Another off the wall question for my hyper resto on my "99 Standard

[mello dude]

Hey - on the 2 piece rear fender assembly - on the underside- the connector for the tailight and signals is stuffed into a kind of steel "pocket" once clicked back together...

Still, the connector and wire looks quite exposed, even in that "protective  pocket". I am inclined to seal it in some way, and debating on with what. Silicone rubber? FlexSeal tape? Flex Seal rubber? Etc?

What have you guys done?  or just left it alone?

Thanks

btw- I am about due to put all this stuff into one thread.. a whole lotta pictures and drival of story lines. But I know I still will have questions pop up and some overkill things of interest.  

[gordonv]

Not knowing too much about it, but I did part out my 1st IS after the wreck, it's in there good. The only time you might have issue is if you run a larger than stock car tire in there, along with Big Bertha and a lot of bumps on the back. Then you can almost guarantee ripping it out of there.

But to go and seal it in there? No, not worth the trouble if you ever need to get at it, and some have needed to.

Not knowing what your project is all about, but I would be more inclined to run it on the outside of the fender up under the seat.

[hubcapsc]

I remove my rear fender section each time I put on a new tire.

I unclick the connector each time, and click it back together and
stuff it back in the little pocket each time... it seems fine at 97k ...

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

Unless you have short shocks and a tall tire, that area was well engineered by Honda.

I have a Valk with 117K and another with 97K and no issues there, both C/T.

I'd leave it be.

[Bagger John - #3785]

The connector is a weatherproof unit. As long as its seal is intact, there's no issue with water ingress.

Later-model Harleys use a similar (Deutsch) type of connector and they're pretty robust.

[SPOFF]

Don't mess with something that works. My rear fender has been unplugged/plugged many times and it is still works perfect after 21 years.

[RonW]

..... the connector and wire looks quite exposed, even in that "protective  pocket". I am inclined to seal it in some way, and debating on with what. Silicone rubber? FlexSeal tape? Flex Seal rubber? Etc?

Perhaps, I'm mis-understooding, but are you missing the gasket on your fender?

[mello dude]

Hi - I am refering to the connector on the underside of the fender - goes together at the "2halfs" area. Not at all talking about the brake lite or turn signals....

Actually the connector looks great, its the ~ 22 gauge wires going into the connect that give me pause.
Then the "pocket" looks like it doesnt do much... .

[Hook#3287]

Hi - I am refering to the connector on the underside of the fender - goes together at the "2halfs" area. Not at all talking about the brake lite or turn signals....

Actually the connector looks great, its the ~ 22 gauge wires going into the connect that give me pause.
Then the "pocket" looks like it doesnt do much... .

Not being able to ask the Honda Engineers why they did, what they did, my guess is that "pocket" is to hold the connector in place against the fender and away from the rear tire, which it does most excellent.  About the only change I would make is to wrap the wires in fresh electrical tape.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hi - I am refering to the connector on the underside of the fender - goes together at the "2halfs" area. Not at all talking about the brake lite or turn signals....

Actually the connector looks great, its the ~ 22 gauge wires going into the connect that give me pause.
Then the "pocket" looks like it doesnt do much... .

Not being able to ask the Honda Engineers why they did, what they did, my guess is that "pocket" is to hold the connector in place against the fender and away from the rear tire, which it does most excellent.  About the only change I would make is to wrap the wires in fresh electrical tape.

Or some heavy duty shrink tube

[mello dude]

Hi - I am refering to the connector on the underside of the fender - goes together at the "2halfs" area. Not at all talking about the brake lite or turn signals....

Actually the connector looks great, its the ~ 22 gauge wires going into the connect that give me pause.
Then the "pocket" looks like it doesnt do much... .

Not being able to ask the Honda Engineers why they did, what they did, my guess is that "pocket" is to hold the connector in place against the fender and away from the rear tire, which it does most excellent.  About the only change I would make is to wrap the wires in fresh electrical tape.

Or some heavy duty shrink tube

Shrink tube would have been a no brainer if the connector was apart, but its not. So for now, I have decided to seal the open wire end of the connector with some silicone, and then keep working on getting this project done! -- 4 years and counting... 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hi - I am refering to the connector on the underside of the fender - goes together at the "2halfs" area. Not at all talking about the brake lite or turn signals....

Actually the connector looks great, its the ~ 22 gauge wires going into the connect that give me pause.
Then the "pocket" looks like it doesnt do much... .

Not being able to ask the Honda Engineers why they did, what they did, my guess is that "pocket" is to hold the connector in place against the fender and away from the rear tire, which it does most excellent.  About the only change I would make is to wrap the wires in fresh electrical tape.

Or some heavy duty shrink tube

Shrink tube would have been a no brainer if the connector was apart, but its not. So for now, I have decided to seal the open wire end of the connector with some silicone, and then keep working on getting this project done! -- 4 years and counting... 

You've been working on this bike for 4 years ? I wouldn't have worried about the connector, as long as it's together and tucked up in that box you are good.

[mello dude]

You've been working on this bike for 4 years ?[/quote]

Should clarify.. Its been apart 4 years.  Quite a few months of just sitting....  But its a combination of "while I'm at its" , a job layoff and no bucks for parts,  and life gets in the way thing.. and I am sooo damn picky...  

[SPOFF]

Should clarify.. Its been apart 4 years.  Quite a few months of just sitting....  But its a combination of "while I'm at its" , a job layoff and no bucks for parts,  and life gets in the way thing.. and I am sooo damn picky...  

I'm working on a similar "frame-up" restore project, but my Bumblebee only been apart since early June. The most time consuming part is the cleaning. After 21 years I want the Valk to look like a brand-new bike. The last few parts should arrive in the mail this week.     I better hurry, the 8-month New Hampshire winter is approaching.

And don't feel too bad, my KLR was apart 6 years. I put it together this Spring and suddenly I had a "new" low mileage motorcycle. I actually had to relearn how to ride a dual-sport.

[mello dude]

I am in a simular "mess" but with chroming many of the parts.

A tip-- If you have the frame out, detail it with the coating attached. (wow) the black just "pops" and frame looks awesome. I have used it on other areas of the bike too.

https://www.autogeek.net/pinnacle-wheel-coating.html