[63 Pontiac]

So the top post terminal on the negative side won't tighten down any farther and the battery shims I've found are for the larger positive post, is there any reason why I can't use some copper shim stock? Just wondering if there could be an undesirable reaction between the lead post and the copper.

[hobbygto65]

Are you using a positive cable on the negative side? They are bigger diameter.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Lead, copper, nickel, gold, silver is fine.

Some brass is fine, and others not.

Suspect: alum, magnesium, iron, some stainless not so good.

All about affinity to transfer ions; electroplating

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by hobbygto65

Are you using a positive cable on the negative side? They are bigger diameter.

This ^

[63 Pontiac]

Originally Posted by hobbygto65

Are you using a positive cable on the negative side? They are bigger diameter.

No, it's the factory cables on a 2008 Honda CRV. I can tighten the clamp to the max and still lift it off with two fingers.

[george kujanski]

I'd say a copper shim is ok...coat the outside to minimize the green stuff growth...(copper sulfate, I believe).

george

[77 TRASHCAN]

I have seen them, no idea who made them... these were lead...

[GT182]

What about new cables, new battery, or both? And I assume it's a top post battery right?

I've seen it a couple of times years ago. One of the above or both fixed it. And yes it was on one of my cars with Sears batteries and worn out cable clamps.

[63 Pontiac]

it is a brand new battery, new cables are out of the question as this thing is wired much differently than our old Pontiacs. I've got a lead shim on the positive side but the negative post is much smaller diameter. I'm going to use the copper but I just wanted to make sure the copper wouldn't interact with the lead and cause a bigger problem.

[Big Mike]

When you think about it, copper wire is "molded" into the lead clamp. I would think a copper shim would be fine. I'd even use a small sheet metal screw threaded in between the clamp and battery post. Would look the prettiest, but would be tight. Maybe even tighter than with the shim.

[stellar]

If you are not going to change the end at least, and want a quick fix, try this. Take the nut off put a larger nut over the threads and put the original nut back on against the bigger nut and tighten up.

[fiedlerh]

Let me know if you need some lead shims. I got them from Western Auto in 1969 and haven't found a use for them yet.

[242177P]

An easy way to close it up some is to oval it with a BFH. Yeah, it won't work as it should (less contact area) but it will (assuming it didn't crack) work.

Is there anything hammers can't fix?

[SRR]

https://www.autozone.com/batteries-s...31027_310094_0

I had to use two of these on the old ladies 2014 Accord because of corrosion, just cut, strip, insert and tighten.

[TedRamAirII]

The clamp is maybe "stretched" from over tightening. If you can, get vise grips and straighten the round area to make the hole smaller.

[GT182]

Fiedlerh, I've never seen lead shims like that.... ever. I thought someone was pulling our leg.

I've done the larger nut trick on the bolt to tighten up the clamp. 63, put some die-electric grease on the terminals to keep away corrosion.

[fiedlerh]

They used to sell them in hardware and auto parts stores. Back then, I guess it was more common for battery posts to corrode away or battery clamps to stretch out. I remember back then people tried all sorts of tricks to make a battery last longer like using miracle additives and charging schemes.