battery tray corrosion

dgjks6

Need some help. Got my 86 club car running today. Then, on my brothers recommendation I took the batteries out and this is what I found:











What next?

Is this acid? Do I need to neautrlize it? Just scrape and wash off?

This frame looks to be aluminum. Can I bold steel to it for reinforcement?

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

scottyb

That is Oxidation ..... they say aluminum won't rust ..... they all do that but you got a bad one. Good thing you found it before the batteries dropped out the bottom going full speed ... I recommend riveting aluminum in there. steel and aluminum have a bad 'dissimilar metal' reaction that would be ugly compounded by the battery acid....
Get busy scraping and rinsing with the garden hose..... then start sprinkling baking soda on the wet frames. let that sit for 15 minutes, hose it off and sprinkle it on again. repeat this until it the soda stops reacting to the corrosion.... chisle and cut off what is no longer structural and relace it with good quality 1/8" x 1-1/2 angle aluminum

Frizbgolf

just a footnote here but when you get all done cleaning up the corroded aluminum, before installing the new angle braces spray all the existing aluminum with a clear coat that will help reduce any future corrosion.

cdb770

Go to Grainger's and get a couple cans of LPS 3 to spray it down with after you get it all replaced. This is what we use to prevent aluminum corrosion on aircraft, we actually use Dinol spray but you won't be able to get ahold of any of that. The LPS 3 will leave a waxy coating on the aluminum after it dries and will protect it from the same thing happening again.

gornoman

No coating will prevent this type of damage if the user continues to neglect the importance of battery bay cleanliness. These batteries weigh 70+ pounds each and are constantly shifting in their mounts, grinding away at the rails, and allowing the acid to do it's dirty deed. Keep them neutralized and clean and the problem will not return.

scottyb

The more I scroll down this page the worse it looks .... really structurally Especially the cross member up front ~ it is gone! You may need a welder who can do aluminum

dgjks6

As I started to scape things out I found pieces of wood. I think this damage started before I got the golf cart. It looks like there was a wood frame in one of the trays.

I think I can fix it by riviting some aluminium in. Where can I get pieces of Aluminum?

I will post some more pics of the progress tomorrow. I have to work now.

cdb770

You can either buy the whole new aluminum frame assembly and install it that way, or go to like a Fastenal store and order aluminum angle and construct it that way by welding, or riveting.

golfcarfixer

You can go to lowes or your local hardware store and buy the aluminum stock.The outside trays you will need 60inches of stock and the front one ie 18 inches long.

buscopat

Your local Tractor Spply store, has Aluminum Angle and Aluminum rivets, don't use steel rivets.