Cleaning battery contacts

[anetzer]

Thank yo very much!

I'll try to sum up the tips and arguments I read here and elsewhere:

1.
Thorough mechanical cleaning of metal parts. If they are corroded to far, they become brittle and might break. Here soldering in new contacts might become inevitable. Be prepared for very hard and resistive residue layers.

2.
Neutralize residues:
- For Alkaline residues, use household vinegar to neutralize
  (Soaking thoroughly, if possible). It will fizzle a bit on Alkalines...
- For carbon-zinc residues mix baking soda and water to a paste and
cover contacts, better yet - if possible - submerge in the paste.

3.
Reworking (after cleaning surfaces with an abrasive method, e.g. fine sandpaper):
- Leave unchanged: Risk of renewed corrosion of the raw surface
- Apply contact cleaner: See above
- Cover contacts with vaseline: Risk of reduced conduction, oil is not a conductor!
- Soldering: Any solder will corrode eventually
  (lead too, but is not that much of an issue)
- Soldering and applying a gold-leaf to the final surface: Very cute, thank you!
- Electroless (chemical) nickel plating: Also very interesting...!
- Electrically conductive adhesive (e.g. silver): Rather high resistance
- Electrolytic nickel: Can I do that myself? Seems rather complicated.

Did I get all the techniques?

I am finished cleaning so far and the bridge contacts of early 71's can be easily removed (and those where luckily the most affected in the whole compartment). Machine works now, so I have got time for the next step).

a.