Fixing a busted car battery. Bad idea?

[Lil'John]

I ordered a new battery. Due to bad packing and FedEx doing FedEx things, the ground on the case was "busted":

You can see the cracking around the red 'line'. A volt meter says the battery has a charge.

So the simple question, can I do JB weld to seal it up and run it? If not JB weld, anything better? Intended use is for the trailer winch.

FWIW, I was told to keep it so the other option is to the dump with the rest of the batteries.

 

[Provience]

What kind of battery?

 

[Lil'John]

What kind of battery?

It is an AGM... now unsealed

 

[Provience]

It is an AGM... now unsealed

Yeah I'd say it's worth a shot for a see how long it lasts thing.

Not sure about jb weld instead of some other plastics epoxy, but kind of a whatever at that point.

 

[RustyC]

I would use a soldering iron and seal it back up and run it.
Wouldn't hurt to put a high current load (trail welder) on the battery to ensure the negative terminal is not broken / damaged internally.

 

[Clb]

Post #5 would be a good idea...

my .02

FedEx claim
Done

 

[Provience]

Post #5 would be a good idea...

my .02

FedEx claim
Done

He already did a claim and was told to keep it. Free battery holding a charge, just needs to be something to keep water out at this point. It will work or not, no loss

 

[Clb]

That works.
Plasti weld.
And post 5

 

[Lil'John]

I would use a soldering iron and seal it back up and run it.
Wouldn't hurt to put a high current load (trail welder) on the battery to ensure the negative terminal is not broken / damaged internally.

I'll check if I have a spare solder tip. Sounds like it is worth a try.

FWIW, nothing in the box was messed up so nothing leaked.

Clb I was somewhat shocked with how easy the refund was:
Me: "Battery is busted. Box was damaged but not enough to refuse it. Here is picture of battery."
Auto company in about twelve hours: "We're sorry. Keep the battery. Expect a refund in about three days."

 

[Will Scarlet]

I'd be careful with plastic welding the battery as AGM batteries still vent hydrogen gas.

Other than that, good luck...

 

[crispins]

I'd be careful with plastic welding the battery as AGM batteries still vent hydrogen gas.

Other than that, good luck...

That is what I wondered, I would epoxy and see how it holds up.

 

[Clb]

Good point.
At what temp does the hydrogen go boom?
The old plasti welder used hot air.
Soldering irons temp varies.
This could be an issue.

Op glad to see an easy return/ damage situation

 

[Will Scarlet]

Good point.
At what temp does the hydrogen go boom?
The old plasti welder used hot air.
Soldering irons temp varies.
This could be an issue.

Op glad to see an easy return/ damage situation

According to this:

Hydrogen: The Burning Question

Mike Menzies asks what effect does injected hydrogen have on furnace, flame and exhaust in natural gas combustion plant?

www.thechemicalengineer.com

650C/1202F

 

[M92PV4U]

Battery explosions are violent as fuck. I would epoxy it and be done with it.

 

[Lil'John]

Battery explosions are violent as fuck. I would epoxy it and be done with it.

Any epoxy you'd recommend? I'm lightly concerned over the acid part of it. But, I'm going to use it as a trailer winch battery so excessive "abuse" isn't a concern.

 

[M92PV4U]

Any epoxy you'd recommend? I'm lightly concerned over the acid part of it. But, I'm going to use it as a trailer winch battery so excessive "abuse" isn't a concern.

Shooting from the hip, jb weld or cold weld.

 

[Provience]

Any epoxy you'd recommend? I'm lightly concerned over the acid part of it. But, I'm going to use it as a trailer winch battery so excessive "abuse" isn't a concern.

It's not wet, don't worry about the acid

 

[willis_racing]

Had a buddy whose H8 got chewed on by the alternator fan a little bit on the bottom. He sealed it back up with JB Weld and as far as I saw it never showed any side effects afterward. Whatever works.