old wires

stul · 16 July 2007, 21:48

Mercury 40 hp 1978
wiring in bad way some of the wires out of the ignition cdi unit are breaking off can open up this unit or is it sealed for life ?
any advice welcome
thanks Stuart

Nos4r2 · 16 July 2007, 21:59

It's sealed for life.
Is it the insulation crumbling that's the problem? If it is,try threading heatshrink over the crumbling wires and heating it. It'll make a fairly good layer of new insulation.

The insulation on one of my old mercs was falling off in my hand when I got it and heatshrinking them worked quite well.

NOTE-If you do this make sure you silicone up the end of the heatshrink to stop water getting in, and make sure the wires are in the positions you want them while you heat it. They'll go stiff after heatshrinking. and moving them isn't a good idea if you can help it.

AndrewH · 16 July 2007, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

NOTE-If you do this make sure you silicone up the end of the heatshrink to stop water getting in, and make sure the wires are in the positions you want them while you heat it. They'll go stiff after heatshrinking. and moving them isn't a good idea if you can help it.

Or use the adhesive lined heatshrink. This'll help hold the bits of the crumbling insulation together AND will give you a waterproof repair. Just make sure that you get the right size shrink so that the glue inside the h/shrink bonds all the way round the surface of old wire.

As Matt suggests, it should work a treat!

Biggles · 16 July 2007, 23:12

How do you get heat shrink over continuous wires ?

stul · 17 July 2007, 15:32

insulation is breaking up but,pulling lightly on one of the wires and it snapped ,thinking of cutting wires and soldering new wire on just after cdi sealed unit ,covering join with shrink tube?

Jizm · 17 July 2007, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

How do you get heat shrink over continuous wires ?

Only option is to cut them I'm afaid but use solder to reconnect.

Biggles · 17 July 2007, 15:34

I just thought you maybe had found an ingenious way to do it.

MikeRags · 17 July 2007, 18:13

I would give liquid electrical tape a try. Over here they sell it in hardware stores. You should be able to paint it on the wires without having to cut them. I have used a product called Plasti Dip.

http://www.plastidip.com/consumer/index.html

Limey Linda · 17 July 2007, 18:20

Mike
You beat me to that one by about 1 min. Great stuff; always got a can of it around.
T

stul · 17 July 2007, 19:17

Thanks for tips
just got from halfords shrink tube joiners ie connectors inside shrink tube,will be 90% new wires then.
stuart

bedajim · 17 July 2007, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

I just thought you maybe had found an ingenious way to do it.

RS do a flat panel that you cut and wrap around the wires then heat it to shrink it seals to its self no wire cutting

I've got to stop drinking as i remember posting this earlier but can't find it now