Speedy/easy replacement for wing nuts

[rv7charlie]

Your spot on with 1/4 turn fasteners.

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.

oops. you're right; I completely missed the word 'cover' because I've had to jerk with so many wing nuts on hold-downs. My UTV doesn't 'swim', so I never even thought about having a full enclosure for the battery.

If waterproof is a requirement, that makes any mod a lot tougher because the cover may be too flimsy to work without all 4 attach points. If waterproof isn't needed, I'd just lose the box completely and strap it (AGM battery) down.

 

[HayFarmer]

McMaster.com search latches. Might see something you like, there's a lot.

 

[bcp]

For those looking for a quick release battery hold-down:

Amazon.com: Seamaka 2 PCS 1" x 4ft/48 Battery Tie Down Strap kit,Battery Hold Down Strap with Stainless Steel Cam Buckle,Stainless Steel Bracket, SS Screws for Battery Box Boats, Luggage Belt, Cars O-093 : Industrial & Scientific

Buy Seamaka 2 PCS 1" x 4ft/48 Battery Tie Down Strap kit,Battery Hold Down Strap with Stainless Steel Cam Buckle,Stainless Steel Bracket, SS Screws for Battery Box Boats, Luggage Belt, Cars O-093: Securing Straps - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

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.

Can you give us a picture?

 

[orezok]

Something like this? Metal toggle latch.

 

[Jaygyver]

I vote for the solar also even if you only have a semi open spot. I had an older Ranger truck that I retired into a farm truck and I only drove it a couple times a year. It had a newer (2 year oldish) full size battery and I ended up getting a HF 8"x16" (?) solar panel kit and it worked great for 3 or 4 years before I gave the truck to the kid for a backup vehicle.
I did keep the panel inside the windshield just to make sure it stayed dry and it was in front of my shop in 3/4 daylight but not once did I have to jump it. I also have two other trucks that sit for months that have them in there also as well as my SxS and mowers inside my shed with the panels hanging in the windows and haven't had to jump the mowers in the spring yet. Here in the PNW I get just enough sun power to keep them topped off I guess.

The tractors get to go in the shop so I just throw a charger on them every couple of months in the winter as they are too far away from the windows.

I did have a couple of name brand 110v trickle chargers but threw them away after a couple battery's boiled out. Yup, they supposedly had the diodes in them.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I just did that with my mower this spring. Trickle charger boiled it out. Although, I still should have checked on it.

 

[Wagtail]

Following.

 

[AnotherBueller]

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.

Every aircraft mech hates ZDUS fasteners. They have to be the right length for the two panels and if you bend the wire that goes across the hole (because you didn't line up the screw with the wire before pressing down on the head and do it multi-able times) then then the wire will brake and you need to do it all over again.
If it was me and the threaded length is too long Id just add washers under the cable to make up the distance you wanted. How ever don't make the threaded part too short on the nut may vibrate off. (see if it doesn't and when you're in the worst place for it to happen).

 

[WinterDeere]

I think this one falls under the, "problems people create for themselves", category. Here you have a forum full of people who never need to remove a battery from their tractor or vehicle often enough for the threaded length of the battery clamp tension rods to even be a consideration in the back of their mind, and...

If it really were a problem for me, I'd get a long socket and some nylok hex nuts to replace those stupid wing nuts. About 1 second with impact driver or cordless drill would have them on/off, each time.

Or, just get a solar maintainer, and stop removing batteries on a regular basis!