Dielectric grease between battery connection?

[MN_Scoot]

I have poured through forums here and elsewhere about dielectric grease and I have never seen so much conflicting information on a topic.

My problem is that I consistently lose my battery connection while riding (even after contact cleaner and steel brushing each part of the connection). Often, I can stomp the floor above the battery compartment and get my connection temporarily back while I'm riding.

Anyway, to improve this situation permanently, some people swear by smearing dielectric grease on the terminal and connector and that tightening will squeeze out the non-conductive grease and keep out moisture and corrosion. Others swear that doing this compromises the connection even further.

Does anyone have authoritative advice on how, if at all, I should use dielectric grease for my battery? Any other advice for this connection problem?

[CROSSBOLT]

Sounds to me like your battery bolts are vibrating loose, MN-scoot. The dielectric grease is a good idea (couldn't hoit) as is that red spray on corrosion inhibitor sold at auto parts stores. I would try some Loctite Blue thread locker on the bolts.

Karl

[tortoise]

authoritative advice

Will you also reject "authoritative" opposing views expressed on this forum?  Why can't you make your own determination?

[MN_Scoot]

Will you also reject "authoritative" opposing views expressed on this forum?  Why can't you make your own determination?

ha, you're really going to troll me over this? 

I quite simply asked for someone to chime in if they had a definitive answer on a question I have seen completely conflicting info on in many forums.

And I guess if everyone made their own determinations every time they had a question, there would be no use for a knowledge base forum.

[Stig / Major Tom]

ha, you're really going to troll me over this? 

I quite simply asked for someone to chime in if they had a definitive answer on a question I have seen completely conflicting info on in many forums.

And I guess if everyone made their own determinations every time they had a question, there would be no use for a knowledge base forum.

There are no dumb questions on an enthusiast's forum. To share and learn are why we are here.
The negative stuff belongs over on youtube.
As one veteran member said a long time ago :
"Pay no mind to tortoise, he's slow."
Stig

[mrbios]

My problem is that I consistently lose my battery connection while riding (even after contact cleaner and steel brushing each part of the connection).

Does anyone have authoritative advice on how, if at all, I should use dielectric grease for my battery? Any other advice for this connection problem?

Any type of general automotive grease or dielectric grease is fine.  You only need a tiny bit to coat the surface.  This stops corrosion.  I have used it for years on cars/motorcycles/scooter/tractors etc.  You did not mention if your connection is loose at the battery terminal.  If it is you can use the grease everywhere except the threads of the bolt (assuming it is a nut and bolt type connection common on motorcycles)  - if that is the case then clean the threads first then apply loctite blue to the threads of the nut/bolt and grease everywhere else.

[ophelia]

I keep a small tub of petroleum jelly for keeping the terminals clear of corrosion. When the terminals are tight enough, the jelly or dielectric grease will be squeezed out of the points of contact.

An intermittent connection over bumps doesn't sound like a corrosion issue though. Do double-check the connections like mrbios suggests. If the screws are looking rather stripped out from a screwdriver, then use a 1/4" drive socket or box wrench that fits instead.

[MN_Scoot]

You did not mention if your connection is loose at the battery terminal. 

It is always completely tight when I check.

I usually pull over, unscrew and rescrew the connections and this temporarily fixes it. Then, brush and contact clean when I get home yet the problem still recurs within a few weeks.

I do plan on using dielectric grease when I hook the battery back up. Just didn't know if I should put it between the connections so they squeeze it out or just coat the outside after the connection. Checking a lot of different forums, there is a lot of disagreement over whether this is smart or terrible.

Thanks for the reply.

[Stig / Major Tom]

It is always completely tight when I check.

I usually pull over, unscrew and rescrew the connections and this temporarily fixes it. Then, brush and contact clean when I get home yet the problem still recurs within a few weeks.

I do plan on using dielectric grease when I hook the battery back up. Just didn't know if I should put it between the connections so they squeeze it out or just coat the outside after the connection. Checking a lot of different forums, there is a lot of disagreement over whether this is smart or terrible.

Thanks for the reply.

That shop in San Diego that has all those VESPA repair videos on youtube has a head mechanic who puts that stuff on, in, around and over the battery contacts when working on those pricey Vespas.
He sure seems to think it helps make a good current flow.
Stig

[de dee]

the reason they use dielectric grease is it non conductive, so the best way to use it is connect very thing , then cover with grease,.  told by a electronic tec .,

[Stig / Major Tom]

the reason they use dielectric grease is it non conductive, so the best way to use it is connect very thing , then cover with grease,.  told by a electronic tec .,

Ah, so it is the corrosive-preventing properties that make this stuff work so well on terminals and bulb fittings !
Old guy still learning here....

[de dee]

thats right Stig  81 years old and still so much to learn

[josephthediviner]

No problem with that anything that prevents oxidation is a good thing, and I like the idea of using blue locktite on the battery bolts.  Keep riding! 

[mrbios]

No problem with that anything that prevents oxidation is a good thing, and I like the idea of using blue locktite on the battery bolts.  Keep riding!

A few extras for the topic...

If a connection has corrosion - clean the metal parts with a wire-brush and / or sandpaper to bare metal ... then apply grease.

Grease yes but NEVER use any kind of oil as that will break the connection.  If oil has been applied remove it with a solvent like brake / carb cleaner, kerosene, etc and scrub with an old tooth brush blow with compress air to dry or use a tissue paper and when dry and clean apply a little grease.

[Vivo]

Hmmm..something is very wrong here... I have never used anything on my battery terminals... I never even clean them until I replace for a new one... How come I NEVER had problems?... Maybe something's wrong with your battery... or something...