Cushman 640712, Owner'S Manual

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B
MAINTENANCE
Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
39
Owner’s Manual
CLEANING THE BATTERY
Metal containers of battery terminal protectant must be used with extreme care. Add insulation to the metal
container to prevent the can from contacting the battery terminals which can cause an explosion.
Use insulated wrenches to prevent a dropped wrench from causing a short-circuit in the battery, which can
cause an explosion and severe personal injury or death.
Electrolyte spills must be neutralized with a solution of 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) mixed with 1 quart (1 liter) of water. Rinse with water.
Always wear a safety shield or approved safety goggles when adding water or charging
the battery.
When cleaning the outside of the bat-
tery and terminals, do not use a water hose without first
spraying the battery with a solution of baking soda (sodium
bicarbonate) and water to neutralize any acid deposits. Use of
a water hose without first neutralizing the acid will move the
acid from the top of the battery to other areas of the vehicle or
storage facility, where it will attack the metal structure or the
concrete/asphalt floor. After hosing down the battery, a resi-
due will be left on the battery, which is conductive and will
contribute to the discharge of the battery.
.
To prevent the risk of battery damage, make sure that all battery caps are tightly installed.
To decrease the risk of damage to the vehicle or floor, neutralize acid before rinsing the battery.
To decrease the risk of damage to the electrical components while cleaning, do not use a pressure washer.
The correct cleaning procedure is to spray the top and sides of the battery with a solution of baking soda and water. This
solution is best applied with a plastic spray bottle. The solution must have 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sodium bicarbonate (bak-
ing soda) mixed in 1 quart (1 liter) of water. Be careful of metal components near the battery. These must be sprayed with
the baking soda solution.
Allow the solution to set minimum of three minutes; use a soft bristle brush or cloth to clean the top of the battery to
remove any material that can cause the self-discharge. Clean the entire area with low pressure clear water.
Cleaning must occur one time a month or more often under extreme conditions. After the battery is clean and dry, the ter-
minals must covered with a commercially available protective coating. Aerosol containers of battery terminal protectant
must be used with extreme care. Insulate the metal container to prevent the can from contacting the battery terminals.
HARDWARE
Periodically, the vehicle must be inspected for loose fasteners. Be careful when tightening fasteners, refer to the Techni-
cian’s Repair and Service Manual for specified torque values.
Normally, three classes of standard hardware and two classes of metric hardware are used in the vehicle. Grade 5 hard-
ware can be identified by the three marks on the hex head and grade 8 hardware is identified by six marks on the head.
metric hardware is marked on the head with 8.8 or 10.9. Unmarked hardware is grade 2.
1 quart
(1 liter)
Clear Water
Plastic
Spray
Bottle
2 Teaspoons
(10 ml)
Sodium
Bicarbonate
(Baking Soda)