I  replaced my westy primary battery recently, & had the same issue,
but it eventually came out w/ some wiggling of the battery clamp
piece.  I can't remember what I specifically did, but it did come out
& then I broke the battery strap trying to get a 7-8 year old Die Hard
battery out which was really tightly in there.
I think  I ended up using a BFP- Big Frosted Prybar-  to torque the
battery loose.  There has to be a more professional way, but this is
the only primary battery I have ever had to remove in 7 years of
owning this westy.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ

On Oct 16, 2009, at 2:40 PM, Zoltan wrote:

> I can't take the battery out because that flat bar thing that bolts
> to the body is not coming out.  This is the thing that holds the
> battery down in place, in a Westfalia.  It looks like it supposed to
> be taken out first, then the battery can move forward to be able to
> lift it out.
> I'm moving it sideways, looking for a spot where it may come out,
> but so far nothing.  I don't know the trick.
> Anyone?
> Westfalia battery hold down unit.
> Zoltan