The D2 Forums

Yes exactly that.

Thanks MJ. I have trouble remembering things I did last week, let alone 8 years ago!
As delivered the battery had a red plug in a vent hole that instruction said to remove immediately, which I did.
This was however at the opposite end to where the vent pipe connects to my dying Yuasa, so I swapped the black plug from the hole at the opposite end assuming internally it's just one connected void.

Yes, its one common breather port. You just put the plug in the end you're not using

Job done, thanks for your tips MJ.
I had a little help from a sailing friend who was a dab hand at tying up the positive lead with secure quick-release knots.
Duct tape did an excellent job of holding the negative lead and breather pipe well out of the way too.

Only extra tip I'd add is that if you're leaving the boot side trim in there's a small triangle of it that overlaps the battery well at the rear outer corner. It catches annoyingly on the battery base taking out and even more replacing, requiring brute force and/or wiggling.
It I did the job again I'd trim that back to leave the well completely clear.

Noticeably different turnover on the starter, much faster!

Sailors who can do knots are remarkably handy

This picture shows the section of boot side trim I'd suggest cutting away, maybe a bit more to be sure?
It also shows my angle piece (from screenwash tubing IIRC) I added to the end of the vent tube. Not sure what's OEM there.

I find that 20Kgs of lead persuades that bit of trim out of the way without any trouble

The original angle piece for the vent is almost identical to the one you have.

Your negative terminal should be a few mm further down on the post though, then it doesn't need to be quite so crushed. Loosen the bolt right off and get a large screwdriver in there to widen the gap a bit and it should seat down nice and flush, then you can just nip up the nut

Thanks MJ, the old battery was worse than that on both posts so I've already widened them slightly and tapped them down gently.
Didn't want to risk breaking the clamp by going any further, do you think it's safe to do so?

I always do, not snapped one yet

All done, negative nice and flush, positive not quite. I think the angle the positive cable comes in at was just lifting it a mm or so whatever I did.

Edit. Footnote: Probably should have done this years ago, it's been flaky since well before Covid!