I've just taken receipt of my latest fixer upper, a 1971 Hot Wheels Sizzler, Boss Mustang. Sizzlers were Mattel's innovative powered racing cars, kind of Redlines on steroids, with a tiny motor and rechargeable battery.
The downside with buying old Sizzlers is that the body is fixed to the chassis, so the battery isn't removeable without a little intervention, so with age comes corrosion. I have bought a similar condition car recently and managed to get it running again. Batteries are available on Amazon and other specialist suppliers, so the option to get old cars rolling again is quite positive.
The only downside is the corrosion issue. When I popped the Boss open, the inside was green as grass with chemical adhesions. I've read somewhere that cleaning with lemon juice can remove the material and it looks like the brass underneath is still intact. I've got a new battery waiting, but has anyone any tips on cleaning the contacts?
Spirit vinegar is widely used in the vintage computer community to remove the dreaded green plague of corrosion caused by leaking Varta batteries (you can also use standard white vinegar from your local supermarket. Its nowhere near as strong, so you have to give a longer soaking). Usual soak time is quite short (1-10 min) for pc motherboards (you dont want the acid to start eating the copper traces). A wash with distilled water then isopropyl alcohol, and lo and behold, hulk-hued crud gone (unless its really bad and needs another bath).
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. looks like the Hoss is in for a bath tonight!
DeleteIs your battery replacement a stock NiCad or are you taking advantage of 50 years of battery development, with the new lightweight LiPo batteries as used in flying toys?
ReplyDelete