Continuity Kit?

[SDSeville]

While replacing my bellows, I broke a ground wire that was attached to the bell housing. The shop says that to replace it, I have to buy a an entire "continuity" kit for $23. Is there any other way to replace this wire?

 

[searay3]

Re: Continuity Kit?

Depends where it broke. If you can get to it with a small soldering iron, go to your local fastner distributor. There are shrink wrap connection insulators that have a silicone like substance in the layers of insualtion. They coast about a dollar for 6 inches of the stuff. Silp it on, slide it away for the heat of your soldering job and solder the wires together. Then slide the waterproof heatshrink over the repair and use a bic lighter or heat gun to heat the piece carefully and it will shrink around and seal the connection. I have done complete trailers that run winches with the stuff as they need to be hot while in the water to run the winch. Never had a failure. BTW, cable/electric companies use this type of connection sealer all the time in buried applications.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Continuity Kit?

All you have to do is pick up some braided stainless steel wire (i.e. from West Marine), and crimp-on some standard ring terminals on the ends. It's that simple. I did it 10 seasons ago, and it's still fine after sitting in saltwater 7 mo/year.

 

[vandentr]

Re: Continuity Kit?

^^^ +1 to what Brentathon said! ^^^ You can also find the stuff at a decent local hardware if WM is not close by...

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Continuity Kit?

I bonded all un-protected stainless steel (i.e. swim platform supports, etc.) this way. I didn't like the corrosion I was getting, and saw what one year of a poor zinc connection on my SS trim tabs could do to them.