Did you recall this from memory?  If so, outstanding memory there Brent!
After checking the archives, you're right... it looks as if Bill Davidson
cut the terminal posts off his battery only to find it wouldn't charge past
7 volts.  That bites.

Anyway, side-ways mount it is.

Peace,
Aaron

-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Christensen [mailto:sbsyncro@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 3:11 PM
To: Aaron Reams; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Optima Battery Question (cutting terminal posts?)

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:)
>