Wrench or Battery Plier?

[winlinmac]

I usually use a 10 mm wrench for taking off the battery cables
is it better to use about a Battery plier ?

 

[SantaAna12]

Covers more sizes, so for a lube and battery guy: perhaps. The better ones are easier on the clamp nut.

 

[bcradio]

I use a 1/2" for most batts

 

[Murphy4570]

I use whatever size socket or wrench needed to loosen the nut. If the clamp doesn't wiggle loose, I use a battery terminal puller to remove it. Don't use a wrench or prybar to pry against the battery case itself.

 

[Fedwrench]

No. Battery pliers were designed back in the day for rounded nuts. If the nut isn't damaged from corrosion, the right size socket/wrench would work best.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks, a wrench will do then
I've kept thinking what I should add to my Channellock list
Its always good to have the tool on you even if you don't necessarily need it at the present moment

No. Battery pliers were designed back in the day for rounded nuts. If the nut isn't damaged from corrosion, the right size socket/wrench would work best.

 

[johninct]

I like to use my stubby 1/2" wrench. That way I won't over torque it and have less chance of hitting something and causing a spark. Sometimes you can't tighten the ground side last or you are adding a wire like a battery tender and do not want to pull the terminals, etc.

 

[anndel]

I would use a wrench or socket but I just tried the Knipex plier wrench while changing the battery on my wife's car and that tool rocks.

 

[gooblunar]

I always use a socket or wrench if not rounded. But some times the battery stuff gets so rusted to where the nut becomes smaller and rounded that the battery pliers are about the only tool for the job. They also come in handy for things other than battery work.

 

[SantaAna12]

The older Macs are great too.

 

[jallyn]

I would use a wrench or socket but I just tried the Knipex plier wrench while changing the battery on my wife's car and that tool rocks.

+1. right size socket or box-end wrench if the nut is not damaged. or knipex pliers wrench would work for good condition or damaged nuts. severely damaged may require pliers with teeth / specialty pliers that will bite and further damage the nut, but you gotta get it off first and then you can replace it with new.

 

[CNGsaves]

Depends . . . . . . are YOU using the wrench . . . or someone else ???

For Ex-Wife or her new husband, a big C wrench that will hit the other terminal !! . .

 

[Richard Cranium]

Wrench unless the nut is eaten up and is round then the pliers.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I generally use the correct size socket and usually a 1/4" composite ratchet. Having said that I only work on my families vehicles so no rust or rounded nut issues.

 

[winlinmac]

Correct size socket and usually a 1/4" composite ratchet here as well. Rust is not a night and day process. Its probably good to still have a battery plier as someone else mentioned may have other uses, especially in tight spots.

 

[G_P]

I use whatever size socket or wrench needed to loosen the nut. If the clamp doesn't wiggle loose, I use a battery terminal puller to remove it. Don't use a wrench or prybar to pry against the battery case itself.

Those battery terminal pullers also come in handy when you have to pull a wiper arm off of the splined shaft and its corroded on. I've used mine more on wiper arms than batteries since mos of my cars have been side post.

 

[AA/FC]

I usually use a 10 mm wrench for taking off the battery cables
is it better to use about a Battery plier ?

Correct size socket and usually a 1/4" composite ratchet here as well. Rust is not a night and day process. Its probably good to still have a battery plier as someone else mentioned may have other uses, especially in tight spots.

First you start the thread asking the question, then later you reply to that same thread as if you are answering the question for the OP. Troll

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Wrench unless the nut is eaten up and is round then the pliers.

This ^

Most of my stuff is top post. The battery pliers only come out when they have to. I usually use a 9/16 open end to back up the square bolt head & a 1/2 offset box end to turn the nut. Then a puller to remove the terminal. Internal reaming pliers to open & clean up the the terminal. Brush for the post. Looks like it is usually 5 tools for one simple job.

 

[928'er]

Wrench over pliers every single time. Use the right tool for the job.

 

[Adam.C]

That's not rust on our battery terminals, it's galvanic corrosion. And I don't particularly want that on my wrenches. the parrot jaw plier above IS the right tool for the job. For GM side terminals, a cheap ratcheting 5/16 wrench can be handy.

 

[johninct]

Are you so afraid to use a wrench on a battery terminal that a little corrosion may hurt it? I use my stubby Snap-On all of the time on battery terminals and somehow the wrench still looks like new. Also, on GM, you should use a terminal wrench that has the plastic covered handle in case it touches something. I have never used my Snap-On battery pliers that came in a battery service kit that I bought used. I also grease my battery terminals.

 

[winlinmac]

I'm just trying to justify my reasons for owning a Battery Plier as it may potentially have other uses as others have put it

First you start the thread asking the question, then later you reply to that same thread as if you are answering the question for the OP. Troll

 

[johninct]

I'm just trying to justify my reasons for owning a Battery Plier as it may potentially have other uses as others have put it

If you have a nut that is rounded off, then use it. Using battery pliers on a nut that is not rounded off will ****** it up.

 

[martin666]

Think I've used my battery pliers on a terminal nut maybe twice in my life. I wouldn't buy one one it's own, but it came in my battery service kit. Have used it for other things though, handy little tool

 

[Ramblin Man]

I use my battery pliers more on u-joint clips than battery terminal bolts.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I'm just trying to justify my reasons for owning a Battery Plier as it may potentially have other uses as others have put it

In almost 10 years as a mech i've never even used battery terminal pliers, let alone owned any. Always used a wrench or socket.

There are all manner of Channellocks, Knipex, etc that will do the same job and more compared to terminal pliers.

 

[four.cycle]

^ this.

I've never owned or used a pair of "battery pliers", although we did sell a lot of them. Always used a 1/2" open-end or a 10mm, whichever fit the nut properly. The "galvanic corrosion" wipes right off with a rag and certainly hasn't caused any damage to either my 1/2" or 10mm wrenches.

On that side-terminal GM battery: Kastar made a tool specifically for that task when those batteries first came out on the market - really kind of slick.