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| [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78490] |
Mon, 29 March 2010 20:20  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Yesterday I removed the three 4-5 year old batteries from the right front
tray for replacement. Because of the way I mounted the A/C receiver-dryer
when I redesigned the dash air conditioning, it's no longer feasible to R&R
batteries through the grille, which was a hassle, but do-able.
Now, the batteries must come out through the right front wheel well.
Compounding the problem is the fact that only the inner 8"-9" of my wheel
well liner is easily removable, so the batteries must exit one at a time,
lengthwise, through that small opening. At 50+ pounds each, it proved quite
a chore for a 73 yo to manipulate them through the slot, around the
suspension, and down from above head level.
Anticipating the even greater difficulty of lifting the new batteries back
into place, not just now, but in the even older years ahead, I decided I'd
better devise a mechanical aid. Here it is:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=5425
<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=5425>I haven't
actually installed a battery with it yet, but I'm very confident it will
work. The movement from the lift onto the tray and into position will still
be a chore -- a temporary platform has to be used to maneuver the batteries
over the fences between the battery compartments because it's too difficult
to reach through the front hatch and lift them into place.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78507 is a reply to message #78490] |
Mon, 29 March 2010 20:56  |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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A neat idea! I also had bought a Ragusa three battery tray to mount all the batteries up front, but finally gave up on it due to the difficulty of getting the batteries in and out.
I do use the tray to hold extra oil, antifreeze, etc. in a convenient place, and purchased the extending battery tray from JimK to fit the house batteries in the generator compartment, and have been very satisfied with their performance. It's much easier to get to, service, and replace the house batteries back there.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78511 is a reply to message #78507] |
Mon, 29 March 2010 21:01 |
GMCWiperMan
Messages: 1248
Registered: December 2007
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In a 23', we don't have many choices of battery location. I like mine
except at these rare swap times.
Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 9:56 PM, George Rudawsky <GeorgeRud@aol.com> wrote:
>
> A neat idea! I also had bought a Ragusa three battery tray to mount all
> the batteries up front, but finally gave up on it due to the difficulty of
> getting the batteries in and out.
>
> I do use the tray to hold extra oil, antifreeze, etc. in a convenient
> place, and purchased the extending battery tray from JimK to fit the house
> batteries in the generator compartment, and have been very satisfied with
> their performance. It's much easier to get to, service, and replace the
> house batteries back there.
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78523 is a reply to message #78490] |
Mon, 29 March 2010 22:15 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| Ken Henderson wrote on Mon, 29 March 2010 18:20 |
(snip)
At 50+ pounds each, it proved quite
a chore for a 73 yo to manipulate them through the slot, around the
suspension, and down from above head level.
Anticipating the even greater difficulty of lifting the new batteries back
into place, not just now, but in the even older years ahead, I decided I'd
better devise a mechanical aid.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken: Doncha know that God made 20 year olds for something? Roofing your house, digging trenches, AC work on top of the coach, and stuff like that, including battery changeouts.
I am surprised you got this old without learning that fact. Grin.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78558 is a reply to message #78523] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 08:32 |
GMCWiperMan
Messages: 1248
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 1
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I heartily agree. But my 20 yo somehow escaped and became a 50 yo. And the
13 yo isn't quite there yet. :-)
Even if I could persuade Wal-Mart to attempt it, I'd be scared to death of
the results -- they'd probably take a SawzAll to the front end to gain
access. :-(
R&R through the grille wasn't all that bad, but when I did the A/C redesign,
I mounted the receiver/dryer right in the opening. Moving it and the side
deflectors would have been even more trouble, IMHO at the time, than was
building the battery lift.
I guess I'm still recuperating from removing the 2 GC-2's and the Gp 27,
'cause I slept in this morning -- 9 hours vs my usual 6. MAYBE I'm now up
to the re-installation. :-)
Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 11:15 PM, Rob Allen <profmail@wildblue.net> wrote:
>
> Ken: Doncha know that God made 20 year olds for something? Roofing your
> house, digging trenches, AC work on top of the coach, and stuff like that,
> including battery changeouts.
>
> I am surprised you got this old without learning that fact. Grin.
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78605 is a reply to message #78547] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 14:20 |
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Coulda been worse, coulda been an 8D hehe
| mcolie wrote on Tue, 30 March 2010 07:25 |
Ken,
I know my '73 23' is different than most, but it came to me with a dead 4D on the front tray (where else? its a 23). The best way I found to maneuver it was to remove the wheel liner, and jack the coach so the batteries (the engine battery had to come out first). could be slid to across a board place between the top of the tire and the edge of the battery tray. The fact that a 4D is a 100+# battery had a lot to do with this plan.
The GC2s there now can come out through the front service door one at a time (duh!). I never though of going out through the grill because mine was not removable until very recently.
Matt
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73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78636 is a reply to message #78558] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 20:10 |
GMCWiperMan
Messages: 1248
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Well, it worked. I put the two new GC-2's and the Gp. 27 back in with the
"battery lift" After installing the first GC-2, I made a couple of minor
mods to the lift to make it easier to maneuver into position, avoiding the
front suspension bits.
This project made me even more glad that my "pit" is open on the sides.
With any other configuration I would not have been able to maneuver the
engine hoist beneath the area of interest. If you're planning a service
rack, be sure to look at how mine turned out; there's hardly anything I'd
change about it and it was a very economical construction.
Even with the new batteries, I still didn't get to test the coach. The S-10
decided to act up -- the turn signals quit. Most drivers around here,
especially the women, think that cell phones come with an unlimited license
to violate traffic laws, especially those about turn signals. Since they
HAVE to have a hand to hold the cell phone, and need another to hold the
wheel (at least while turning), they obviously can't be expected to EVER use
turn signals. I frequently travel a route where the heavy traffic mostly
turns right into the street I'm trying to exit. When drivers signal, our
waiting traffic can proceed quickly. Without a signal, we're condemned to
wait for 1, 2, ..., 10 non-signalers to turn right. Without fixing my turn
signals, I'd lose my moral authority to continue cursing those inconsiderate
ignoramuses. :-(
Ken H.
On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 9:32 AM, Ken Henderson <ken0henderson@gmail.com>wrote:
> ...
> I guess I'm still recuperating from removing the 2 GC-2's and the Gp 27,
> 'cause I slept in this morning -- 9 hours vs my usual 6. MAYBE I'm now up
> to the re-installation. :-)
>
> Ken H.
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78643 is a reply to message #78490] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 21:13 |
kingd
Messages: 592
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Ken, NO hand held electronic devices, (cell phones, Ipods, GPS etc)allowed while driving in Ontario, at least a $155 fine and could be more. Has actually somewhat reduced the number of people I see on the phone. If I could collect a bounty, I'd have a GMCMH in a week !!!!(GMC content) And you're absolutely right about the phone users not using the turn signals.
DAVE KING
(in balmy Toronto +11 Celsius to-day)
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78679 is a reply to message #78636] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 07:13 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Ken,
You mean to tell me that you can still get turn signals on vehicles
in N. Carolina? I wonder how many states still allow them?
On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 6:10 PM, Ken Henderson <ken0henderson@gmail.com> wrote:
Even with the new batteries, I still didn't get to test the coach. The S-10
decided to act up -- the turn signals quit. Most drivers around here,
especially the women, think that cell phones come with an unlimited license
to violate traffic laws, especially those about turn signals. Since they
HAVE to have a hand to hold the cell phone, and need another to hold the
wheel (at least while turning), they obviously can't be expected to EVER use
turn signals. I frequently travel a route where the heavy traffic mostly
turns right into the street I'm trying to exit. When drivers signal, our
waiting traffic can proceed quickly. Without a signal, we're condemned to
wait for 1, 2, ..., 10 non-signalers to turn right. Without fixing my turn
signals, I'd lose my moral authority to continue cursing those inconsiderate
ignoramuses. :-(
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78692 is a reply to message #78687] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 08:10 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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We have an older MG without turn signals -- At first I was using hand signals -- but lots of other drivers seemed to take offense -- so now I just talk on my cell phone...
Dennis
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Henderson <ken0henderson@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wed, Mar 31, 2010 7:35 am
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation
Well, I don't know about NC, but mine now work in GA after I cleaned the
witch contacts. I do get really lonesome using them all alone. :-)
Ken H.
mericus, GA
76 X-Birchaven
ww.gmcwipersetc.com
n Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 8:13 AM, Steven Ferguson <botiemad11@gmail.com>wrote:
> Ken,
You mean to tell me that you can still get turn signals on vehicles
in N. Carolina? I wonder how many states still allow them?
...
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MCnet mailing list
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78694 is a reply to message #78490] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 08:21 |
Rusty
Messages: 197
Registered: October 2005
Location: Philadelphia Pa
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Nice jig. Every time I see your pics Ken, it makes me want to put my house up for sale and look for another one built on a hill so I can have a rack like yours.
Rusty
75 Glenbrook
Philadelphia Pa
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78710 is a reply to message #78692] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 09:52 |
Jim White[1]
Messages: 144
Registered: September 2008
Karma: 0
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Dennis-
I have 4 old MG's with no turn signals and I use hand signals with no
issues . There were some models even in the 50's with turn signals and
some MG sedans "trafficators" which were lighted arms that popped out to
indicate which direction the driver was turning.
Needless to say that my 31 MG-J2 has no turn signals, no fan belt, no
water pump, no main bearings and runs like a scalded dog. It is still
run in Hill Climb Competition due it's light weight. Unfortunately mine
is currently apart needing a new crank.
Toys are fun!
Jim "Doc" White
Wintergreen, VA
75 GMC Stretch
31, 51, 52, 53 MG
54 XK-120 Jaguar
*************************************
On 3/31/2010 9:10 AM, dennisfsexton@aol.com wrote:
> We have an older MG without turn signals -- At first I was using hand signals -- but lots of other drivers seemed to take offense -- so now I just talk on my cell phone...
>
> Dennis
>
>
> Dennis Sexton
> 73 GMC
> Germantown, TN
> USA
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Henderson<ken0henderson@gmail.com>
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Sent: Wed, Mar 31, 2010 7:35 am
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation
>
>
> Well, I don't know about NC, but mine now work in GA after I cleaned the
> witch contacts. I do get really lonesome using them all alone. :-)
> Ken H.
> mericus, GA
> 76 X-Birchaven
> ww.gmcwipersetc.com
>
> n Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 8:13 AM, Steven Ferguson<botiemad11@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Ken,
>>
> You mean to tell me that you can still get turn signals on vehicles
> in N. Carolina? I wonder how many states still allow them?
> ...
>
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>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78718 is a reply to message #78710] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 11:03 |
GMCWiperMan
Messages: 1248
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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That no main bearings thing seems fit well with the need for a new crank.
:-)
We had a '54 XK-120 back in '57, after the Trailways bus ran me down in the
54 AH-100.
Ken H.
On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 10:52 AM, Jim White <jameswwhite@cyberwind.net>wrote:
> Dennis-
> I have 4 old MG's with no turn signals and I use hand signals with no
> issues . There were some models even in the 50's with turn signals and
> some MG sedans "trafficators" which were lighted arms that popped out to
> indicate which direction the driver was turning.
> Needless to say that my 31 MG-J2 has no turn signals, no fan belt, no
> water pump, no main bearings and runs like a scalded dog. It is still
> run in Hill Climb Competition due it's light weight. Unfortunately mine
> is currently apart needing a new crank.
> Toys are fun!
> Jim "Doc" White
> Wintergreen, VA
> 75 GMC Stretch
> 31, 51, 52, 53 MG
> 54 XK-120 Jaguar
>
> *************************************
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78719 is a reply to message #78692] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 11:05 |
Rick Denney
Messages: 430
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Dennis Sexton wrote on Wed, 31 March 2010 09:10 |
We have an older MG without turn signals -- At first I was using hand signals -- but lots of other drivers seemed to take offense -- so now I just talk on my cell phone...
|
That extended finger isn't part of the original hand-signal concept, at least that's the way I remember it.
Rick "who throws his cell phone in the direction he intends to turn" Denney
'73 Glacier 230 "Jaws"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Installation [message #78745 is a reply to message #78679] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 13:52 |
shawnee
Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC
Karma: 0
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| Steven Ferguson wrote on Wed, 31 March 2010 08:13 |
Ken,
You mean to tell me that you can still get turn signals on vehicles
in N. Carolina? I wonder how many states still allow them?
On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 6:10 PM, Ken Henderson <ken0henderson@gmail.com> wrote:
Even with the new batteries, I still didn't get to test the coach. The S-10
decided to act up -- the turn signals quit. Most drivers around here,
especially the women, think that cell phones come with an unlimited license
to violate traffic laws, especially those about turn signals. Since they
HAVE to have a hand to hold the cell phone, and need another to hold the
wheel (at least while turning), they obviously can't be expected to EVER use
turn signals. I frequently travel a route where the heavy traffic mostly
turns right into the street I'm trying to exit. When drivers signal, our
waiting traffic can proceed quickly. Without a signal, we're condemned to
wait for 1, 2, ..., 10 non-signalers to turn right. Without fixing my turn
signals, I'd lose my moral authority to continue cursing those inconsiderate
ignoramuses. :-(
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
|
Steve,
We still get turn signals in North Carolina, but we have an awful lot of people who either don't know they are there or just don't care. I guess it is just too hard to hold the cell phone in one hand and set the turn signals while trying to hang on to the steering whee.
Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators
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