Wing nuts vs. hex nuts

[badgercarlson]

Bought a new marine starting battery yesterday at Fleet Farm to replace the one I been using since 2005.  The positive and negative threaded terminals are now the same size (positive used to be bigger than the negative, but both are now the negative size).  The battery came with hex nuts for the terminals instead of wing nuts.  Apparently there have been some problems with boaters not tightening the wing nuts properly causing electrical problems if the wing nuts get loose.  I always used a pliers to give the wing nuts a little extra tightening and never had a problem.  The hex nuts included with the battery are small and will require a wrench to tighten.  I might get a couple of wing nuts and forget about using those hex nuts.  Anyone have an opinion on the best way to tighten wires to the terminals?

[Hyperacme]

I've used the wing nuts for the past 2 or 3 seasons and haven't had a problem ... and I get bounced around pretty good on the river !
I just used my hand to tighten them, and check them about mid season when I have to retighten every nut and bolt on my boat ...except the battery ...LOL

[Rosscoe]

I like the wing nuts and used to only hand tighten them because otherwise it defeats the purpose of wing nuts, however, I did have some problems with them not being tight enough and the insulation on the positive started discoloring due to high current draw for it not being tight enough. Now I give is a twist with a pliers.

[V153]

I never had a problem using wing nuts. I too give 'em a lil xtra twist with pliers. 1/8th or 1/4 turn is alls you need. That way if'n ya lose yer pliers, you still stand a chance of loosening them by hand ...?

[terry]

I HAD THE WING NUTS ON MY ORANGE CVX.ME AND THE WIFE GOT TO THE LAKE ONE DAY RAN AROUND AND WENT TO START THE BOAT AND SHE SAID SHE SMELLED SMOKE.TOOK THE SEAT OFF AND THE POSITIVE POST WAS MELTED FROM A LOOSE TERMINAL(WING NUT)NOW I USE TOP POST,I FIGURE WHATS THE DIFFERANCE IF I GIVE IT A TWIST WITH A WRENCH OR MY FINGERS.

[wiliermdb]

Have used wing nuts on marine applications for years and never had a problem with them coming loose. If you have more than one ring terminal on a post make sure that they are all seated flat against each other and crank it down by hand.  I've found that issue a few times with friends where all the ring terminals are not seated well and over time with vibration they settle and the result is a loose wing nut. If you want to go one step further, apply a couple of drops of loctite and it will stay.

[wexrocks]

I use wingnuts with outboards, and this is the stupid trick I use...

I usually keep the cable about a 1/4 or 1/8 turn counterclockwise of where I want them to be, then when I tighten the wingnut as far as I can by hand, I also give it that extra 1/4 or 1/8 turn with the cable and wingnut at the same time, giving me a little more leverage, and clamping it down nicely. I check them often, but it seems to work for me. I would think a little nudge with some pliers would do the same thing though. as mentioned, I also had a post melt on my houseboat once, and the battery was a nice 27 group (like a $100 battery or so) that was about a week old and was instantly trashed because I didn't make sure it was tight. oops...

[Rosscoe]

I like Wexs method. You could get by without tools this way.

[badgercarlson]

Thanks for the responses.  I'll continue to use wing nuts and make sure everything is snug.  I didn't know battery terminals could heat up like that because of a loose connection.  You learn something new every day !!!!