Soldering Sucks

[Guest]

So what is so bad about using electrical connectors. I don't know why but I have tried every soldering trick I could find on the net and all i have been left with is aggitation. The wire never gets hot enough and the heat shrink, shirnks up.... Of course if honda had made a decent electrical system we would not have to re-engineer everything....

ANYONE IN D/FW feel like stopping by and making a couple of soldering connections before I just resort to wire nuts and call it a day.... I got beer....

[roscoepc]

As you have no location posted in your profile I'm assuming you're talking Dallas/Ft. Worth area? On the higher amperage wires, crimp style connectors will simply burn and not solve the problem.

But,, in a nutshell: Clean wires! Make sure there is NO corrosion on the wires to soldered. Clean with a scotchbrite pad or sandpaper and alcohol as needed.

Twist the wires together to make a good mechanical connection.

Make sure the soldering iron tip is properley "tinned" with solder.

Touch the soldering iron tip to the wire and then apply solder to the soldering iron where it touches the connection and form a "bridge" with the solder and the wires to transfer the heat to the connection.

As the solder begins to flow into the connection remember: the solder will follow the heat!! Move the iron and solder where you want the solder to flow.

As far as the heat shrink tubing,, Have it as far from the connection as you can cuz it WILL shrink from the transfered heat when soldering!!

Also make sure you are using the proper wattage soldering iron. I'll take a look at mine tommorrow and see what it is and post it but, for right now,,,,,,,, I've got Beer also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[neoracer]

Before u start if wires appear to be tarnished take some snadpaper and clean wires up,then begin.A small hobby soldering iron will not do the job
You will need probably at least a 300W soldering iron, also get some soldering flux and use small dia solder .035 works good when the soldering iron is hot put some flux on it and then some solder, then take a moistened rag and wipe iron clean___ flux the wire to be soldered_heat and apply solder __tip for novices is to do this to each wire separately_then make a hook on each end put together and crimp and solder_takes a little longer and with practice doesn't look like a mess_ another tip is just to take a couple of small pieces of wire and practice first

[85GL1200I]

I had a friend who is an old electronics tech solder mine. Took him about 10 minutes. I can tell you that you need good quality solder and a gun that heats up fast and hot. If I remember right we taped the individual wires with 3M black tape, then covered the entire bundle with braided heat shrink (remember to slide the heat shrink on the cables BEFORE soldering!!!) and keep it well away from the splice while soldering so it doesn't start to shrink up.

Also, my friend sliced his finger open with a razor knife while trimming the wires OUCH........bled like crazy, so BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

I think most of it is HEAT.

The hottest I can find is a 260watt weller at FRY's
Or a 230 at radio shack that boast 1100 degrees F.

Reviews for the 230 include a guy saying he has soldered 4GA wire with it.

Thoughts?

[roscoepc]

I think most of it is HEAT.

Very close!! Mainly it's the TRANSFER of heat from the soldering iron tip to the wires to be soldered!! That's why it's so important to apply solder to the contact point between the iron and the wire to form a "bridge" between the 2 to transfer the heat efficiantly.

[William_86]

i use a very old soldering gun by weller. it is very easy. just clean up all the wires. cut the piece of heat shrink you will need and slice it in the wires, then just join both wires, i hold the end of the gun at the middle of both wires and then start appling solder.. also it works, if you apply the solder to the end of the soldering iron. and hold it on the wires you wanna solder, once the wires are hot enough it will just go from the soldering gun to the wires. theres a paste they sell that helps the solder to slice easy like butter!

for the heat shrink once the wires are cold, slice it over the solder and i use just a zippo lighter on it.

[MikeM]

I think most of it is HEAT.

Very close!! Mainly it's the TRANSFER of heat from the soldering iron tip to the wires to be soldered!! That's why it's so important to apply solder to the contact point between the iron and the wire to form a "bridge" between the 2 to transfer the heat efficiantly.

I agree. I use a 40 watt soldering iron (NOT gun) for 10 gage or smaller wire with no problems.

[Guest]

thanks. 40watts and .032 did the trick....

[MikeM]

thanks. 40watts and .032 did the trick....

COOL! Or should I say HOT! :lol: Either way, glad you got it fixed.

[roscoepc]

thanks. 40watts and .032 did the trick....

8) 8) 8) And now for your next trick,,,,,,,,,,,,, Timing Belt's!!!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Guest]

This pony already did the timing belt trick..... :lol:

Have had bike two months:

replaced timing belts
fixed most of the LCD segment drops
the "ignition relay" fix with the 30amp ATC fuse
the "3 yellow wires" fix
yanked tons of cluttering chrome and dismissed it on ebay.

next is to replace the E2's with a set of E3's...

and in between ride it every day :mrgreen: