I would personally recommend against this, but others have done it with
success - check the archives for a post (from Bill Davidson?) from a couple
years ago.   I would be more worried about damaging the internal connection
between the post and the plates - In my experience, these can be pretty
flimsy, and the aggressive action required to cut a post could very likely
damage that connection.

Brent Christensen
Santa Barbara, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Reams" <aaron@INTERVAL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 3:29 PM
Subject: Optima Battery Question (cutting terminal posts?)

> Hi Volks,
>
> I'm setting up my aux battery today.  Does anyone know if I can cut the
top
> terminal posts off?  It's an Optima Yellow Top with both top and side
> terminals.  I would like to cut the top terminal posts down from 1" to
about
> 1/4".
>
> Note:  I would think this would be okay, but I placed a call to Optima and
> they said that this would dry the battery out (and void my warranty).  I'm
> not sure I believe them about the drying out.  I would think those
terminal
> posts are solid lead all the way into the battery.  Does anyone have any
> experience with this?
>
> Thanks!!
> Aaron
> -'85 Westy (almost ready for burning man:)
>