Dear Roch:

    my .02 about batteries.  The best new batteries are the "Valve
regulated re-combinant gas" batteries because they behave like Ni-Cads
but are lead acid so don't have memory effect.  They are completely
sealed and so ideal for use in the interior battery compartment.  Look
up the Concord battery web site for how to buy and specs, a smallish one
would be a lot more expensive than a FLAPS motorcycle battery though.  I
have a 25ah in my airplane, it is great.

    IMHO you must remove every bit of corrosion from your battery box
and treat it with a rust conversion compound then paint the whole thing
with a 2-part epoxy primer to avoid future problems.

Ed Lowe
82 Westy diesel
85 Golf diesel
92 Cabrio