[C320-list] Belt Adjustment; Battery watering

[LOCALJG at aol.com]

The money I spent on the tubed battery watering system is some of the best  
money I ever spent.  I highly recommend it.  
 
Jonn G. 
1996/#329
 
 
In a message dated 1/19/2011 1:00:23 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
wupdike at hotmail.com writes:

Many  years ago, long before cars had serpentine belts and low/no  
maintenance
batteries there were two tools we used that I’ve found useful  on “Warr de
Mar.” (It’ ok to chuckle at the name.)  One was a belt  tensioner and the
other was a battery watering bottle.   



The tensioner is two threaded screws with a center threaded  piece much like
a turnbuckle.  There is a curved saddle-like surface  on each end.  It is
placed between two pulleys, the saddle ends fit  nicely in the pulley, and
the center piece is turned to extend the  ends.  Once the pulleys are
engaged, a wrench is turned to achieve the  desired tension.  So much easier
than wedging with a screw  driver.  I bought one on the web at ???; but, 
they
no longer carry  them.  Try a local auto store.  Just remember to remove it
before  starting engine (I’ve failed to do that.)



The battery bottle  (actually plastic,) holds about ½ gal, and has a sprung
valve spout at a  right angle at the top.  The spout has a snout that 
reaches
into the  battery to stop the water below the split ring.  All you do is
insert  the spout, press on the bottle, and the water flows stopping when 
the
cell  is filled.  No brainer.  I am able, with some manipulations, to  water
all 12 cells on both batteries.  This also is a no-leak storage  bottle.  I
found this at Pep Boys Auto Stores; but, this is probably  easier to find
than the belt adjuster.  



I’ve done some  research on battery watering systems. Most involve special
battery caps and  tubing to connect the caps.  The caps are not simple as
they usually  have some sort of a valve system to stop the flow in a full
cell while  allowing the others to continue to fill.  Neat stuff but pricey.
The  cheapest I’ve seen starts about $2-300US.  I can suffer a lot  of
inconvenience for $300.  Still, a nice idea.



Warren  & Pattie Updike

1994 C320 #62 "Warr de  Mar"