Maint Free Battery

[John L.]

I just recvd my maintenance free battery reproduction battery from the manufacturer. It looks really good -- identical to my current reproduction battery but totally dry inside. The caps even unscrew.

What is the NCRS position on these batteries -- same as always -- no deduction for properly dated and looking duplicate ??

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Maint Free Battery

what year is your car? I would think it would score the same as any other repo.

[John L.]

Re: Maint Free Battery

It is a 1966 Coupe. Yep, I would think that the same rules apply - however it is always good to get the opinon from this forum.

[Joe R.]

Re: Maint Free Battery

Hi John:

I'll be purchasing a reproduction battery soon, and I have wondered the same thing. I imagine that a determined judge could remove (or, more correctly, ask you to remove) one of the caps to see if there were plates and electrolyte visible in the cell.

Before anyone says this would be ridiculous, take a look at section 22 of the Juding Manual, "Removal of Items for Judging." One of the examples given is removing the distributor cap. I have heard that some judges want to check for the correct Delco points and condenser.

This is the only hesitation I have about using the sealed batteries. It would be nice if the NCRS could agree that removal of battery caps is off limits.

[John L.]

Re: Maint Free Battery

Joe -- I agree - a determined judge will in fact ask you to remove the caps. This new battery is really nice -- it is dead on. Antique Auto Battery uses the same cases for the maintenance free batteries as they use for their wet ones. They have that new Spiral Cell technology. That being said, I also have a Tar Top Repro with real tar sitting in the corner of my office if I ever need it for judging again. It is not charged -- just needs the electrolyte and charging. Of course from the conversations we have had at our chapter meetings lately, I dont see having the car judged again in my future.