Speedy/easy replacement for wing nuts

[future_vision]

This is more specific to my UTV than my tractor but I am trying to find a replacement for the 4 wing nuts and screws that hold the battery cover on. In my mind there must be something like the clamps on my tractor's air filter where it is as simple as flipping a piece of metal in the opposite direction to release. I thought of using a hairpin and bolt but I am thinking that is going to be too lose of a connection. The wing nut holds the top down tight. I would need something similar.

 

[Tinhack]

Don't know about flipping levers but I've heard of Squeeze to Release. Cymbal Nuts come to mind but I'm sure there must be others.

 

[future_vision]

Don't know about flipping levers but I've heard of Squeeze to Release. Cymbal Nuts come to mind but I'm sure there must be others.

Oh. That could work if they hold tight. I imagine they would since they need to gold cymbals in place. Thanks!

 

[Tinhack]

Oh. That could work if they hold tight. I imagine they would since they need to gold cymbals in place. Thanks!

You squeeze these to install on a stud or bolt. You still have to turn them a little to tighten. And to take them off, you'll have to turn them to loosen enough to squeeze the buttons.

 

[dougtrr2]

What is the problem with wing nuts? There are a lot of different styes other than the standard hardware store variety.

Doug in SW IA

 

[future_vision]

What is the problem with wing nuts? There are a lot of different styes other than the standard hardware store variety.

Doug in SW IA

It takes forever to thread all 4 wingnuts. It's also a pain, because of the location of the holes, to get the bolt through the holes. Ideally I would want some type of clip. The solution Tinhack solves one of my complaints. It's not perfect but a step in the right direction. Plus, I was able to get those clips in red. Really hard to loose those in the leaves. Of course I could always spray paint the wingnuts I have. I'll likely paint the bolts anyways.

 

[future_vision]

Didn't really think of it but something like this might be ideal. Mainly the binder clamps. I remember having some large ones that grip pretty tight. I think they would stay put with all the jostling a UTV goes through over rough terrain. I might just return those cymbal nut if they work.

 

[workinonit]

How often do you access the battery? I have to get to mine every time I change out the battery, which is several years. I could live with the wing nuts.

 

[future_vision]

How often do you access the battery? I have to get to mine every time I change out the battery, which is several years. I could live with the wing nuts.

You would think it wouldn't be often but I have had to jump it multiple times because it sometimes sits for months. I should probably be taking the battery out and putting it on a trickle charger but that still requires accessing it. Not only that but mice seem to have found a way in too and make nests in there. What I really need is to get a storage unit, on the property, and get my equipment inside

 

[Sportsman762]

Without photos of the battery box area it is hard to determine what would work best for you. Two options that pop into my mind are Southco 1/4 turn fastners and Dzus fastners. The cabin air filter on my one tractor is held on by Southco 1/4 turns from the factory. I upgraded them from slotted head to ones with little handles because I am too lazy to find a screwdriver.

 

[workinonit]

Do like I do on ALL of my equipment. I put remote aux battery posts on everything so I can jump it off or if I need power for something like my fuel pump on my trailer it's right there where I need to fill up.

 

[Runner]

This is more specific to my UTV than my tractor but I am trying to find a replacement for the 4 wing nuts and screws that hold the battery cover on. In my mind there must be something like the clamps on my tractor's air filter where it is as simple as flipping a piece of metal in the opposite direction to release. I thought of using a hairpin and bolt but I am thinking that is going to be too lose of a connection. The wing nut holds the top down tight. I would need something similar.

How about just a bungee cord that goes over the whole box and hooks on each side?

 

[WinterDeere]

Dude... you need a solar battery tender. I keep one on the big battery bank that powers my trailer winch, and they work great.

Charging capacity is great in winter, when you really want to be sure your battery doesn't go flat in the cold. Tree cover obviously hampers summer capacity, but you also get more hours of sunlight and have less urgent need for maximum capacity in summer anyway, so it all works for me.

After burning thru no less than 3 "Battery Tender" brand units, which appear to be total junk, I went with this no-name solution. It's been working great for several years, now. Go figure the generic would be better than the name brand!

Amazon.com

Removing batteries is for chumps. I do it probably less than once every 6 - 8 years on most vehicles and OPE.

 

[Runner]

After burning thru no less than 3 "Battery Tender" brand units, which appear to be total junk,

I've had eight of them in use for years and mine all work great.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've had eight of them in use for years and mine all work great.

Outdoor solar? I find that hard to believe!

I have their indoor units, 110VAC, and they work great. I think my oldest one is probably almost ready to vote... maybe even drink! But their outdoor solar units seem to be good for only 1 - 2 years maximum.

 

[Runner]

I have their indoor units, 110VAC, and they work great. I think my oldest one is probably almost ready to vote... maybe even drink! But their outdoor solar units seem to be good for only 1 - 2 years maximum.

Those are what I was referring to. I did not know that Battery Tender made solar-powered units.

 

[rv7charlie]

You would think it wouldn't be often but I have had to jump it multiple times because it sometimes sits for months

Battery type? 'Wet' cell batteries self-dicharge quite rapidly. 'AGM' are smaller, lighter, and can sit for close to a year while keeping around 80% of initial charge. Only wet cell left in any of my stuff is a monster in my Kubota diesel tractor.
That, and making sure there are no 'parasite' loads when the UTV is turned off should solve most of the dead battery issues.

 

[bgr]

You want aviation DZUS fastners. They can be wingnut style or slotted screw head, and are captive, won't be lost when you loosen them. Find a local aviation mechanic or a race car body tech. Or you can buy them on line and put in yourself. Need 2 3/8 holes and 2 pop rivets to install. Look them up.

 

[rv7charlie]

The issue with DZUS (1/4 turn) fasteners is that they don't have any adjustment range, to speak of. They're designed to hold two panels together that are already touching, with separation loads limited to a few pounds at most (the pressure it takes to insert/latch them). The weak spring in the load circuit will allow a heavy load to bounce around, fatiguing and possibly breaking stuff.

I share the OP's frustration with spinning wing nuts on long threaded rod; I'd be sawing off the thread leaving enough for minor height differences among batteries, and using hex nuts. At least with those, you can spin them off with a deep socket & a drill or impact driver.
edit: another option with wingnuts is to use a spacer, cut from rigid tubing/pipe. Another piece to lose, but would minimize the spinning routine.

My personal go-to is a sectioned stainless worm drive hose clamp. A section gets riveted to an angle bracket for one side/top, and the worm drive + short section gets riveted to another strap/angle. Fairly long adjustment range, and can be tightened/loosened with a nut driver, and opened completely for battery swapping.

*If* one side of the battery is exposed enough, and an actual latching system is really important, I'd look at adjustable cam latches like these; just one example from ebay. Would require adapting to or replacing the existing hold-down posts, of course.

 

[Sportsman762]

The issue with DZUS (1/4 turn) fasteners is that they don't have any adjustment range, to speak of. They're designed to hold two panels together that are already touching, with separation loads limited to a few pounds at most (the pressure it takes to insert/latch them). The weak spring in the load circuit will allow a heavy load to bounce around, fatiguing and possibly breaking stuff.

Your spot on with 1/4 turn fasteners.

4 wing nuts and screws that hold the battery cover on

I interpreted Op as trying to hold a panel on that was covering the battery, not the battery hold down bracket. If he is talking about the battery hold down bracket then 1/4 turn fasteners are terrible.