Got a Optima!, Install, fits good but... Options

[Mark Henry]

The old hold down clamp and the other side doesn't grab and hold down the battery nice and tight.
Sure, I can figure it out, but someone may have done it a better way. I've already thought about sticking a piece of plywood under it, thanks, but no thanks.

So, what was your solution?

My + side just reaches with a bit of slack, enough I think, - no problem.

Spendy, I got a red top at Costco with tax $184 Canadian bucks, the yellow top and the blue were 209 and 229 bucks + tax. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
It does have both top and side posts, but turned around you can't see the side posts and it clears the rain tray.

I might just have to slap the ol' insurance on her tomorrow. We're into nicer weather finally.
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[Anton]

Doesn't boil over OR is it sealed? Can you mount it upside down?

The whole point is to stop acid and/or acid vapor from escaping and slowly eating away at the 914.

It was sold to me as a sealed battery (filled with gel instead of fluid) which you can keep upside down without leakage. The point of beinge able to mount it upside down somewhat eludes me since a 914 is neither a space shuttle nor a submarine. When you want to know further details about the battery go to Varta. About acid vapor, I really don't know, it is for the first time I hear that that would pose a problem.

My battery tray and support were eaten away by leaking acid from a boiling battery probably caused by a faulty mechanical voltage regulator (no vapour damage here). The battery tray area was sandblasted, new parts were welded in, and it was sprayed. Subsequently, I have installed the Varta silver dynamic battery and an electronic voltage regulator (911 type). No problems since and the battery tray area still looks "as new".

This is my personal experience, I don't see the need for an expensive "upside-down" battery. Unless of course you want to argue that an Optima in the first place would have prevented these problems? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)