Instrument loom repair.

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SteveD
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:29 am
Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Instrument loom repair.

Post by SteveD »

The idiot lights on my 11/1981 R100RS haven't worked correctly for ages. The OIL & GEN lights have always worked thankfully, but lately they've become temperamental and very sensitive to the position of the plug. Time for action.
I planned to substitute the instrument plug and 8inches of wiring for one in better condition. I believed the wiring was the culprit, not the plug.

Assembled the stuff required.
1. Connectors with solder within them.
2. Scissors
3. Crimper/wire stripper.
4. Heat shrink tubing.
5. Stiff outer protective sheath.
6. New (used) plug and wiring.

Image

Opened up the old cover, exposing the old wiring.
Image

Cut the old wiring. The point of no return. Committed.
Image

With a small degree of staggering, I connected the 10 wires via these butt connectors that have solder internally. The finishing heat shrink was over the loom ready to move into position and the connectors were placed onto one wire before they were connected, to be slid over the connection when ready.
The wire width on the new bits were a smaller gauge than the original loom. The wires were stripped and the ends carefully interlocked before the connector was moved into position. Note the different sizes of the wiring.
Image

When all 10 were done, the heat gun was used to melt the solder...despite this next picture, the wires were held horizontal for that exercise to enable an even spread of the solder melt.
Image

The new outer heat shrink was moved into place...
Image

...then I tested the lights before the final shrink.
They all worked... :D
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Now I'll be able to see the instruments at night.

This was quick and easy. Eventually I'll replace the whole loom, so this repair doesn't need to last forever.
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
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dougie
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Location: Burlington Ontario, Canada

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by dougie »

Nicely done Steve. Very tidy.
And it works! :idea:
I've spent most of my money on women, motorcycles, and beer.
The rest of it I just wasted.
Duane Ausherman
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Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by Duane Ausherman »

I have never melted solder with a heat gun, I use the standard solder irons. I have them in several sizes and heat ranges.
Ask the Indians what happens when you don't control immigration.
ME 109
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Location: Albury, Australia

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by ME 109 »

Well done Steve, your repair should last for a long time.
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barryh
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Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by barryh »

SteveD wrote: the heat gun was used to melt the solder...

Interesting, never heard of pre-soldered joints.

Sounds just like capillary plumbing fittings which can also be done with a heat gun.
barry
Cheshire
England
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SteveD
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Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by SteveD »

barryh wrote:
SteveD wrote: the heat gun was used to melt the solder...

Interesting, never heard of pre-soldered joints.

Sounds just like capillary plumbing fittings which can also be done with a heat gun.
New technology? They were recommended to me by the auto elec bloke I spoke to.
http://www.cableorganizer.com/elelktral ... t-splices/

I've got a soldering iron Duane, but this method was convenient because the loom was in situ and it would've been awkward.
Last edited by SteveD on Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
ME 109
Posts: 7308
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:00 am
Location: Albury, Australia

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by ME 109 »

SteveD wrote:
I've got a soldering iron to Duane, but this method was convenient because the loom was in situ and it would've been awkward.[/color]
Steve, I think Duane is subtly trying to point out that it is 'proper' for luddites to use soldering irons heated by a kerosene blow lamp.
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Jeff in W.C.
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Location: Walnut Creek, CA

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by Jeff in W.C. »

Good job Steve. I'm going to have to do that to mine sometime in the future. The main wiring looms/harnesses are NLA, at least for my 88 R100 RT. I hacked into my plug (before I realized they were NLA), and found out that the culprit was (and probably is most of the time) a broken wire where they are soldered to the metal part of the plug. The plugs have one weakness (well maybe more, but I'm concentrating on one). While the wires are held relatively tight in the plug, the metal female portion can move. The female portion is, for the most part, a metal cylinder with a raised collar close to where the wire is soldered. The only thing holding the cylinder in place is the rubber of the plug and the metal collar. If the plug connectors stick, this can put undue strain on the wires and they will eventually break. As such, I would put dielectric grease on the plug connectors to minimize this from happening.
Jeff in W.C.
1988 R100 RT
2018 R1200 GS
"I've got my motorcycle jacket, but I'm walking all the time." Joe Strummer/Clash
Roy Gavin
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Location: Adelaide Australia

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by Roy Gavin »

Good find, looks like you used the small, clear ones.

I just swapped my 91 XTE 600 and a little cash for 95 Funduro F650.

Nice low mileage bike, but the guy couldn't sell it as he was a proper bodger and his lash ups had put folks off. Mainly minor stuff, maladjustments, wrong screws, etc , that I can fix / replace from my stash without much expense.

He had relocated the Reg/Rec out into the breeze, as required, but had made all the connections,and a few others, with domestic house wiring 'thimble" connections, so as you can imagine it looks ratsh-t under the seat, and an upgrade is called for.

Do you think the smallest size will fit the slightly larger Reg/ Rec wires or do I have to pony up for two sizes.

Or I could probably just buy the next size up and for the smaller connections tin the wire first, like Pop taught me how.
Adelaide, Oz. 77 R75/7. 86 R80 G/S PD, 93 R100 GS, 70 BSA B44 VS ,BMW F650 Classic
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SteveD
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Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Re: Instrument loom repair.

Post by SteveD »

Roy Gavin wrote: Do you think the smallest size will fit the slightly larger Reg/ Rec wires or do I have to pony up for two sizes.
The wires at either end were different sizes. When stripping the smaller end, I used the 0.5 part of the tool, and the 1.0mm for the other. I used the wider end of the connector towards the larger wire and it was easy enough to locate the connection into the middle where the solder is.
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
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