crimping battery lug

[riven1950]

Ok, this is on my boat but very well could be an RV question so I hope it is appropriate.

While replacing a pump I noticed one of the positive battery cables going into the battery selector switch appears loose in the lug.

Problem is there is very little room to work and removing the entire cable is a lot of work.

Trying to figure out what hand tool I could use to press the lug back on the cable tightly.

I looked online and see people using a hammer and screwdriver and some sort of press. I don't have a crimping press and not sure it would fir in the small area I am working. I have a hammer and screwdriver but not very helpful where I'm working either.

Any ideas?

[byronlj]

I have been building battery cables for decades using solder. You only need a handheld propane torch to accomplish the task. Auto parts stores even sell lugs that contain the solder or have a solder puck. Lots of videos on this.

[Edd505]

Lynnmor wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:
You can buy another cable with double lugs for about $10 on Amazon. How hard can it be to take the nut off the battery and the nut off the back of the perko switch?

We don't know how the cable is routed, wanna replace the cable on my Ford pickup for ten bucks?

[riven1950]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to use a c clamp and a piece of metal. Did a pretty fair job. Better than the one I removed anyway. Think I will order a replacement wire to make a permanent replacement at a later date.

Lynnmor you are right. Running new wire will be no fun. Old boat with poor access holes. $10 purchase is the easy part.

[Grit_dog]

Had a long response but site crash...
There are many set screw type connectors you can use. Or just ghetto crimp it with some channel locks, or solder a new end on with a butane torch or propane torch on low, if you have the clearance for an open flame.

[Lynnmor]

Super_Dave wrote:
You can buy another cable with double lugs for about $10 on Amazon. How hard can it be to take the nut off the battery and the nut off the back of the perko switch?

We don't know how the cable is routed, wanna replace the cable on my Ford pickup for ten bucks?

[Dutch_12078]

I've used a hammer crimper in some spots that were too tight to swing a hammer. Instead, I used the crimper with a heavy duty c-clamp.

[wa8yxm]

byronlj wrote:
Take the lug off, clean it, and solder it back on using flux.

Sounds easy.. But do you have any idea how big a soldering iron you need to handle Battery cable (4ga or bigger) wire.

A welding torch would be my first choice.. Though I might do it with a good propane torch.

The crimping tool someone up-thread suggested.. From the photos it looks like it does a very professional job. Some of those hand tools I use (on smaller wires) the crimp looks to my practiced eye to be better than some factory crimps.

That is one of 'em.

[byronlj]

Take the lug off, clean it, and solder it back on using flux.

[Super_Dave]

You can buy another cable with double lugs for about $10 on Amazon. How hard can it be to take the nut off the battery and the nut off the back of the perko switch?

[enblethen]

What material is the lug made of?
What style of terminals on the battery?
It could be possible to replace with bronze set screw type terminal.
Bronze set screw connectors

[drsteve]

Heavy Duty Crimping Tool