Cleaning electrical connections

[newmaac]

OK, it's that time again. Time to un-do the damage caused by leaving my bike outside, under a cover for the winter.

Usually in the Spring, I open each electrical fitting and add some dialectric (sp) grease to help ward off moisture.

I have yet to find a good way to clean the connections though.
It is easy enough to lightly sand the male connector, but has anyone come up with a clever way to clean the inside of the female? hehehehe
) Get your mind outta the gutter and think "electrical connections".


TIA

[randy]

Gun cleaning brushes.

Try the one for .177 caliber pellet guns.

[JWSanders]

I use QD electrical connection cleaner on them. It has seemed to work really well so far. Got it at home depot, if I'm not mistaken. Seems auto part places might have it too.

Just make sure you get the kind made for connections like that and not the heavier solvents like motor winding or contact cleaner. Will melt some plastics fast.

[Bauer]

I was just going to recommend the QD cleaner too. Its fast drying and really will eat into any grease, yet is easy on all other surfaces.

[motoman]

The cleaner they're talking about works well. with the dialectric grease on plug-ins, not necessary to go through the ritual every season, you'll eventually create yourself problems with not as tight fitting plug-ins, etc. Back in the day when mine was new, didn't have a garage either then, just bike cover, and always covered with snow in winter. Back then, never heard of or ever had any idea electrical would ever be a problem. That cond. existed for 4 years for the poor thing, and never even removed battery. The original battery lasted 5yrs. before shorting internally(dead,dead). Once you've lubed and plugged all; those connections back together, should'nt have to touch them again.

[GNEPIG]

.. i have some pipe cleaners i'm going to try and some spray contact cleaner.. i have some that need cleaning also. i am interested to hear other peoples ideas also.

[pggg]

Dip the connecters in Coke and the corrosion fizzes off.

[kf4anm]

coke

we can always tell the people who come in for battery service that have used pop to clean their terminals. usually there is a nasty sticky mess all over everything else and the people are just beaming about pouring coke on the terminal. use hot water and baking soda for corrision removal on large areas.

[webbcraft2150]

Raid the SWMBO' cosmetic bag. I found a small nail file I cut down to fit inside the connectors, work great. Denied any knowlege of where it went when I was queried. I have also seen them at the beauty supply stores, they are better quality than the drug store ones and survive being modified. (I went ahead and bought her a new one while she was there). Itsa good thing she dosen't cruise my toolbox.

[xschop]

solder

I eliminated every connection possible in the harness plugins by splicing and soldering. I use to have the same problem with the harness I was using...

[Geezer]

I cover how to do this on my FAQ page.
http://www.OregonMotorcycleParts.com/FAQ.html

You can make a tool to pop the terminals out of the plastic plugs then you can clean them with a wire brush. My favorite tool for this is made by flattening a 1/8" pop rivet. A couple whacks on the rivet with a hammer on a concrete floor then touch it up with a file. The best part is you don't feel bad when you loose it. I've also made them from welding rod and a strip cut from a tin can.

Geezer

[randy]

I eliminated every connection possible in the harness plugins by splicing and soldering.

Golly gee, how do you change parts? Unsolder? Yikes!

[xschop]

WHO NEEDS PARTS

i HAVE HAD THIS BIKE FOR @ 5 YEARS AND HAVN'T HAD TO CHANGE A PART FROM THE HARNESS YET, EXCEPT THE DIGITAL L.E.D. FLASHER, WHICH HAD TO RECONFIGURE THE TERMINALS ANYWAY. THE XS11 PARTS WERE BUILT TO LAST DON'T FORGET.

[mainlylinux]

Re: solder

I'm going to do this too. If I had the extra money I'd buy those nifty weatherpak connectors and use those, but at this point that's a luxury. I found that the wires going to my alternator were damaged at the connector, they looked burned like resistance had built up and they overheated. The white connector is now toast (melted with holes in it).

Anybody here ever personally change to an external alternator? I've heard that the '87 suzuki samurai alternator is a very popular substitute on racecars and airplanes....

Dan

Originally posted by xschop
I eliminated every connection possible in the harness plugins by splicing and soldering. I use to have the same problem with the harness I was using...

[xschop]

white toast

hey linux, it sounds like you have or have had a shorting problem in your electrics at some point. this is usually a symptom. If you replace that wire, go with the same gauge wire and same fuse amperages to play it safe...chop