Soldering Tips?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 1
From: St Louis, MO
He is right about 25W not being much power, but don't dip the tip in the flux. That will just cross contaminate and cook your flux. Take lint free tissue and clean the tip off before each time you use it and then add the small amount of solder to the tip. If you don't have lint free tissues, take paper towels and fold them up and wet them. Use this to clean the tip. The tip should be clean and silver looking each time you use it. You shouldn't have cooked on flux on the tip.
The Stahl adjustable soldering station is variable from 5-40W, which is good for this kind of work.
The Stahl adjustable soldering station is variable from 5-40W, which is good for this kind of work.
Last edited by greenstreetbob; May 20, 2011 at 01:56 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,434
Likes: 6,369
From: Honah Lee
Did not read all this so here may be repeats. Most heat sink is fairly thin. I wrap with electrical tape and heat sink over it. If I know it's realy going to catch the weather I dab a bit of rtv in both ends to seal it from dirt. Depending on the crud, over time you can get minor voltage drains if its wet. FXD2003 must be an air craft mechanic or build Nuclear submarines, he's good?
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 20, 2011 at 10:11 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
I used to use the cheapies and absolutely hated soldering. Now I've got access to an industrial one at work and it's so easy, The full industrial ones might be too expensive, but I'm sure they've got temperature controlled ones that consumers can buy.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
All very good suggestions. One problem with motorcycle wires is that they get wet. Shrink wrap will not seal the solder joint from moisture and, in fact, will hold moisture and cause corrosion. Always a good idea to use shrink wrap in areas that are subject to abrasion but I seal the connection with liquid tape before overlaying with shrink wrap. This provides a moisture proof seal similar to the original plastic coating and helps prevent corrosion problems.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
Do not twist or hook your wires in any way. Tin your wires then solder them together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE0pb...e_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE0pb...e_gdata_player
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Do not twist or hook your wires in any way. Tin your wires then solder them together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE0pb...e_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE0pb...e_gdata_player
Unless I have to fit them through a smaller opening I usually put the wires next to each other and twist them together (Like a Y). Then solder, then I put a zip tie on the wires so that any pulling stress goes to the zip tie and not the solder joint.
Then, after that I usually do two layers of heat shrink. It's not as pretty as the original wire, but it's stout and make a good electrical connection that won't come apart if the wires are pulled on.
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