Author Topic: I'm rehabbing handlebar switches and looking for a special wrap for the leads  (Read 823 times)

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Offline grcamna2

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I've been digging through my parts and finally found a couple pieces/halves to build some complete switches.The one Honda switch top has the white wire for the low-beam which un-soldered from the mini-board plus you know how they are to remove them from the handlebars..:that outer black plastic tube that goes inside that surrounds the wires get's real hard and makes it tough to pull them from inside the bars.
 I cut all the black tube off and even removed the small diameter black tube where the pack of wires are glued together with clear glue,just before it feeds into the switch casting:had to do it to remove them all from the upper casting including the red kill switch's black/white wires and now all the wires are unbound. I soldered the white wire back onto the board,it's holding well.
I would like to ask if there is a special type wire wrap material similar to what they use when they built our vintage Honda wiring main harness:they must have been very talented to wrap those main harnesses because that special black plastic 'wrap' has no adhesive and stays together through 'hell and high water' as some of you members have seen.I have used just electric tape before(I don't like how the adhesive degrades over time) and then I have used shrink wrap on the switch wires before.This time I want to use a nice 'factory look' type of thin wrap if one is available.Have you heard of a product like that ?
« Last Edit: January 10, 2021, 10:28:46 PM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
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Offline dave500

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we used to use a tape called "iso bond"or something,its not sticky but stretchy,you pull it winding tight then in time it sort of bonds together,we used it on external cable tv connections(i used to be a cable guy!)it has a plastic backing you peel off as you go.

Offline grcamna2

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we used to use a tape called "iso bond"or something,its not sticky but stretchy,you pull it winding tight then in time it sort of bonds together,we used it on external cable tv connections(i used to be a cable guy!)it has a plastic backing you peel off as you go.

Dave,that seems like just what I need  8) You try it on your Honda wiring ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline dave500

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no i just use tape!

Offline flatlander

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search for self sealing or self amalgamating tape. that's what the stuff is called that dave describes.

Offline Alan F.

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Dave500's description sounds like "silicone tape" that I'd heard of several years back. If you Google it there are plenty of brands available. Here's a video of the Permatex branded version, around 1:20 in is where I spotted the backing that Dave500 mentioned and the light bulb went on over my head.



« Last Edit: January 11, 2021, 09:15:10 AM by Alan F. »

Offline grcamna2

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Alan F.,that is some powerful Permatex self-sealing tape;I might get some to take with me on a trip and use it as a bandage in case I get a severe laceration,etc.I think it's over-kill though for using it to wrap my handlebar switch wire harnesses.Do you know if there's a vintage motorcycle supply that sells mainly electrical wire connectors and oem style(non-adhesive) tape that will closely match our vintage Honda wiring harness? I like to make it look as close to oem Honda as possible. Anyone use it before and will you share your experiences with it and pics plus have a connection to them ?
thanks,Bill
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Alan F.

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Understood. I just took a look for nonadhesive electrical tape and came up with this:

https://www.amazon.com/Factory-Electrical-Adhesive-Harness-Friction/dp/B06Y2KDQRN

Offline grcamna2

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Ahh,friction tape,interesting
There may be a way I can wrap that around the harness with tension and put a spot of clear adhesive here & there on the wires to tie them together in key areas.. you've got me thinking. Plus that add says 'factory harness tape' which is what I want  :)
« Last Edit: January 11, 2021, 07:12:01 PM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Alan F.

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I'm glad it might be useful, I'd almost think hot glue would do the trick. This stuff seems to be what was used when these harnesses were first made. I noticed it comes in several different widths if that helps.

Offline Don R

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 I got some sleeve material from vintage connections, it works well for the visible parts. I like silicone spray for handlebar wire lube, I fish a pull wire through first, then it's part pulling and part pushing.
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Offline 70CB750

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Prokop
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Offline grcamna2

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I looked at vintage connections and even they sell "fusing silicone tape" plus other choices.I like the idea of the tape best.Thanks guys.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline 70CB750

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I used Nashua tape to fix radiator on Grand Cherokee in Colorado and it held all the way to Virginia from there - via Tombstone and Grand Canyon in July.
Prokop
_______________
Pure Gas - find ethanol free gas station near you

I love it when parts come together.

Dorothy - my CB750
CB750K3F - The Red
Sidecar


CB900C

2006 KLR650

Offline grcamna2

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I used Nashua tape to fix radiator on Grand Cherokee in Colorado and it held all the way to Virginia from there - via Tombstone and Grand Canyon in July.

Prokop,was it the radiator hose,or radiator itself? Did the heat help seal it ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline 70CB750

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I used Nashua tape to fix radiator on Grand Cherokee in Colorado and it held all the way to Virginia from there - via Tombstone and Grand Canyon in July.

Prokop,was it the radiator hose,or radiator itself? Did the heat help seal it ?

Top row of an aluminum radiator.   The tape sticks to itself and stays where you put it.
Prokop
_______________
Pure Gas - find ethanol free gas station near you

I love it when parts come together.

Dorothy - my CB750
CB750K3F - The Red
Sidecar


CB900C

2006 KLR650

Offline grcamna2

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I used Nashua tape to fix radiator on Grand Cherokee in Colorado and it held all the way to Virginia from there - via Tombstone and Grand Canyon in July.

Prokop,was it the radiator hose,or radiator itself? Did the heat help seal it ?

Top row of an aluminum radiator.   The tape sticks to itself and stays where you put it.

Excellent  8)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.