Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club
June 21, 2025, 02:21:14 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Ultimate Seats Link VRCC Store
Homepage : Photostash : JustPics : Shoptalk : Old Tech Archive : Classifieds : Contact Staff
News: If you're new to this message board, read THIS!
 
MarkT Exhaust
Pages: [1]   Go Down
Send this topic Print
Author Topic: Was having intermittent radio on my I/S so went searching.  (Read 950 times)
John Schmidt
Member
*****
Posts: 15202


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« on: February 26, 2021, 09:46:34 PM »

I've been working on the wiring harness, adapting my HD controls to it after swapping the bars and front calipers as a unit off the old bike to the trike. I thought it may have been a result of that work but could find nothing I did cured it so continued my search. Since I have the speaker pods off(speakers pods tied up so still connected) I began checking connectors and found the culprit. The radio control connector internals were thickly covered with dielectri grease. I ended up using some carb cleaner to spray on both halves of the connector, used an old toothbrush to remove as much as possible, then blew it out with my air hose. I then applied a light coat to the outside of the internal half of the connector to seal it, then snapped it together. Turned on the radio, ran it up and down the bands, wiggled and pulled on wires as before which had caused the problem. Result....no problems, no longer intermittent reception. With that discovery, I started checking other connectors and found much the same problem...loaded with grease on the contacts. I took the time to clean them all even though it interrupted the current project. I'll never understand why people continue to apply a grease directly to the contacts, grease that by its very name tells you it's NOT a conductor and not meant to be used in that manner.  uglystupid2
Logged

Ramie
Member
*****
Posts: 1318


2001 I/S St. Michael MN


« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2021, 02:21:56 PM »

But it's electrical grease John.  I once had a QA inspector at a missile site try to convince me I had to put grease BETWEEN to critical electrical connections to protect them.  That's when I decided I wasn't going to reup.
Logged

“I am not a courageous person by nature. I have simply discovered that, at certain key moments in this life, you must find courage in yourself, in order to move forward and live. It is like a muscle and it must be exercised, first a little, and then more and more.  A deep breath and a leap.”
Grandpot
Member
*****
Posts: 630


Rolling Thunder South Carolina Chapter 1

Fort Mill, South Carolina


« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2021, 03:17:46 PM »

Dielectric grease is useful on circuits that are either On or Off.  Such as 12V or 0V.  When used on an analog circuit where the voltage varies between 12V and 0V, it can cause problems.  When contacts or terminals are tight, the grease is pushed out and there is metal to metal contact. The grease that is pushed out protects the connection from corrosion. Again, don't use it on an analog circuit.
Logged

crazy2 Experience is recognizing the same mistake every time you make it.crazy2
Mooskee
Member
*****
Posts: 559


Southport NC


WWW
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2021, 10:12:35 AM »

If you want to use something that will enhance the electrical connection, use Stabilant 22. It is expensive but an outstanding product used in many industries to enhance electrical connections. We used it in Nuclear power on card edge connectors in the control room.
Logged

Valkyrie Carbs and Custom www.valkyriecarbsandcustom.com
Pages: [1]   Go Up
Send this topic Print
Jump to: