Ha ha, okay you hooked me... Daugen, you ask for a 'minimal spec' and I will throw out UL 62275 but before you jump on that and find yourself quickly down in the weeds wondering what the **** you are doing looking up this spec I offer this:
Fist of all, I try not to mix business with pleasure and tractoring is really just a hobby for me (landscaping/maintenance on my property). And I am very recent to being a proud Kubota owner but I should add that I do not rely on my ride (as many on TBN do) for a living. Cable ties have their place as many have suggested but they are not meant for securing everything... hose clamps, spiral wrap, P clamps, and more, all have their ideal functions too of course. Funny thing here... I didn't even practice what I would preach with cable ties as I recently removed all of the factory white ties with orange ties just because they look cool and my BX seemed to be calling for them :laughing: FYI... typically orange color ties are used in aviation only as temporary ties securing flight test or other wiring meant to be removed before putting in service as they don't possess properties (just as the white ones don't) for long term use depending on operating conditions.
Improved Nylon ties... such as heat stabilized will hold up better in slightly higher temp environments, and UV resistant in sunlight conditions but these will also break down over time. People think Black means UV or heat stabilized. The color guarantees nothing. More on that in a bit.
Harsh environments, such as temperatures above 180degF, strong UV radiation, exposure to chemicals such as fuel, truly demand plastics other than Nylon of any kind. The most common of these polymers are PEEK and TEFZEL. But that said, there is no one plastic that is ideal for all conditions. Take PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) for example. Wonderful plastic exhibiting high strength and ideal for high temperature environments and has high resistance to chemicals and has high lubricity. Downside is that it has lousy resistance to UV. TEFZEL or ETFE (ethylenetetrafluoroethylene) is used in high radiation environments... think space, satellites, etc.
I could go on and on about ties with its serrations/ratching on the topside vs. the inside (against the wiring) to reduce abrasion, or special buckles at right angles to prevent pinching, etc...
But... I suppose most folks here are not willing to spend a buck or more for one plastic cable tie... so that brings us back to the common Nylon ties. Unfortunately the stuff on the shelf at your local store is limited and it is difficult to even be sure what grade of Nylon you are buying... unless you buy a name brand. There are many junk molders out there with poor process control, that advertise UV grade or heat stabilized but who knows... especially if made overseas. Molding thermoplastics is not a simple act. If you want quality and the assurance that the Nylon ties indeed have the UV resistance and or heat stabilizing fillers, then look at brands such as HellermannTyton or Thomas & Betts... probably should list Panduit as well. Also look for a UL listing... Underwriter Laboratories are pretty dang good about policing their trademark usage. You might pay around 50cents a piece for these name brands though and the reality is... drum roll.... the cheap Chinese ties are probably more than sufficient for our orange machines. I have yet to hear anyone complain about failing ties in this thread (apologies if I missed it), just long tails! I do have to say that I was more disappointed in the shoddy workmanship (lack of proper trimming) than I was about the use of 2 cent ties. Honestly, how many of us would be willing to spend $25 or more on the purchase price of our tractor if there was an optional upgrade to Black UV ties???
this topic is a good example of the engineering detail that goes into what at first seems like a simple item.
