A rodent nested and gnawed on my main wire harness

[Kluski]

Unfortunately I have to park under a car port instead of a garage. However I do cover the bike. But I put it away on last Sunday and with a break in the rain this past weekend I pulled the cover off and found a nest under my seat. Cleaning it out I saw the bastard gnawed on some wires connected to the Deutsch connector. All of them have the insulation stripped off.

The wires are stripped right next to the connector. So, is it ok to cut the wires back and splice a new piece on and attach them to the connector or am I better off buying a whole new harness? If I have to replace the whole harness, what is truely involved? I looked in my Clymer manual and did not see much about completely removing and replacing the harness.

[gruss]

if you have the room, make the repair, but i would suggest a solder connection with heat shrink at a minimum....its the only way to avoid problems down the road.....g

[Lucky Chucky]

Man I hate them little varments! Very distructive!

[Dave63]

If you decide on a new harness, that can be covered under your comprehensive insurance, if you have full coverage on your bike. Act of God....

You'll still have a deductable, but that's gonna be cheaper then a harness and installation.

[Kluski]

Originally Posted by gruss

if you have the room, make the repair, but i would suggest a solder connection with heat shrink at a minimum....its the only way to avoid problems down the road.....g

Thanks I would do it right (NOT using butt splices and a little tape). Just more curious if even a good job is bad in the long run.

I did not think of inurance. I'll check on that too. I like to do the work myself, but looking at it, it seems like one of those tasks that is harder than it seems. However wiring a new connector is a lot easier.

As far as varments, maybe I can get hold of Bill Murray (caddyshack). I do know I have my fair share with squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, groundhogs, rabbit, coyotes, cats, wild turkeys, falcons, and deer (thats only what I have seen so far). But I have ruled the deer out of this situation.

[gruss]

Originally Posted by Kluski

Thanks I would do it right (NOT using butt splices and a little tape). Just more curious if even a good job is bad in the long run.

I did not think of inurance. I'll check on that too. I like to do the work myself, but looking at it, it seems like one of those tasks that is harder than it seems. However wiring a new connector is a lot easier.

As far as varments, maybe I can get hold of Bill Murray (caddyshack). I do know I have my fair share with squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, groundhogs, rabbit, coyotes, cats, wild turkeys, falcons, and deer (thats only what I have seen so far). But I have ruled the deer out of this situation.

have wired " many " electrical connections in the solder/heat shrink fashion, and if done right, they are as good as, or better than a factory connection.....remember most of the connectors are made in uh.......well lets just say most arent domestic in nature. the repair will be forever if done correctly.....g

[Rockerbox1]

Originally Posted by gruss

have wired " many " electrical connections in the solder/heat shrink fashion, and if done right, they are as good as, or better than a factory connection.....remember most of the connectors are made in uh.......well lets just say most arent domestic in nature. the repair will be forever if done correctly.....g

[scol]

Next time place dryer sheet on bike Badass taught me that one and it works.

[Kluski]

Dryer sheet... Thanks for the tip. I want to find a little shed, but need to scrap together some $$.

[Rockerbox1]

probably cheaper to just enclose your car port