Honestly the battery box is a disaster. They need to go back to the drawing board on that thing. Mine also had issues with the nuts... They put hex nuts on them at the factory so they spin when you try to tighten them. I replaced it with a square nut like its supposed to be but the box cover still fits like crap. Its just a bad design overall but double check the nut is not hex... the battery box installer must be a sloppy guy on the line.
S
no doubt. im in mississippi and have experienced the same thing. nut just spins around. i had to use my go go gadget hand to get the f+*ker off. after wiring the winch and adding a pigtail for my sparyer I just used two heavy duty zip ties through the existing bolt holes to secure it. no issues so far. good luck.
K
Code54
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I personally took a small flat piece of metal and wedged it back there against the nut to get it apart (maybe able to use a small screwdriver - don't recall)
I then epoxied the nut on the back of the box with some JB Weld and that seems to be working rather well.
Crappy design!
I then epoxied the nut on the back of the box with some JB Weld and that seems to be working rather well.
Crappy design!
Gave up on the factory setup and just keep my battery box cover in place with 2 heavy duty tarp straps. The battery box cover is the worst engineered thing on the 500. Getting to the oil filter is a close second.
Montecresto
Montecresto el segundo
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I'm sure glad to hear that I wasn't the only person around to run into a stupid problem like this! I had the same problem; the keeper on the back side of the screw/bolt is held with some flimsy plastic slot.
I finally did hold the keeper down enough to slide a very small screwdriver jammed in there to hold it long enough to get the top bolt out. My fix was to replace the screw/bolt with a stud. Cranked the stud down good and tight, then put a conventional hex head nut on.
I suppose that I should have went ahead and replace both the top and the bottom screws with studs, but at least the bottom one is easier to get a finger in behind it to hold while loosening the screw.
The last thing that I'd want if I had a dead battery or wanted to give someone a jump, would be to have to make a project out of just getting the battery cover off. For the price of a stud and a nut, problem solved forever.
O
When I was installing my winch wiring I added a pair of short 10ga leads with a quick connector that just hangs down out of the opening. That allows me easy access with another mating cable for easy jumping or charging.
S
I picked up a P500 recently and wanted to add a pigtail for a trickle charger. I will use it less in the winter and want the battery to stay charged. One of the nuts just spins on the battery box. From reading here sounds like its just a nut in a plastic slot and it chews up the slot then spins. What has been found to be the best method to remove?
I'm liking the zip tie replacement.
SloRide
I'm liking the zip tie replacement.
SloRide
I managed to wedge a flat head screw driver between the nut a plastic and got it to unscrew.
After removal I epoxied the nut back in place.
Code54
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This - just stick a screwdriver in there and wedge it until you get it loose, when you hook it back up do the same thing in reverse. It is not too unusual on the little batteries.
S
I finally got around to that spinning nut on the battery box cover. Nothing worked to keep it from spinning so what I did was drill a small hole thru the cover and the nut and stuck a finish nail thru it. Worked great!
I sure understand what you went through. That's a stupid arrangement from the factory. The first time I pulled my battery I changed mine out for a stud and nut.
SILVER_ALERT
HONDA SXS Club Flounder
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I did the same, about 7 years ago. Put a pigtail on the battery for charging. No problem since.
Ditto! I added a 2-prong trailer plug for easy access for my spray tank motor, battery charger, etc.
Our P500 is primarily used for farm and yard work, although the trailer plug line would be handy for camp lights, or many other uses.
I hate the p5 battery box so much...
so, so much.
so, so much.
JACKAL
Ancient Honda fanboi
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If you go to MOM4 ride you might have your chance to roast the guy who oversaw the design
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