|
HBFL
|
 |
« on: July 12, 2019, 06:33:15 PM » |
|
This has been on my mind for some time. After seeing the resurgence of the “crisis averted” thread, I checked my 99 I/S 75,000 mi solenoid connection and 30 A fuse, it all looked great. Even though it’s buried behind the I/S massive bundles of connectors it’s gotta run hot. Never looked bf. So I hit it all with contact cleaner and I will buff the white residue off the spades with some fine sandpaper and crimp the female connectors just a tad, but to dielectric or not? I’m inclined not since after 20 years they are in such good shape. I used to drown all my bikes connections in dielectric but after reading up it on this forum and others, it’s not always recommended on connectors. It’s beyond my pay grade the explanations. Just curious, I haven’t been applying it for some time. Just cleaning, sanding, and tightening. Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16775
upstate
South Carolina
|
|
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2019, 06:45:35 PM » |
|
I checked it on my 97 for the first time a few years ago. It was as
you describe, a little residue, but mostly in good shape. I cleaned it
up and put it back like it was. I think dielectric grease is for keeping
water out of a cover, but not for applying directly to the electrical
conductors...
-Mike
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
WintrSol
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2019, 07:02:10 PM » |
|
Dielectric grease will help keep moisture out, but you may not want to coat the contacts with it; rather, put it where the connector comes together at the base of the contacts, so it will squeeze into the gap. That will help keep whatever residue you found, off of the contact faces.
Rather than use sandpaper, I would use a bit of the back side of some thin leather; the sandpaper can leave bits of grit embedded in the surface. After leather, un-coated cardboard, like the inside of a small box would be my next choice. Dampen either with the contact cleaner first.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
98 Honda Valkyrie GL1500CT Tourer
Photo of my FIL Jack, in honor of his WWII service
|
|
|
|
HBFL
|
|
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2019, 07:07:50 PM » |
|
Great. Thanks for the feedback.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
da prez
|
|
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2019, 08:01:37 AM » |
|
Dia-electric creates an air tight electrical connection. I use it and it works.
da prez
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Grandpot
Member
Posts: 630
Rolling Thunder South Carolina Chapter 1
Fort Mill, South Carolina
|
|
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2019, 10:55:51 AM » |
|
Dielectric grease works well on 12V systems that are either on or off, like our Valkyries. There are problems when you have a 5V system such as a Can-bus. The Can-bus is very sensitive. This is especially true when there is a potentiometer in the circuit, such as a Throttle Position Sensor on a fuel injected system. It transmits a varying voltage between 0 and 5V. Dielectric grease will cause a problem there.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
 Experience is recognizing the same mistake every time you make it. |
|
|
MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2019, 12:17:31 PM » |
|
Dielectric grease is an ANTI-connector. It blocks electric flow. I put it on the contacts of the fuse panel on Deerslayer and it started a fire. Oops. More reading and I discovered you use it to seal off the area where there are connectors, AFTER the connection is made. Blocks air and moistore from corroding the connection. I still use regular grease on the contacts when I replace incandecent bulbs like in a trailer. Never caused a problem with that and it still keeps the contacts from corroding. Use dielectric grease carefully and correctly.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
|
|
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2019, 02:14:29 PM » |
|
Dielectric grease is an ANTI-connector. It blocks electric flow. I put it on the contacts of the fuse panel on Deerslayer and it started a fire. Oops. More reading and I discovered you use it to seal off the area where there are connectors, AFTER the connection is made. Blocks air and moistore from corroding the connection. I still use regular grease on the contacts when I replace incandecent bulbs like in a trailer. Never caused a problem with that and it still keeps the contacts from corroding. Use dielectric grease carefully and correctly.
+1 |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing   |
|
|
|
HBFL
|
|
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2019, 04:54:53 PM » |
|
Yeah the more I research it’s not recommended directly on the contact surfaces. However as a seal on the edges of the plastic connectors it keeps moisture and dirt out. It’s s also described as an insulator. Useful on the spark plug boots where contact is made with the porcelain on the plug. It prevents arcing to nearby metallic surfaces.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
98valk
|
|
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2019, 05:47:31 PM » |
|
dielectric grease is basically silicone grease, % can change per manufactuer and usage. silicone does not transmit electricity and is very good at it. higher voltage capacity wires are many times made with silicone outer casings, one common example is spark plug wires.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: July 13, 2019, 06:18:01 PM by 98valk, (aka CA) »
|
Logged
|
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
|
|
|
|
..
|
|
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2019, 06:20:15 AM » |
|
Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
|
|
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2019, 06:37:19 AM » |
|
Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?
Petroleum based greases will eventually destroy wire insulation and plastic connectors, so no. Silicone based greases are safe for rubbers and plastics. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
|
|
rws
Member
Posts: 104
1997 Valkyrie Tourer
North Dakota
|
|
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2019, 07:13:12 AM » |
|
as stated previously put the dielectric grease on after making electrical connections
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: July 15, 2019, 08:37:37 AM by rws »
|
Logged
|
Original VRCC Member Number 697
1997 Honda Valkyrie Tourer - 2019 Honda CRF450L - 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT
|
|
|
|
98valk
|
|
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2019, 07:20:20 AM » |
|
Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?
grease is "Oil" held in suspension via various thickeners. So over time and/or higher temps, the oil will come out of suspension leaving a mess. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
|
|
|
|
98valk
|
|
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2019, 07:21:54 AM » |
|
Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?
Petroleum based greases will eventually destroy wire insulation and plastic connectors, so no. Silicone based greases are safe for rubbers and plastics. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
|
|
|
|
..
|
|
« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2019, 07:46:29 AM » |
|
Thanks. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Paladin528
|
|
« Reply #16 on: July 16, 2019, 09:00:27 AM » |
|
Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike) also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
98valk
|
|
« Reply #17 on: July 16, 2019, 09:31:05 AM » |
|
Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike) also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.
"you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact." I've had cases where this doesn't happen and usually full voltage is reduced btwn the connections if a connection is made, resulting in intermittent operation of the circuit. Had one time with a distributor cap ignition vehicle and there was a problem with reduced power at hwy speeds. It was too much dielectric grease in all spark plug connections, cleaned it up, used DG correctly and full power on hwy was back. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: July 17, 2019, 05:58:13 AM by 98valk, (aka CA) »
|
Logged
|
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
|
|
|
MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
|
|
« Reply #18 on: July 16, 2019, 01:32:20 PM » |
|
Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike) also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.
"you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact." I've had cases where this doesn't happen and usually full voltage is reduced btwn the connections if a connection is made, resulting in intermittent operation of the circuit. Had one time with a distribute cap ignition vehicle and there was a problem with reduced power at hwy speeds. It was too much dielectric grease in all spark plug connections, cleaned it up, used DG correctly and full power on hwy was back. Right. And I had a fire by doing this. Bad idea. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
|
|
« Reply #19 on: July 16, 2019, 07:54:27 PM » |
|
Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike) also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.
For most connectors this is not the case. They either don't fit tight enough or you reduce the surface area of the metal to metal contact. Either way, you create either a non-conductive state or a high-resistance connection. Poor connections and elevated heat at the connector result. Wedge base lightbulbs seem to be the consistent exception. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
|
|
|
