Splicing Wires... How Do I Make it Neat and Reliable?

jbrtwork

jbrtwork

Been Around the Block
This topic came up on another thread... I'm installing mini gauges and some new turn signals and tail light on my Yamaha Seca II project. The wiring harness is in great shape, so I'd like the new additions to splice in without much pillaging. Anybody got some tips? I've never taken on a bike project before, so any advice is welcome.
 
Whenever you cut them the wires, cut them at different lengths. That way all of the spliced together connections aren't in the same spot.
And don't trust electrical tape by itself - in time it will come apart.
 
Best way, solder and heat shrink. Make sure you do a nice job soldering (heat the wires, not the solder) and then heatshrink overtop of that.

Another alternative is to get some 2-1 connectors and use those. Makes it a bit easier if you need to remove something later, you dont end up having to cut apart your splices. But its less reliable because the connectors could come loose at some point. Fairly unlikely, but slightly more likely than a really nice solder/heatshrink job coming apart (virtually impossible).
 
I worked at Radio Shack many years ago and learned I was horrible at soldering. I was browsing the internet a few days ago and briefly came across some kind of connectors that seemed simple and neat, but then lost them. Any recommendations of such?
 
Well, not sure where you live but if youre in canada, canadian tire has crimp on connectors. And in either the US or canada, any auto parts store will have similar automotive crimp on connectors. As long as you buy ones properly sized for your gauge of wire, theyre just as reliable as the oem stuff (which is mostly crimp on). Try to use bullet or spade connectors, theyre the best. I find the fork style ones tend to fit together loosely. And get the ones with the rubber casing so the connectors arent exposed after theyre pushed together.

If you want a more permanent connection you can even heatshrink the connectors, just make sure everythings working right first.
 
Thanks, Bob. I think I'll go peruse the local auto parts stores. I love bullet connectors, BTW. I think these would be perfect for my needs.

Oh, yeah... I'm in California.
 
I really like these:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3HY92?Pid=search, you crimp in the middle and then heat up buklt in heatshrink outsides.

They also make some that have a solder ring in the middle so when you heat it up it solders from the inside and shrinks the ends around the wire, but I don't have a link for those.

And it's been my experience to not use something like this: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/5X424?Pid=search, because they are a bitch to get apart and you usually end up pulling them right out of the crimp.

Not everybody may agree with me, just my two cents.....
 
Solder and heat shrink. By and far the best and with a little practice really easy. Just be sure to 'tin' each wire before joining them, and in some cases make sure your shrink tube is on one wire before you solder together.
 
jbrtwork said:
I worked at Radio Shack many years ago and learned I was horrible at soldering. I was browsing the internet a few days ago and briefly came across some kind of connectors that seemed simple and neat, but then lost them. Any recommendations of such?
Click to expand...

not sure if it's what you're talking about but i instantly thought about posi-locks.
here's their website
http://www.posi-lock.com/
and here's someone that sells a boatload of connectors, including posi's
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Posi-Lock/posi-lock.html
 
Ooh! I like these! Some of them remind me of a vampire tap. I don't care. All I want is something that works and is neater than the basic crimp-type connector.
 
The HD by me now sells these connectors I used to use when I was a tech at an aerospace company. They are clear heat shrink tube with solder inside. When you shrink the tube with a heat gun it melts the solder. They work great. I will be using these on my bike when I get into the wiring.
 
Kind of related to the thread: how is the OEM wire connected to the bullet connectors? Soldered?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom