Loose trigger wire (starter motor)

[tomsneade]

Hi folks, I have a T 25 1985 diesel 1600 van. Quite frequently I have to reconnect the trigger wire (which works it's way off it's pin during a journey) to get her going again. I have been told that I need to have it stripped back and replaced. Is this a simple job that can be done at home, or do I need to pay garage fees ? And, where might I buy one of these connections ? Hope this makes sense, and thanks very much in advance for any advice offered. Tom. (The sun has come out !)

[Ian Hulley]

It's a simple job, just make sure that you cut the cable back to good copper wire and that you put a heatshrink sleeve on the cable before crimping the yellow 6mm female terminal on, that way you heatshrink it over the terminal once it's crimped and you never need to worry about it again. If the cable is cut back too short you may have to solder a new piece in and heatshrink sleeve that too.

* I would disconnect the battery just to be safe

Ian

[tomsneade]

Thanks very much, Ian. Where might I buy one of these "Thingies" and what should I ask for ? ....Sorry, I ain't NO mechanic !

[Ian Hulley]

This .. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-2-mm-4-8-mm ... 5d34137ba9 is heatshrink sleeve ... you slide it along the cable, crimp the terminal on, slide the heatshrink sleeve along so it covers the join between cable and terminal and waft a small blow torck over it and as it's name suggests it shrinks tightly over the cable preventing water ingress and also insulating cable joints.

Ian

[tomsneade]

Thanks again, Ian....If I do have a blowtorch, would a cig lighter do the same job ?....If not, I think that I will have to take it to van hospital !...sorry for being a bother, but If I can do it myself, you will have saved me s**t loads of ££££'s !

[Oldiebut goodie]

I use a cigarette lighter all the time for shrink tubing. Ideally that spade needs coating in vaseline and then having a larger piece of shrink tubing putting over the whole thing as it is in a very exposed position. The shrink tubing also helps in mitigating the effects of vibration between the wire and the solid spade which can lead to work hardening of the wire and subsequent breakage of same.

[tomsneade]

Ta very much for your help !....I'll give it a go.

[Ian Hulley]

I use a cigarette lighter all the time for shrink tubing.

Yep, I have a small blowtorch but as Mr Oldie say's cig lighter or gas cooker lighter would do just as well.

[colinthefox]

All the above is true.................and it is very important to tie both cables (trigger and the big fat one) to the body of the solenoid with a big Zip-tie.

That prevents the vibrations from hardening the terminals on the solenoid, and presumably also prevents the problem you had initially. In fact, it might be all you need to do.