So there I was convinced that my battery was duff as I had to put in over a litre of top-up water into the cells
and my hydrometer was saying that all cells were flat. (The chap I bought it from assured me that it was sealed for life
)
Right, thought I, the thing to do is to get it out and take down to my local car shop for a discharge test.
Has anyone ever tried to take a battery out of a 4.8 Ribcraft with under-deck tank
? If not, here's the procedure:
1. Open pod seat - discover that battery don't come out that way.
2. Open front hatch - view mass of wiring, fuel filler and vent pipes, flush mounted VHF, master isolator switch.
3. Have coffee and think.
4. Disconnect fuel filler cap from consol and fuel hoses from cap and tank (with the aid of an angled ratchet screwdriver and socket for the hose clips). Release numerous cables from their cable ties. Remove connections to VHF. Remove battery master switch and it's housing box.
5. Make larger jug of coffee.
6. Try to remove flush mounted VHF from consul mounting - Ha, well corroded in and won't move (at least no one will be able to nick it
).
7. Battery sits in a box and won't come out of box with VHF in position
. Cut down 2/3rd each side of front of box to enable battery to slide out at an angle of 45 degrees and then past all those loose cables.
8. Atfer 3 hours, the battery arrived out on the deck. I now know how a gynacologist works.
9. Off down to the car shop for a test. "Nothing wrong with it, mate" says man in shop. Loud wailing ensues to embarasment of other customers in shop
. Consoled by pretty female assistant (YES - must try that again sometime
).
10. Return home with "good" battery under arm. Pour large scotch and ponder - do I replace the existing battery or buy new "sealed for life" Vetus. I should point out that the only way you can top up the existing battery in situ is with a large syringe and a mirror on a stick.
Well chaps - over to you.
.
