Leaking batteries

[highlandsun]

I have 4 old flashlights that had an incandescent bulb in one end and a 6" fluorescent tube along the side. These were great camping lights, but I haven't gone camping in several years and now I've found that their battery compartments are jammed shut with blue crud all over. Is there any way to clean off the corrosion and extract the stuck batteries and rescue these flashlights?

 

[Monsters_Inc]

Soak in methylated spirits if the body of the light isn't plastic... might help loosen up the contacts.

 

[highlandsun]

Thanks. Unfortunately the body is plastic. I guess it's not a terrible loss, but any other suggestions?

 

[CNC Dan]

Originally posted by Howard Chu:
I have 4 old flashlights that had an incandescent bulb in one end and a 6" fluorescent tube along the side. These were great camping lights, but I haven't gone camping in several years and now I've found that their battery compartments are jammed shut with blue crud all over. Is there any way to clean off the corrosion and extract the stuck batteries and rescue these flashlights?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Can you get at the end of the batteries? If you can you may be able to drive a drywall screw into the end of the battery and pull it out. Or at least get the guts of the battery out and colapse the empty shell. The goo is an alkiline so a mild acid will stop the corosive action. Try vinigar, with a water rinse, distilled would be best. Take a lot of time to rinse well, then dry in sunlight for a long time and all circuitry that wasn't damaged by the battery goo should be fine. I have had to 'wash' a police scanner that got dropped in salt water and it still works fine. Good luck.

 

[highlandsun]

Thanks, I'll give some of that a try. I wonder if vinegar will help un-stick the battery compartment covers...

 

[CNC Dan]

Originally posted by Howard Chu:
Thanks, I'll give some of that a try. I wonder if vinegar will help un-stick the battery compartment covers...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It may, but I would try using a good penatrating oil.
If it is aluminim i would first try something like "PB Blaster" or "Kroil". Tap the cap to help the oil penitrate. May take a few hours of sitting to work.

 

[Albany Tom]

This is just a guess, but the residue is partly a metalic salt - try really hot water! Also, be carefull, some oils may hurt the plastic. Oh, and wash your hands well afterword if you don't wear gloves. Alkali burns don't have symptoms for a long time.

 

[CNC Dan]

Originally posted by Albany Tom:
This is just a guess, but the residue is partly a metalic salt - try really hot water! Also, be carefull, some oils may hurt the plastic. Oh, and wash your hands well afterword if you don't wear gloves. Alkali burns don't have symptoms for a long time.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yah, what he said X2.

 

[snakebite]

i had succsess using a dent puller to get swollen batteries out of a old kel lite.might be called a slide hammer in some parts.