Skip to main content

Prepare and Connect Battery for Initial Start Attempt

13:58
30:52
12.1K views

At 13:58 in

Forgotten Ford Ranger Farm Truck | Can I get it running?

What happens here

To prepare the truck for a start, the owner addresses the battery. He cleans the terminals of an old Interstate Battery (borrowed from his tractor) using Tub O' Towels heavy-duty cleaning wipes and a battery terminal cleaner. The existing battery terminal clamp is loose, so he improvises a solution by cutting and stripping two pieces of household electrical wire (copper, not aluminum) and inserting them into the clamp to fill the gap, ensuring a tight connection before reattaching it to the battery posts. He also uses a wrench to ensure the connection is secure. Before proceeding, he sprays a wasp nest found under the hood with wasp killer.

Goal: Provide power to the truck for an engine start attempt.

Tools and materials

  • Battery Terminal Cleaner — To clean battery terminals
  • Household Electrical Wire — To fill gap in loose battery terminal (temporary fix)
  • Interstate Battery — To power the truck's electrical system
  • Wasp & Hornet Killer Spray Hot Shot — To remove a wasp nest
  • Wire Strippers/Cutters — To strip and cut electrical wire
  • Wrench Drop Forged — To tighten battery terminal connections