Irecently tightening up a loose engine mount on l18 when my ratchet slipped and connected with the starter. i know i should have disconnected battery but was in a hurry. anyway upon hitting the starter , sparkes flying , the ratchet got so hot i couldnt even touch it to get it off. it ended up boiling the negative battery connection to the point off blowing through the wrap on the lead . i know have no power at all. what im wondering is if anybody would know the extent of the dammage . just a new lead , mabye a starter or i hope not but a rewire. any thoughts appreciated.

A dangerous situation!

From your description it sounds like you created a direct short from battery to earth via the starter motor positive terminal.
This probably destroyed the positive and negative leads from the battery by melting their insulation. If you replaced both these leads you may have all damage covered. What does the starter motor solenoid positive terminal look like after carrying a level of current that would melt metal?

Battery may also be suss after such a rapid and complete discharge.

Hope this is all your problems.

_________________
RichardC
SSS016

Thanks mate you were right on the money. Soldered up new cables , new battery damage covered. lucky. moral of the story ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLES NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE JOB. you never know what might happen

People have been crushed/died doing this whilst standing at the front of a car and the car has been in gear...

Also, loose the jewelry while working on cars.
My old mans wedding ring (gold) shorted on the starter motor contacts once, he couldn't get it off quick enough.
Needless to say he never wore it again while at work.

_________________
Rod