New batteries?

“It’s quite straightforward,” said the man on the phone. “If you turn the battery pack over, there are eight screws in the holes in the bottom. Undo them, turn it back up the right way, and lift the lid off. Then you can disconnect the two batteries and lift them out.” It sounded easy enough.

First I had to buy a tall screwdriver. I unscrewed the screws and lifted the lid off. The cables were attached to each old battery with nuts and bolts. I needed a small spanner. Off I went to Homebase. Next problem… when I turned the nut, both sides moved. I needed two spanners. One to hold each side. Back to Homebase.

I put the first spanner on the first side. But by the time my fumbly fingers had managed to get the second spanner on the second side, the first had slipped off. This spanner dance is not fun. Cue colourful language.

Now to lift the batteries out. Or maybe not. They were stuck to the bottom with Velcro so fierce it had superglue properties. It took much wrestling (more colourful language) and more wrestling. Finally it was free. That was the first one. There was still another one to extract. The new batteries were much easier. No Velcro on these and I only needed one spanner to connect the wires. In fact, I didn’t even need that. I could use a screwdriver. It’s looking up; I’m getting there.

Batteries in place I put the lid back on. I turned it over to return it to the scooter and some of the screws fell out. Great! How was I going to work out which deep, dark, narrow hole had a screw and which didn’t? I must a torch somewhere. Which safe place had I put it in? Found it! I peered into the first hole, angling the torch so I could see the bottom, which was as narrow as the screw with a top only a fraction wider.

Eventually it was all done. I could go to Australia with a scooter with the maximum power of new batteries. It had only taken me three hours.