Easiest to slide the seat forward with you in it.  Same with spinning it
around, which is the easiest way to get into the battery compartment.  Check
with your FLAPS for a battery handle.  I got one which fits over both poles
(digs into them just a little bit to get a grip) and makes a sling with
which you can easily lift the battery.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "==David-M==" <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 4:13 AM
Subject: Battery removal

> I recently had to recharge my battery (my theft alarm went off and
> failed to cut out thus draining the battery).
>
> It was quite a task to get the battery out. First the seat would not
> budge. Took me two hours of sweat to get it forward. Then the battery
> was very heavy to lift with its housing giving no room to get hands in
> to lift it.
>
> Has anyone come up with a method to make battery removal easier. I
> thought of a cradle going under the battery with a handle on each side?
> Also, do the seat tracks need greasing to make the seat slide easier?