What Is the best tool for lifting batteries?

[redman34]

Any suggestions to the best tool available to pick up heavy golf cart batteries?

The batteries like the GC-2's that Sams Club sells. They have that plastic raised section at the end of the battery.

I have a real old wood 2 piece tool but the teeth won't fit inside that plastic part.

I am looking for any and all suggestions. I have an EZGO cart, but today i need to lift the batteries out of an old Western cart. It is hard on my back and knee, lifting these heavy batteries and trying to get them in the proper spots without dropping them.


I was also wondering if there is any type of small or miniature cherry picker, similar to the ones they use to life engines? ONly a small version?

Please help!

Thanks

[ak47fan]

I bought a battery carrier off the snap on truck when I was a fleet mechanic and it is worth its weight in gold. Its pretty basic and if you look around they shouldnt be hard to find. Its adjustable for all sizes.When you pick up , it pinches the sides of the battery. I carried quite a few of the larger truck batteries and never dropped one. Hope this helps.

[Gimpy]

Northern Tool and Harbor Freight have all kinds of stuff like battery lifter/carriers for reasonable prices. They have cherry picker type things that mount in pickup truck beds, that may be something to try. Modification is the rule of the day when it comes to stuff like that.

[dougmcp]

I use one of the old strap kind with a hole in each end just because I've had it for years and looks like this:


The best I have seen look something like this:

[ak47fan]

I use one of the old strap kind with a hole in each end just because I've had it for years and looks like this:
.

The best I have seen look something like this:
.

The bottom one is exactly what I have.

[Michael Eddie]

The bottom one is exactly what I have.

How is it, because it looks like it may not work as good as you'd think to be?

[ak47fan]

How is it, because it looks like it may not work as good as you'd think to be?

You just slide it to the width of the battery and when you pick it up it pinches it with the jaws. I never dropped even one battery for as many as I replaced. My dad has the one like doug has that went over the posts.

[redman34]

The strap is no good for batteries that don't have posts, like Sams Club batteries.

Sams batteries just have the threaded studs.

I stopped by O'Reilly auto parts and bought this cool battery carrier. It is made by Lisle. Looks like large ice tongs, and the tips fit the plastic lifting hooks on the battery.

I am a happy camper now. Did a cart battery job today, and it worked like a charm.

Hey doug , I got ahold of a manual for that western cart, it has a complete wiring diagram, that helped me alot. Since the owner took the old wiring apart before I got there. Thanks for your battery diagram.

I can send you the link to the manual if you want it.

[dougmcp]

You're correct about the Sam's batteries, I use a washer and nut and kid of half-ass them out with my strap. Not ideal but easier than running to the store again. Glad you got it worked out with yours.
I have a Western manual but could you send me the link so I can check it out and see if it's something I don't have.

[redman34]

Here is the western manual, it is 60 pages.

It takes a minute to load, but is worth it. Hope it is useful to you.

https://dl.dropbox.com/0/view/ma0d81ulnt7heh3/QL-N0YMvZGC.pdf

Thanks for all your help.

[dougmcp]

Here is the western manual, it is 60 pages.

It takes a minute to load, but is worth it. Hope it is useful to you.

https://dl.dropbox.com/0/view/ma0d81ulnt7heh3/QL-N0YMvZGC.pdf

Thanks for all your help.

The manual is the same one I have, thanks for posting it up so others can make use of it as well.