Fixing Battery Terminals by Replacing Parts and Soldering - Riding Lawn Mower

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After I realized it was in fact my battery terminals connection and going insane, I made a run to the hardware store. I picked up 2 x 1/4" by 3/4" (inch) bolts and there subsequent nuts. Luckily, I already have stripper tools, side-cuts and soldering gun, on hand.

My troy-bilt pony now starts right up. There was a ton of corrosion also built up, the previous battery hardware was toasted, completely. After cutting and removing the old terminals I cleaned the battery's square lead terminal posts with a wire brush, which I also had on hand.

I unfortunately wasted a lot of time thinking it was the solenoid, then the starter. It was in fact neither and was a simple fix. Now I am hoping my solder job will hold up.

I purchased the new terminals and nuts/bolts at ACE hardware. I was a little curious if the terminals would fit my tractor's wires - they in fact did. I just went with 1/4" post terminals. I happened to have a pair of side cuts, which I used to "crimp" the terminals onto the positive and negative wires. After crimping the terminals, I soldered the terminals onto the wire.

The 1/4" bolts tightened up with a 7/16 socket. The auto-feeding soldering gun came in very handy for the job, infact being some one who doesn't solder well the auto-feeding soldering gun is a must have.

Parts List

• 2 x 1/4" by 3/4" long bolts.
• 2 x 1/4" nuts.
• package of 1/4" compatible 10-12 AWG terminals.

Tools

• Strippers.
• Side Cuts.
• Wire Brush.
• Soldering Gun.
• 7/16 Deep Well Socket.

What I could have Done Better

My solder joints could be cleaner, I used what I had on hand, the solder that came with the soldering gun - circuit board solder. Additionally, I could have used heat shrink tube over top of the solder joints. I could have used a finer wire brush.