You may have the wrong battery. I went to my local Interstate bat store and I think a 240 battery fit in the hold down properly while the 140 bat did not. My bat hold down is stock and not rusty. I feel like I could lift my car from the battery posts:).

john

It's been almost a week, but the whole family came down with bronchis... Anyway, the battery fited to my wife's 240 is an Exide 128HD. I thought it's the right one for European cars, and after thinking about it I remember the correct one was out of stock. There is a European one that does work, just have to find it. But for motocross I would strap it down anyway. Have fun...

I used a piece of that perforated pipe-hanger strap they sell in hardware stores, anchored down permanently on one side of the battery, then over the top and held down with a removable bolt on the other side -- no movement in the battery till I loosen the bolt -- elegant, no -- effective, yes.
Bob S.

As the others have said, it's a matter of the non-existant tabs.

Besides OEM (Douglas) batteries, Exide manufacturered Group 24F or 46(?) has the tabs. Neither Johnson Control or AC Delco manufacturered ones offer such.

The J-hook is prolly the better way to approach the situation, however. You won't be limited to any make or group size.

-- Kane
--
Blossom II -'91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles -'74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup -'86 245GL/AW70
The Wayback Machine -'64 P220/M40 ... The ParaBox -'90 745GL/AW70

You get European and "rest of world" batteries. European battereis have a ledge or 2 along the bottom of the battery, and that is what European cars use to hold down the battery. "Rest of world" batteries do not have that ledge (or it is way too small), because the battery uses an over-the-top clamp to hlod down the battery. Even if you have an over-the-top clamp it will have to be clamped down hard to prevent the battery sliding side to side in the tray. I had the same problem on my 240 when I was looking for a new battery, and a lady that knows her stuff explained it to me. The guy at the Firestone shop wanted to just fit the wrong one, did not know the difference, and on my 144 actually did fit the wrong one and gave me a piece of rubber hose to fit under the hold down. I'll get the battery name/model off the 240 next time I'm in the garage (not that easy), then you can just ask at the shop for the same series but with the terminals the other way round as required on the 144.

Have fun...

I'm pretty sure it depends on the relief or shape of the battery case.
Had the same problem with an Eveready brand battery in my '70 and it would not pass inspection because of it.
Switched to an Interstate (I think) which had a tab molded to the case and it fit the factory hold down properly.

Per, I've only found one battery that sits properly. It's an Interstate. It is completely immobilized by the existing mechanism.

Sadly, it's a lousy battery. If you let a current Interstate sit, it sulfates and becomes worthless. Now my battery stays on a float charger all the time.

Shame. Interstate used to be a good brand.

Now, if you aren't going for originality, I say abandon the factory hold-down gear in favor of safety. And really, if it's a purpose-built race car, move the battery to the trunk.