Anyone Know What This Is?

[gogmorgo]

This was behind the seats in my MJ when I bought it, near the factory screw jack. PO didn't know what it was, and I've got no clue. It doesn't look like it would work so well as a jack handle, and that's the only thing I think of when I see it. Also might be some kind of mount for something, or possibly part of seat brackets? I've really got no idea...

It's got a rubber coating, which is peeling off, and there's something similar to plaster or concrete crumbling out from under the rubber in end bar angle pieces. The two cross pieces are thin stamped angle pieces. The long middle bar is about 7" long, and the end bars are about 4"

 

I just found it again after cleaning out my truck, and I might be able to modify and repurpose it, but I don't want to ruin it if it's something important.

[HOrnbrod]

Battery hold-down bracket.

[AeroNautical]

That right there is a bent steel rod with a rubberized coating...haha. Might I ask what's holding your battery in?

 

Bad picture, but you can see the bracket on the battery: 

 

[gogmorgo]

What's holding down my battery? um... what we motorsports engineers like to call static downforce... I just broke the bungee cord I'd been using to hold it down all winter... guess they don't like the cold so much. Definitely more important than what I was planning for it.

Thanks!!!

 

 

Edit: Just went out to put it on the MJ and discovered a couple things.

1. Whoever replaced the battery last must have intentionally left it off, because the two bolts aren't quite long enough. The battery that's in there is too tall, although there may be a cap of some kind over it I can remove, as the two lids in PFCLeist's pic are there, but they're flush to the top of the battery. Didn't look into it too hard though, because of 2.

2. It's darker than sin outside, and despite the 80°F weather we've had over the last few days, once the sun went down a couple hours ago, the 38F is a bit chilly for t-shirts and way too damn cold for bare feet...

So that's another thing to do tomorrow.

[64 Cheyenne]

That right there is a bent steel rod with a rubberized coating...haha. Might I ask what's holding your battery in?

 

Bad picture, but you can see the bracket on the battery: 

 

 

In this pic you can see that the bulkhead to battery bracket is up side down....

[64 Cheyenne]

What's holding down my battery? um... what we motorsports engineers like to call static downforce... I just broke the bungee cord I'd been using to hold it down all winter... guess they don't like the cold so much. Definitely more important than what I was planning for it.

Thanks!!!

 

 

Edit: Just went out to put it on the MJ and discovered a couple things.

1. Whoever replaced the battery last must have intentionally left it off, because the two bolts aren't quite long enough. The battery that's in there is too tall, although there may be a cap of some kind over it I can remove, as the two lids in PFCLeist's pic are there, but they're flush to the top of the battery. Didn't look into it too hard though, because of 2.

2. It's darker than sin outside, and despite the 80°F weather we've had over the last few days, once the sun went down a couple hours ago, the 38F is a bit chilly for t-shirts and way too damn cold for bare feet...

So that's another thing to do tomorrow.

 

Are you sure the bolts are too short? Did you try and pull up on them to make them reach the bracket?

 

There are supposed to be plastic keepers under the battery tray that prevents the bolts from dropping down making the bolts look too short,

maybe try pulling up on them.

[gogmorgo]

Pulled up on the one as far as I could, wiggled it around a small amount, and it still came up about an inch short. Like I said, though, it's pitch black outside and barely above freezing, so I only spent about 30 seconds at it, and I didn't feel like putting on socks, shoes, pants, jacket, etc... I'll check it out tomorrow.

[mvusse]

If the battery is that tall, you better hope it never shorts out on the hood frying your computer.

[Keyav8r]

You can either make or buy longer hold down bolts. If you can't find them long enough at your parts store, buy some all-thread rob and six nuts and washers at the hardware store. The battery box comes out by removing two or three bolts. Measure and cut the rod to the needed length. Anchor the bottom to the battery box with two nuts (one above and one below the hole in the box), re-install the box, battery, hold down clamp and one nut and washer per rod.

That concrete stuff coming out from under the rubber is corrosion from the battery acid/gases. I've peeled all the rubber off mine to sandblast and recoat with rubber. Can't remember the name of the product, but it's a liquid rubber used to coat tool handles. If I can remember long enough I'll look at the can and PM to you.

OR, since you're on that car crew, maybe you can find some old stainless rod and angle laying around an fab up an all stainless hold-down clamp. While you're doing that make two of them. I'll send you my address.

[AeroNautical]

 

That right there is a bent steel rod with a rubberized coating...haha. Might I ask what's holding your battery in?

 

Bad picture, but you can see the bracket on the battery: 

 

 

In this pic you can see that the bulkhead to battery bracket is up side down....

Good eye, I've never had a reason to change the battery so I've never noticed that. Fixed it today.

[Comanche County]

You're bolts have probably just broken.  Pretty common if a PO didn't keep the battery clean and they corroded.  Both of mine were when I bought it, seen many in the JY like that.