wire source???

[GARTHXS]

I need to make a new pigtail for my pacifico and the old one I hacked out of an old harness, but Id like a fresh one and wanted to get all the colors and I can only seem to find like 4 or 5 colors here in san diego,

[crazy steve]

Finding a good selection of colors is always a problem. You could try a place like this: http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/en-us/d102.html but you still don't have a lot of choices. You could also try contacting somebody like these guys to see if they would sell you some, http://www.painlessperformance.com/ but most of these outfits are only interested is selling complete harnesses. Either way, not very inexpensive if you only need short pieces. My advice? Try to find a automotive wiring shop (if any still exist near you) and see what they have. As an alternative, call around and see if there's any 'electrical control' contractors and see if you can talk them into selling you some of their scrap. But most of this has gone to electronics, so they may not have anything suitable. Probably your easiest/cheapest choice? Visit your local wrecking/salvage yard and pick up a chunk or two of used car harness and cut it open. You'll get various sizes, multiple colors and/or color/tracer combos. It'll be a crapshoot as to what you find, but the car makers commonly use 20 or more 'different' wires in their harnesses. I've been saving old harnesses for years and using them as a wire source for bikes/cars; it's really the only cheap supply out there.

Good luck!

'78E original owner

[psycoreefer]

I've ordered from waytekwire.com before, but I think there is minimum lengths and such to consider. If you want it they've probably got it though...

[XS1100 Newbie]

Try Radio Shack

[GARTHXS]

9 wires

I guess they dont have to be stock colors but it would make it less confusing

[3Phase]

I guess they dont have to be stock colors but it would make it less confusing

Garth, if you're looking for some of that striped wire like Red/White Stripe I don't have a clue where to buy it new.

You can try NAPA, Autozone/Kragen/Checker/O'Reilly/WTFE or even Grainger. Grainger might have a better selction and you have three of them down there: San Diego, Chula Viasta and El Cajon.

Automotive Primary Wire


Regards,

Scott

[crazy steve]

Garth, if you're looking for some of that striped wire like Red/White Stripe I don't have a clue where to buy it new....

If you're willing to buy a minimum quantity of a particular color combo (like say, 10k ft), you can get anything you want. Otherwise the 'commonly available' colors you may find will be black, red, blue, white, yellow, brown, green and orange, although very few places will stock all of these. Sometimes you'll turn up gray, pink and purple. These will all be solid colors; striped you can forget...

Dead car harnesses are the answer.... get a piece from anywhere except the engine compartment; little or no heat exposure, so it will still be good.

'78E original owner

[3Phase]

+1 for the used wire from harness wiring, Steve.

I've seen new multicolor wire for sale in amounts that would allow one to hook up Oklahoma to use Maine, Washington, California and Florida for Front and Rear Right/Left turn signals but nothing in small enough quantities for rewiring one fairing or bike.


Regards,

Scott

[planedick]

Local

McFadden Dale industrial hardware sells small spools of colored wire...

[latexeses]

There is a place down around Balboa and 805 called Industrial Surplus or something like that. They have all sorts of odd stuff in there. I never go down there without going in the place.
Can't hurt.

[Cobia]

Use marine grade wire

Go to your local marine supplies store and they typically have a good selection, if they're big enough. Good quality marine wire is designed to withstand the harshest conditions and is a lot more corrosion resistant than regular automotive wire. The good stuff is also tinned, providing better conductivity as well.

[newc4]

I remember coming across this website. Looks like it fits the bill.

http://riwire.com/

Darrell

[crazy steve]

I remember coming across this website. Looks like it fits the bill.

http://riwire.com/

Darrell

Here you go; in fact, I think I'll bookmark this one. Not real cheap, but you don't have to buy huge quantities either.

'78E original owner

[RockinD]

Gauge/Sizes

What would be the most common sizes of wire to have on hand?
14g, 12 or ??
I may need several feet of each and assorted colors- sorry if this sounds lame, but it's been awhile since I've had a garage and a good collection of tools, so I just building back up on stuff.

[CatatonicBug]

What would be the most common sizes of wire to have on hand?
14g, 12 or ??

12 and 14 are what you wire your house with (Romex). For automotive, you probably need more like 18-22g.