What do you use to insure good electrical contact?

[pennwalk]

I have been having trouble starting the JD F525 front mower. When I turn the key I hear a click if I turn the key several times it will usually start if not I get out the jumper cables and it starts. The battery is 2 years old so I didn't think it was that. The dealer printed out a troubleshooting sheet. I was really hoping it wasn't the starter solenoid because those little jems are $175 for a gizmo the size of a shot glass. So I took the battery cables off and cleaned up every thing. I shot battery terminal cleaner on the cable ends and the terminals and contact cleaner on the wiring harness connectors. I put it all back together and it seems to be working. What can I put on the bolts and connectors to insure that they keep good electrical connection for as long as possible?

Chris

 

[DTCOOPER]

Man you could use something as simple as good thick axle grease, or buy you some electrical coating.. 3M makes a good "varnish" type of product just for this.. I sell it here at work.
I personally use the axle grease method..

 

[Dmace]

Di-electric grease, although it won't solve your clicking issue, that is either a dying battery or starter solenoid.

 

[pennwalk]

I was remembering the old day when we used to try to fix computers. Sometimes socketed chips would act up when the sockets would corrode. there was a contact enhancer liquid that would fix you up. I hoped there was something you could spray on and fix up the electrical connections.

Apparently the starter solenoid wants all 12 volts. After I got everything cleaned up it started.

Chris

 

[kennyd]

For connectors and sockets I use dielectric grease or "bulb grease" as it's called at some auto parts stores. I also put it on the trailer connector on the truck. ANYTIME I replace a bulb, or open a connector it get coated with the grease. For battery terminals I use the spray's mention above. The axle grease method works but is messy and attracts dirt.

 

[jimmysisson]

Plain old vaseline between post and connector and smeared on the clamps works pretty well. You can get little felt washers for under the terminal clamps and get some vaseline on them too. Much less corrosion away from battery.
Jim

 

[ragkar]

You had a common battery contact corrosion problem. Grease and those little pads that go on the battery terminals will help.

 

[pat32rf]

Di-electric grease and those green and red felt washers should help a lot. Make sure that you put the right washer on the right battery post as they have different chemicals in them for positive and ground. Oh, and don't saturate them with grease or you negate the anti-corrosion chemicals....

 

[the bear]

all of the above answers are correct but for the clicking problem ive got an m8950 kubota that had the same problem and all it was is a 69cent part and 25 dollar labour bill to install it i would have done it myself but i was planning to get the starter rebuilt at a local shop when they told me what the problem was , typical problem with kubotas so if the problem continues just get the starter checked out with s dealer you trust

 

[DMW]

When using the dielectric grease, apply it after the electrical connnection has been made to produce a seal around it. For spade type connectors I apply it before connecting them. The dielectric grease is non-conductive, so if you get enough of it between the battery post and wiring connector, you will lose the mating surface as a conductor.
AFAIK anyway,
Dennis

 

[Soundguy]

I've been doing electrical repair for a couple decades... I like to use some sort of grease on electrical connections, where possible.

In ideal conditions where I got all my stuff and it's a paying job.. Dielectric grease is nice. Though in my experience, plain old chassie grease, vasolene, and dielectric grease all work just about the same when it comes down to the brass tacks....

Soundguy

 

[joe48]

I've been doing electrical repair for a couple decades... I like to use some sort of grease on electrical connections, where possible.

In ideal conditions where I got all my stuff and it's a paying job.. Dielectric grease is nice. Though in my experience, plain old chassie grease, vasolene, and dielectric grease all work just about the same when it comes down to the brass tacks....

Soundguy

Ditto that / with an addition my dad taught me, since what causes most of the corrosion on battery terminals is the sulfuric acid fumes generated when the battery is in charge state, mix about a teaspoonful of BAKING SODA with 2 or 3 teaspoons of grease or vaseline, then apply to your battery terminals, works good on other terminals but isn't necessary.
Always go back to basics on these problems ; check and clean and grease all terminals.

 

[PILOON]

I've been doing electrical repair for a couple decades... I like to use some sort of grease on electrical connections, where possible.

In ideal conditions where I got all my stuff and it's a paying job.. Dielectric grease is nice. Though in my experience, plain old chassie grease, vasolene, and dielectric grease all work just about the same when it comes down to the brass tacks....

Soundguy

Right on!.

When I had my aircraft avionics shop, I was fortunate to meet the WD-40 rep at the time.

He told me that WD-40 was not corrosive, safe for electronics components.

With that info I cured many an old aircraft 'intermittant electronics snag' by simply liberally spraying WD-40 into connectors and 'making/breaking' the connections.

WE once had an old ('55 Cessna 310) that had miles of wire harnesses/connectors with multiple intermittant avionics snags.
Upon his instance (he literally refused to leave unless we helped him) agreed to have my man 'shotgun' a WD-40 attempt.
Note that due to the age of equipment we refused any guarantees as well as to not even attempt any unit repairs.
Also come what may he had to pay for our shop time! (all in writing!)

Well the 'shotgun WD-40' 'clean-up' worked so well that he flew from Montreal to Mexico return (on instruments)
with ALL the old equipment functioning as it should!

The WD-40 must have cured about 20 or so intermittant snags.
Bet we used 3-4 cans of spray as we'd basically flush out the connectors.

In a pinch, I also cleaned up contacts with lighter fluid and a Q-tip.

 

[PILOON]

I've been doing electrical repair for a couple decades... I like to use some sort of grease on electrical connections, where possible.

In ideal conditions where I got all my stuff and it's a paying job.. Dielectric grease is nice. Though in my experience, plain old chassie grease, vasolene, and dielectric grease all work just about the same when it comes down to the brass tacks....

Soundguy

Right on!.

When I had my aircraft avionics shop, I was fortunate to meet the WD-40 rep at the time.

He told me that WD-40 was not corrosive, safe for electronics components.

With that info I cured many an old aircraft 'intermittant electronics snag' by simply liberally spraying WD-40 into connectors and 'making/breaking' the connections.

WE once had an old ('55 Cessna 310) that had miles of wire harnesses/connectors with multiple intermittant avionics snags.
Upon his instance (he literally refused to leave unless we helped him) agreed to have my man 'shotgun' a WD-40 attempt.
Note that due to the age of equipment we refused any guarantees as well as to not even attempt any unit repairs.
Also come what may he had to pay for our shop time! (all in writing!)

Well the 'shotgun WD-40' 'clean-up' worked so well that he flew from Montreal to Mexico return (on instruments)
with ALL the old equipment functioning as it should!

The WD-40 must have cured about 20 or so intermittant snags.
Bet we used 3-4 cans of spray as we'd basically flush out the connectors.

In a pinch, I also cleaned up contacts with lighter fluid and a Q-tip.

 

[pennwalk]

Am I crazy? wouldn't you want conductive grease? Is vasaline conductive?

Chris

 

[Dmace]

Am I crazy? wouldn't you want conductive grease? Is vasaline conductive?

Chris

The grease is not to make an electrical connection, it is to prevent water, dirt and other materials/acids from getting to the connection. So, no you do not want a conductive grease.

 

[Soundguy]

Am I crazy? wouldn't you want conductive grease? Is vasaline conductive?

Chris

Spoken like a true non-electronics person!

No sweat.. penn.. just yankin yer chain..... Dmace is right.. the dielectric grease itself keeps other things from reacting with your connections, that are in metal to metal contact.. that's where the conduction occurs.. etc.

soundguy

 

[mrutkaus]

There is also the conductive grease used in household aluminum to copper connections.

Mike

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. anti electrolysis type greases are common on dissimilar metal joints.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Ford850]

I've been using Fluid Film for all these purposes. Clean up batteries and connections bright, and spray a small amount of FF on them. I squirt it into wire connectors, etc. It sort of bubbles or foams slightly, reaching nooks and crannies as is levels out. The lanolin stays put longer than oil sprays I've used too. It's not cheap and only available at JD dealers in my area, but I always keep a can on my bench now.