There are a pair of straps remaining. The straps for ack154 and Hot06tC went out in the mail this morning. I have one pending invoice and one buyer via MO< which leaves two remaining. PM me to request an invoice. I leave invoices outstanding for about 48 hours. Then it becomes open to the next buyer.

 

You rock.

 

Any left, I might be tempted to get one just for something diffrent.

 

Thank you Doc!!

 

paid!

 

Bump for the Doc... hoping to get mine tomorrow or the next day!

 

hey Doc, Paid on the 22nd. when should i expect it?

 

Did I forget to e-mail you? Probably. Shipped out yesterday via USPS, should be 2-3 days.

 

I don't know how I end up as the beta tester for these things (always seem to get it first)... but I ran into an issue trying to put this on.

The j-bolts aren't long enough. They reach just to the bottom of the strap. Need about another 1/4" or 1/2". Can't thread the nut at all. I noticed the OEM strap goes down about 1/2" or more from the top of the battery.

I'm going to Lowes or Home Depot after work to see if they would have anything... but if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know!

 

Dammit, confounded by the OEM equipment again. I'm using an Optima, and the J-bolts are far too long-- so long in fact that I had to thread another 1/2" onto the rod, and cut about 1" off the top so it didn't stick up unbeleivably high.

Most J-bolts are shorter-- you can get shorter ones at any auto parts store (usually). I know that there are threaded rod extensions, which would work a charm, but I don't know if they're going to have anything metric at the HD or Lowes.

I'll hit my local hardware supplier tomorrow, and pick up some extensions, which I'll send to the buyers of the straps free of charge. Once again, I didn't look at all of the angles before I sent out the product.

Well, I live and I learn.

 

Ya, it's cool... I have no problem going out and finding a solution, but it's just a matter of finding said solution. I'll try the extensions if I can find a decent hardware store.

 

Well... garage at my mom's to the rescue. Sort of.

Checked Lowes, nothing. And all of the damn hardware stores around here closed at 6pm (WTF?). So I had to go to my mom's anyways... was able to find a threaded rod that was just BARELY long enough to make two j-bolts out of. I may still check a couple hardware stores to see if I can find anything else - but it's not bad for now. I sprayed them black with gold washers/nuts for accent.

Before:


After:

 

hey Dr. I. what type Optima do you have?
i have the OEM battery but im looking to upgrade anyways

 

Optima 75/35, the "Costco Special". About 100 bucks, and about an inch shorter vertically than the OEM battery, I now find out.

ack and others, I'll have the extensions sorted shortly. McMaster has just the ticket, but they're about $3 each... looking for something a little more economical.

 

I found another solution... I'm not sure what you found at this McMaster's place... but AutoZone here had a set of 10" battery posts just exactly for this. The stock ones appear to be 8" (they have those there too). Get a set of 10" ones and you're all set. I ended up marking/cutting the 10" ones to use some cap nuts for a cleaner look. A simple hacksaw and about 45 seconds and you're back down to a perfect size for the caps. I might go back to Home Depot and get a set of bronze caps (~ $.40) for the "gold" trim look to match the other washers, but this will do for now.

Here's what they look like now (without some ghetto black threaded rod that was bent in a vice!):

 

sorry for OT, i didn't know costco sells optima batteries. is it local only or does every costco have them? thats a pretty good price, i think my kragen battery was about $80 or $90.

 

Maximus, they have the standard RedTop and BlueTop Marine Optimas at all of the SoCal Costcos local to me (San Bernardino, Ontario, Moreno Valley), so I just assumed they were carried by all Costcos.

And once again, ack has caught me trying to overthink things.

 

Mines in thanks to ack
Will post pics later.
Thanks again!!

 

For anyone NOT using an OEM battery, I can get you a strap like this one:


...which will work with the OEM J-bolts and looks pretty good, I think. Same $20 shipped for the standard .200" strap, or $35 shipped for an identical to the one pictured (which is .400" thick). I've got enough material for about 3 straps left. After that, no more. I'm sticking to the soft stuff.

 

i work at a local costco. i will look around for a Optima battery else where because my costco doesnt carry Optima brand. Not all costcos will carry the same items. maybe a few things the same but sometimes totally different because they buy from local sales reps for their areas.

i got my strap yesteday. very happy. just need to either go get a new battery or just get the shorter Jhooks.

thanks Doc