Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Tbeer45 on November 26, 2005, 12:55:30 pm

Title: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: Tbeer45 on November 26, 2005, 12:55:30 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 19786 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19786)
Hello to All.

I want to pull the house and cranking batteries to clean the pull-out trays they are mounted to.

I have checked the manuals I have for guidance on battery removal and installation with no luck.

Could someone offer help? Are there any 'cautions', considerations, or other thoughts as to how to prevent damage to electronic? My coach is old enough that it doesn't have the plethora of electronics as the newer coaches but, there must be more to this job than just remove/install and reset the clock.

Thanks for your insight and time.

Regards, Larry
'99 Affinity 5714
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: SWINDER14@AOL COM on November 26, 2005, 05:09:28 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 19791 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19791)
Larry

The only surprises I had when my coach batteries were changed out is I lost my rear view camera and GPS when the power was reconnected. It's just a simple reset problem after you read the stupid manual for about a hour. If your living in the coach your wife will soon tell you ### the toilet won't flush, the refrigerator quit, the TV lost sound, the heat pumps or hydronic heat quit, etc all DC controlled items. I've had the chassis batteries changed without a problem; however, I haven't had both coach and chassis batteries disconnected at the same time.

Ken

2000 magna #5811
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: David G Grazier on November 26, 2005, 09:16:18 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 19798 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19798)
Larry,

I just replace the batteries in my coach. To do what I think you want to do, it would be a similar task. First, turn off both disconnect switches. Then remove the terminals from the battery posts. Now comes the tough part. These batteries are very heavy. My 8Ds were close to 130 lbs. each. If you can lift them by yourself great, if not, have a friend help you. After you clean the trays, clean both the terminals and the battery posts. Place the batteries back in the coach and reconnect the terminals to the battery posts. You may want to spray the terminals and posts with a compound to prevent corrosion.

Dave G.

2000 Allure #30491
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: Jim Hughes on November 27, 2005, 10:16:48 am
Yahoo Message Number: 19804 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19804)
Just a suggestion.....mix some water and baking soda together and use it to flush out the tray and surrounding area in the battery bay. This will neutralize any sulfuric acid that has accumulated and prevent any acid damage to structure and components. Also, before you reconnect the battery cables, dip the cable clamps in to the same solution and it will neutralize any corrosion on the cable clamps.

I use lead acid batteries in my coach and when ever I wash the coach I also was out my battery bay. the batteries I have have the vent caps with a side hole vent in them. I make sure the caps on the battery are oriented so the vent hole in the cap is pointing to the inside of the bay. I then take my bucket of soapy water and brush and brush the tops of the batteries clean and then rinse with clean water. The water will collect in the battery tray, so I drilled a 3/8" hole in it to drain the water. I use a plastic plug to plug it afterwards. If the batteries apprear to have vented some electrolyte out, I will use the baking soda and water mixture to flush the tray out, followed by fresh water flush 10-15 minutes later. I respray all the battery posts with a anti-corrosion spray such as CRC to protect them.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: tbeer45
Hello to All.

I want to pull the house and cranking batteries to clean the pull-

out

Quote
trays they are mounted to.
I have checked the manuals I have for guidance on battery removal

and

Quote
installation with no luck.
Could someone offer help? Are there any 'cautions',
considerations, or

Quote
other thoughts as to how to prevent damage to electronic? My coach

is
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: Truk4u on November 27, 2005, 10:53:44 am
Yahoo Message Number: 19808 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19808)
Larry,

All the other tips here are good, but make sure the Coach isn't plugged in to power or you will have "hot" cables coming from the charger.
Tom

04 Allure 30979
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: Tom Nelson on November 27, 2005, 07:23:56 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 19815 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19815)
One thing I have found, is if you have a radio or stereo equipment that has an anti-theft code put in it. be sure you know the code before disconecting the pwer to them as you will need it if you ever want to use it again. It is made that way so a thief will never be able to use it.

Tom

03 Exec(Monaco)

Sorry not a CC had a 97 Magna before
Title: Re: Battery Tray Cleaning
Post by: Jim Hughes on November 27, 2005, 08:19:53 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 19816 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/19816)
Thanks Tom...I had forgot to say to make sure battery switches are off and no power on the coach (shore or generator)to be on the safe side.
Also, be careful not to spray water into the inverter compartment, which on my coach is on an enclosed shelf above the batteries.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: truk4u