Battery Hold-Down

[Hamhog]

Does anyone have an original style battery hold-down? I’d like to see a picture. My battery seems to ride too high to use the fender brace. Thanks.

[Rus Curtis]

Does anyone have an original style battery hold-down? I’d like to see a picture. My battery seems to ride too high to use the fender brace. Thanks.

Dave,
The early 6V batteries have a different case than most common 12V batteries.  That's not to say with a little shopping, a close match couldn't be found.

https://www.batteryweb.com/bci

Here, you can see Lawrence Wade's '55 and its hold down:


This is one style of strap that connects to the fender. 

Another example of that style hold down without the strap on Caprio's 3A:


I remember when I first got my '54 it had the fender stud and strap.  That fender got replaced a long time ago and the hold down was a home built angle iron thing that a PO thought would work better, but thanks to Lawrence's help, I was able to get a stud made and mounted on my "new" original fender.  Then I had a vendor offered hold down modified to fit a larger 12V.  Once all that was done, using the strap I had (that attaches to the hold down rod) I still had to bend mine to make it sit right.

Below I've attached a couple of images of my setup.  I just layed the strap over the stud (still need another wingnut) to show how it fits and then the other image is my altered hold down without the strap. 

[1955CJ-5]

This is what I'm using.

I'm pretty sure it's a reproduction.

A long time ago my CJ-5 battery hold down came loose and shorted across the battery posts........

The battery blew up...a real eye opener! And a real mess....

Randy

[athawk11]

I made this...to have a stock 3A look, but to fit a 12v battery.  Current picture site is down for the count.  Had to use a link.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Swb9rX9DjPuQyyBQA

[Hamhog]

Thanks guys. I have a very late 2A, but the frame/battery tray are the same as a 3A. I guess I need the 3A battery bracket. Anybody repop them?

[Rus Curtis]

What I've seen available are these:

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/battery/steel-battery-hold-down-kit-fits-46-71-cj-2a-3a-3b-5

https://walcks4wd.com/battery-hold-down-6v-usa-made-p-929.html

You can see the differences.  If you want the fender strap there's one here:
https://walcks4wd.com/Battery-Cables-Hold-Downs-J-Bolts-Ground-Straps_c_317.html
Note:  Every time I tried to post the url to the strap it would add mb "is better" cj2a and not connect.  So, look on above link for strap.


Fabrication may be necessary.

Also, a better group listing that includes 6V:

https://www.jegs.com/Sizecharts/bcigroup.html

You can see the measurements of the hold downs compared to the available battery sizes.  If you want to avoid cutting/welding the hold down to fit (like I did) keep the battery measurements inside the hold down measurements.

[Hamhog]

Those don’t work on the later style 2A battery tray

[Rus Curtis]

Those don’t work on the later style 2A battery tray

Don't know much about it.  Are the holes closer together on the tray?  Are the holes centered or offset a bit (mine were offset).

[Hamhog]

On a late 2A (after 215xxx) the battery tray was changed to the 3A style.  It sits higher on the frame, so the battery sits up higher.  I need the bracket like the one posted above, with the strap to the fender coming off the corner of the bracket.  The 2A style strap won't work because the battery sits too high so the angles are off. 

[Rus Curtis]

Now I get it.   That change to the tray was something I remember reading about but since I couldn't put my finger on it as an item to consider, I omitted its reference.

What I posted from known vendors was an attempt to highlight what's available.  A WYSIWYG issue. Then the only difference is the strap that attaches to the corner.  I posted, "Fabrication may be necessary" to suggest what may be needed.  As you can see from my photos, I'm making do with a mismatch of parts (I will confess, a couple of needed bends in my strap was a surprise).  As posted by Randy, he fabricated a look alike.

I think you could take  the two and find a local welder to create what doesn't exist.

I have a short list of jeep parts that had to be made from scratch because they simply don't exist.  Since I've taken so long to get mine back together, I've noticed that over time some of those missing pieces (that I took the time to make) have now been added to some of the vendor's inventory. 

To me, this boils down to two scenarios:  If you want it now - make it.  If you're not in a hurry, perhaps over time, one of the vendors will offer that part that isn't available now.

I'm not a welder, so I farm that type work out.  I've been fortunate that I have two shops locally that I've gotten to help me with all sorts of things.  Hope this helps you with mapping out a plan. 


BTW, this thread may get me down to one of those shops, in the near future, to alter my hold down to mirror what we've been illustrating.