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What you did to your Tenere today??!!

SHUMBA

SHUMBA

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Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
Sierra1 said:
I'm not going to say you're wrong. I've never used it in a switch application. I use it all the time with connections that might/will get wet to prevent water entry.
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Hmmm, you have given me some food for thought.
I did a self install for three LED lights on my Tenere to increase my primarily daytime conspicuity.
However; on two occasions, one, I rode in moderate rain and the relay I used in conjunction with a dedicated plug coupled into the bike's aux plug stuck in the on position and I was unable to turn off my aux lights. Only option I had was to cut the wires just shy of each light.
Later on in the car wash, that I do myself by hand, I noticed the aux LED lights were on, although faintly burnt enough to drain the battery
I was close to home (fortunately) and recognized it was another relay failure. Sure enough, when I unplugged the relay the lights went off. I have since put a relay of a different brand and all is working well, at least until the next rainy day or carwash/bikewash.
So perhaps some dielectric grease on all of my SHUMBA electrical connections.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk
 
SkunkWorks

SkunkWorks

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Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,769
Location
Colorado
Kyle_E said:
WD40 should not be used for that application. Its awesome for cleaning stuff, but it draws moisture and causes rust long term.
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Although I've never used it in electrical connections, it does NOT draw moisture or cause things to rust...............actually the opposite is true. It's right there in the name.
"WD40" stands for: Water-Displacement, formula number-40
I use it in locks and things like that to keep them from sticking or freezing up due to water entry. (especially in the winter)
 
Sierra1

Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
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14,940
Location
Joshua TX
Oh yeah, I forgot...."waterproof wire nuts" are filled with "dielectric sealant". Which I interpret as grease. Also, I found that all of the light bulb sockets on my '92 Jeep were filled with dielectric grease when I started replacing bulbs. Right or wrong, I know that it's cheap....and I've NEVER had any problems when I've used it. Using the grease on battery terminals prevents corrosion. I also use WD-40 on pad locks & door locks....and my side stand plunger switch. But, I only add the grease when I disconnect, and then re-connect something.
 
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E

elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
381
Location
Ohio
Dielectric grease does two things, it keeps water intrusion at bay and stops electrical impulses from passing through it. It's fine to use in insulating metal to metal connections like a plug, it's also fine to use as a barrier as in a spark plugs boot.

WD40 is only for displacing water temporarily from metal to metal applications. It's not meant for usage with electrical applications.

Right tool, right job.
 
V

Various

Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
38
Location
UK
I've never used dielectric grease. Maybe that's why one of the connectors by my battery feels like it was welded together! I usually use Waxoyl on connectors, it looks horrible but hasn't caused me any problem for the last 33 years.

Now to tackle that stuck connector, well I've got to do something while my valve shims slowly make their way from Japan to the UK.
 
Kyle_E

Kyle_E

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Mar 3, 2019
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672
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I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide.
Cycledude said:
NEVER seen WD40 cause rust anywhere I have used it, I love it because it comes in a nice aerosol can with the straw built right on it so it’s very easy to use and does a nice job for me.
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SkunkWorks said:
Although I've never used it in electrical connections, it does NOT draw moisture or cause things to rust...............actually the opposite is true. It's right there in the name.
"WD40" stands for: Water-Displacement, formula number-40
I use it in locks and things like that to keep them from sticking or freezing up due to water entry. (especially in the winter)
Click to expand...






Now you have seen WD40 rust. Totally not the same application you are talking about in anyway. But I have seen SO MANY guns destroyed by WD40. From people thinking it is oil and "protecting" them from rust. WD40 does draw moisture its 80 something % kerosene.

Set #2 middle row 4th from left is WD40 test on surface corrosion. It did worse in the test than then control piece of steel that had no "oil" on it

These sets of boards were used as a test for popular gun "oils" (wd40 and some others in the test are not oil). Testing for surface corrosion and rust prevention. The guy would spray them once a day with water. Very few stood up to the prolonged test.
 
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elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
381
Location
Ohio
Various said:
I've never used dielectric grease. Maybe that's why one of the connectors by my battery feels like it was welded together! I usually use Waxoyl on connectors, it looks horrible but hasn't caused me any problem for the last 33 years.

Now to tackle that stuck connector, well I've got to do something while my valve shims slowly make their way from Japan to the UK.
Click to expand...
Penetrating oil, let it sit, pull it all apart, electrical cleaner and a brush if there's corrosion, just electrical cleaner if there's not (to get the oil out of every nook and cranny).
 
WJBertrand

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
WD-40, being composed of hydrophobic hydrocarbons, would not be expected to attract moisture, I have a tough time believing it does. A more likely explanation is that the stuff is fairly volatile and just does not stay around for very long to protect against moisture. In a corrosion test between completely unprotected metal and the same unprotected metal sprayed with WD-40, I would not be surprised to see there was no difference, depending on the length of the exposure. I doubt that the WD-40 treated sample would actually corrode faster (which is implied by the moisture attracting allegation), especially in a shorter exposure test.
 
C

Cycledude

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Jan 29, 2016
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4,017
Location
Rib lake wi
The inside of an electrical connector is normally not exposed to anything that will cause it to rust and inside a connector it lasts for many years. I use WD40 because it’s cheap and easy always plenty of it around my shop.
 
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elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
381
Location
Ohio
Cycledude said:
The inside of an electrical connector is normally not exposed to anything that will cause it to rust and inside a connector it lasts for many years. I use WD40 because it’s cheap and easy always plenty of it around my shop.
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Uh. I direct you to take a look at a headlight connector for an H4 bulb, or a spark plug boot, or any other number of non-sealed electrical connectors that rely on friction and metal to metal connectivity. There are, indeed, electrical connectors that are weather sealed, but there are a much greater number of them they are not. A connector that does not contain a weather seal, or is not contained within a climate controlled area, is immediately exposed to varying temperatures, humidity, and in most cases, direct road spray and other contaminants.
 
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