About 3 years ago I installed the Kuryakyn front aux lights. I love them. The power for the lights comes by splicing into the Aux light harness inside the nacelle. The splices are quick and easy using T-taps. They clamp on the hot wire and blade contacts slip in the side.

Recently, one light went out. I thought it was the bulb, so I took the opportunity to upgrade both lights to LED's. Still, the one light wouldn't light. Then the other wouldn't. I put the meter on everything, including the headlight harness and a good 12v was everywhere. Tore apart the harness incident the nacelle and inspected the ground wires, making sure there were no cuts, breaks or anything. Only then did I see that the lights (both) would come on, but flicker as i moved wires around. Finally isolated it to the T-taps. I replaced them and everything works well again. But now I wonder if I'll have to do this gain 3 years from now.

I don't know exactly what was wrong with the T-taps. Did they corrode? Did they ultimately cut into the wire they were spliced to? I don't know. I put the new ones higher up the hot wires, so if the wires had been cut I am upstream of them.

So I'm curious of your thoughts about T-taps. To me, they don't seem like a good splicing solutions for high vibration applications like motorcycles. Thoughts?

 

They certainly can't be as reliable as a good solder joint.

 

Agreed. For a high vibe application like a bike, lots of folks sweat by crimp connections (spade and slot style connectors) over solder, too. Solder can be brittle and break. I suppose crimp can vibrate loose, too. I'm think T-taps aren't as good as either of these.

 

Personally, I avoid T-taps like the plague. With accessories, I prefer to use either spade or bullet connectors. For wiring harness (items not disconnected), I solder or use butt connectors. In all cases, I find ways to ensure it is weather proof (wire shrink wrap and/or dielectric grease).

 

POSILOCS, great product, a little expensive but they do the job. Been using them for years.
http://www.posi-products.com/posiplug.html

 

Never seen those before. They look like they would last a lifetime. I'll have to try them out.

 

Neat idea. I may seek them out, too. I'm ok with spade and butt connectors and barrels, too. Guess my concern with T-taps is justified!