out the crack and lowered the electrolyte level in the cell. Super glue and epoxy will not stick. The next thing I'm planning to try is the rubber for coating tool handles. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this successfully or a suggestion from someone that knows "plastics".

[Dale S.]

Re: Battery Reconstruction

hi, you sy plastic is it not hard rubber. As I remember "Duro" brad chemical made tube of repair material. As I remember the part number it was "PR-1" I think this meant "plastic rubber". Might try a "google search" for Duro. They made a LS-1 for steel and a PA-1 for aluminium. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Dale

[Warren L.]

he blowed up real good

Be careful with batteries with cracks in them.

I saw one recently, it was moved from one vehicle to another, cables were hooked up in the wrong order, it blew up.

A bit of the gas escaped, positive was hooked up after negative and made a spark. Now I understand why they tell you to put your positive on first then the negative. The guy was very lucky.

Warren