[Ragtop Man]

Question got buried in another forum - bringing to the top here.

Short story - improperly loomed positive battery cable and other wires that pass under the exhaust manifold to starter on my '67 GTO survivor broke and shorted, nearly caused a fire. #oldcarstuff

Ames (thank you!) has the tube but I'm not seeing the woven insulating sleeve anywhere. Mine is intact, but pretty well dried out, would like to replace while under the hood.

Is it still available someplace? I'm not seeing it. Currently assuming this is a function of asbstos now in the same hazard category as plutonium and drinking from a garden hose.

Have some summit insulating tape on the way, but would much rather use original GM (or close.)

[Shiny]

Thanks for asking, as I have this on my "to-do" list, but never found a source for what I know to be "correct" material.

On my car, and apparently many others, the positive cable is routed VERY close to the steering shaft. The factory extended the sheathing to try and reduce risk for what happened to you.

I don't know the original material, but your guess at asbestos may be correct and if so, I agree it could explain why they aren't reproduced.

In this thread - Cable Sheathing, Dadspackard posted a link to the tar-covered sheathing sold by the foot - https://www.npdlink.com/search/produ...parent=0&year=

I'm not sure this tar-impregnated material was used in the original battery cable sheathing through the tube. Pictures in the thread I linked suggest it was heavier. I've used that tar sleeve and I'm skeptical about it holding up to abrasion.

So I was looking for something "tougher", like aramid, but never bought any. I figured it was a modern alternative to asbestos, even if not correct.

Here's what I was thinking: Kevlar sleeve on eBay

How did yours fail? Or was it missing?

What do you think caused the insulation on the cable to short?

Was it just heat? If so, the temperature rating on the battery cable might also be a player in keeping this from happening.

Anyone know if factory battery cables had a high-temperature insulation? I suspect my parts-store cable may be insulated with recycled jelly beans if I'm lucky, so this thread is a good reminder to find a sleeve.

Mike

[Rachelsdad]

If it's the same tar-impregnated cloth weave as used on my '63 starter cable, Ames has that also (in three different diameters. I had to call and ask, however, as I didn't see it listed as such in the catalog or online.

[Shiny]

I know the cars are different, but do these look like tar-impregnated sleeves? They both look like heavier walls than I remember on the tar stuff.

Re-posted from the linked thread - photos from SD455DJ and Held for Ransom

[Ragtop Man]

Shiny -

Thanks for the update and info.

To answer the question, I studied the catalogs (Ames, NPD) and looked hard at the A-bodies with standard manifolds at a show over the weekend, and it would appear to me that a small clip that would normally have been held by the valve cover bolt was missing.

Thus, the small harness with the + cable and the two wires snaking down to the starter somehow managed to drape across the steering shaft. When I did a 3-point turn... felt more tug than usual and kept pulling... that completed the failure cycle. The wander in the steering is pronounced, like an old movie, so one last tug was all it needed.

Placing the order for the repro tube tonight with our hosts so I can get the rig back on the road. My sleeve may not have had tar, per se, but it may have absorbed underhood schmutz. It is still intact, but given the events of the last few days, I'd fee 100% better if I could find some sort of nomex sleeve.

The real solution is to route the cable with the RA/HO clips and retainers so the wires are not snaking down in a known hot zone.

In any case, I'd still like to find an interim solution that gave me more confidence, just got the summit tape and it doesn't look like it will be much help.

[Ragtop Man]

Originally Posted by Rachelsdad

If it's the same tar-impregnated cloth weave as used on my '63 starter cable, Ames has that also (in three different diameters. I had to call and ask, however, as I didn't see it listed as such in the catalog or online.

Thanks for the tip, I will call in the AM on that.

[Held for Ransom]

The reproduction positive cable should have the sleeve attached.

[Ragtop Man]

Ooohh running out to my 88F garage right now to check, would be great to have that off the list.

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

The reproduction positive cable should have the sleeve attached.

You're right! Thank you.

But some of us named Mike will probably buy a piece of braided sleeve before paying $150+ for a full repro set.

[tjs72lemans]

I've used a product from DEI that is a fire resistant sleeve on fuel lines before. You can buy it in certain lengths and cut it with a scissors.

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by tjs72lemans

I've used a product from DEI that is a fire resistant sleeve on fuel lines before. You can buy it in certain lengths and cut it with a scissors.

Who is DEI?

I've found both aramid and fiberglass sleeves, but generally 5-ft minimum. I like the sound of a tight-weave TechFlex aramid. Not too bad at $20 for 5 ft but it's the $11 shipping that hurts.

Summit has a lot of options for fire-resistant sleeving but not by the foot.

M&H sells a repro single positive cable with the sleeving. This is an option to me at $60 or $70 vs $30 for just the sleeve...

Ragtop Man, what did you end up with? Do you have a repro cable that includes the sleeving? If so, can you tell what it's made of?

[rwfisher]

M&H Electric Fabricators has some of the best replacement cables available. They have correct battery cables with near perfect woven protective sleeve already installed. Positive cable is $69.

https://wiringharness.com/ymm-search...carline_id=110

[Ragtop Man]

Think we can wrap this up, so to speak:

Checked my cable and sure enough, there is a heat wrap exactly where the pass thru would be for the tube.

Now I have to get out to the garage and get the pigtails out (or what's left ) and get the rest ready for the new tube from AMES.

Thanks for all the info and advice, much appreciated!

[tjs72lemans]

DEI? Design Engineering Inc. They make heat barrier/insulation sleeves, etc.

[Shiny]

What am I missing? How does this work?

I left installing a sleeve hanging, thought it would be simple.

I had some of the bituminous-impregnated woven sleeve laying around and it slipped over my battery cable just fine.

But no way was it going to slide inside the metal tube. There just isn't enough room.

My cable is 2AWG and 0.44" OD. The charging harness shares the tube with the battery cable.

Here's what I see. I can get the sleeve started into the bell but after that, it's just too tight.




Without a lift, removing the battery cable from the solenoid appears to require removing the starter. This could be done but turns slipping a sleeve down the cable from a simple task to somewhat of a project I'd like to avoid.

Is my cable too big, the sleeve too big (I think it is 3/8" size) or does it really require disassembly and an effort to push the sleeved cable into that tube?

Is there an "easy" way to do this? Any magic tools/techniques?

I have zero motivation to spend $80+ on a repro cable just to get a protective sleeve installed.

Aargghhh

[Shiny]

I wasn't going to pull the starter for this. I decided to be happily lazy instead.

I loosened the tube and wrassled the sleeve down about an inch and a half before I gave up.

Close enough until it's not.

Hopefully the cable jacket will never melt through. If it does, I guess I'll pull the starter and do this right.

[Cammer-6]

Originally Posted by tjs72lemans

I've used a product from DEI that is a fire resistant sleeve on fuel lines before. You can buy it in certain lengths and cut it with a scissors.

Was going to also suggest them

[Shiny]

I tried to find some kevlar/aramid sleeve but most are yellow/natural colored. I finally found one that was black and sold in small lengths so ordered 1/2". It was way too big and VERY flexible so didn't work. Was also VERY difficult to cut. That is tough stuff. I tried to find it in 3/8" but struck out. I can find it in 1/4", which might expand enough, but held off for now.

I did order a black-colored braided fiberglass sleeve that might fit (Tech-Flex Insultherm) from a company that sells it by the foot. It is impregnated with a black acrylic and will be a thin wall. I will see if it can be shoved down the tube any easier... it may be similar to the DEI material you are referencing:

https://cdn.techflex.com/assets/pdfs/catalog/fgn.pdf

A lot of these fiberglass products have a silicone coating. This would stiffen it up but the gloss would bother me.

The "original" style is apparently a cotton/poly blend that has been coated or impregnated by a "bituminous" resin. All I know is the wall thickness is too large for me to install easily without removing the cable, which for me means removing the starter. I may end up stepping up and doing this. Not such a big deal but I'd rather not.

What is the outer diameter of an original positive battery cable? Maybe it was smaller than mine?

Mike

[misterp266]

Try CE Auto Electric Supply.

https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/pro...wire-covering/

[Region Warrior]

Cloth woven tape ok from except near high heat.
Go to professional pumping store get roll of 1/8th thick sticky rubber tape.
The foil backing type to peel off while working.
Still have a roll from 30 yrs ago works like yesterday.