Thanks for the response.  That's definitely the kind of sanity check I need
before ruining my new optima.  Sorry to hear about your battery.  So, I
think I'll cut the metal flange off the seat mount and go with a side-ways
install instead of cutting the terminal posts.

Cutting the terminal posts just sounds a little to risky.

Thanks everyone.  This list is great.

Cheers,
Aaron

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Fox [mailto:afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 3:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Optima Battery Question (cutting terminal posts?)

I have experience cutting battery posts.  I cut the posts off a little on
another battery that did'nt really fit in the vanagon compartmennt (DPO)
and about a week later I noticed that battery acid was coming up thru the
battery posts!  Upon closer inspection i noticed that the post was
actually constructed of 2 pieces of lead, an inner piece and an outer
covering.  By cutting the post the acid seeped between the 2 pieces and
ruined the battery.  This was not an overpriced optima but based on what
they told you about it drying out the battery it is probably constructed
the same way.

Andrew Fox

 > 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:)
>