On Mon, 1 May 2017 05:21:51 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Speaking of old tractors, I can't get a good contact to the battery
terminal on my old Ferguson. I cleaned the post and connector off with
a (3M) green scrubbie, but when I clamp it together and push the starter
button I get a puff of smoke from the terminal as I vaporize some small
section of lead where the terminal connector meet. Is there some goo
or other tricks I can use?

George H.


I just went through this George. Cleaned battery clamp with the wire
brush made for this. No go. Got out my pocket and went at the inside
of clamp. There was a very hard oxide coating on the inside of the
clamp. It shines up nice with a wire brush but doesn't conduct
electricity worth a damn. After scraping this hard coating off, and
you can certainly tell it's hard because it almost chips off, I could
feel the knife blade dig into soft lead. After scraping the inside it
was nice and bright and the old tractor spun right over. With a 6 volt
battery. Probably the same as your old beast.
Eric