How to unseal cells on a NOS Y55 Delco Battery

[gmart68ZRS]

I recently acquired a NOS Y55 Delco Battery from early 70's. It has never been used. The top of the cells have a Wax material, that I thought was sealing the cells. But I removed the wax from one cell, and under that the top of the cell is still sealed off with the Bakelite material. I'm puzzled. How are you supposed to open the cells to acid ? Do you punch in the material ? It will drop into the battery which does not seem right.

Also I need a set of Yellow push in Caps (5 regular, one Delco Eye) as it did not come with the caps. You would think for the amount I paid for it, it would come with caps.

[396 SS/RS]

Can you post a picture?

[Ralph Spears]

you punch out the plugs with the DELCO EYE put the delco eye in there and hit it with your clenched fist I worked at a Chevrolet dealer in the sixties that is how we did it. that is why the eye is pointed on the end to punch out the plug and the pieces fall into the battery and stay there.

[gmart68ZRS]

Thanks Ralph. Since the battery is made of Bakelite, then having the material fall into the cells should not be a problem. I'm still not sure why they put wax on top of the cells over the caps. The top cell I removed the wax. Oh well. Here are some pictures.

[HuggerSS]

I have a NOS Y55 that had been professionally charged. Holds a perfect charge if anyone is looking for one.

[TimG]

That's interesting, Ralph. I never realized that was the reason for the pointed portion of the "Delco Eye".

[Ralph Spears]

Pointed tip on Delco eye cap

[Burd]

Never knew that either, funny, most of the toppers come w/ a red eye.

[Ralph Spears]

That was one of my jobs at the dealer putting new batteries in the new cars that had them stolen (no inside hood releases in those days) Filling them with acid with no eye protection