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Bugeye wiper motor wire gauge?

ichthos

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The PO did a poor job of soldering a wire from the "can" to the motor in my windshield motor and will have to be replaced. Can someone tell me what gauge/color wire was used originally? Also, does anyone know what color the "can" was originally? Thanks for your help.
Kevin
 
Mine's pretty deteriorated, which means it's probably original. Looks like it was some shade of red. It's fairly heavy, maybe 24 gauge stranded, but 16 gauge should be more than enough, and easier to deal with.
 
Was braded wire.

The can was plated zink just like the plate that holds it down.
 
Kevin

I'll send you a correct piece of wire with the bolt tomorrow.
 
Thanks so much Ray. Thanks for the information too, Jack. I am afraid painting the "can" and hold down plate silver are all I can afford right now. Once I get this on the road and get it working correctly, I plan on going back to make corrections. For now I need to just get out there and drive or I will lose my enthusiasm on this project.
Kevin
 
Use Hammered Nickel, looks really right. Ace Hardware.
 
Sarastro said:
Mine's pretty deteriorated, which means it's probably original. Looks like it was some shade of red. It's fairly heavy, maybe 24 gauge stranded, but 16 gauge should be more than enough, and easier to deal with.

I meant 14 gauge, of course.

Mine is definitely stranded, not braided. Did they really use braided wire at one point? I've never seen an insulated, braided single-conductor wire. But nothing Lucas did would surprise me.
 
I stand corrected stranded not braded. But that would work fine. The idea is that it does not stress and break with a bit of movement needed to adjust the wipers park position. Overkill but hay.
 
Even Lucas would never use solid wire :nonono:
 
I can understand why one would use stranded wire, because it would make it easy to move (a needed criteria here) but why would you use braided wire? Does it make any difference as far as electricity or safety goes?
Kevin
 
No difference as far as electricty is concerned, maybe it is a bit more expensive than stranded.
 
Braided wire is flexible like stranded, but the braiding keeps individual conductors in place, as there is no insulation do do that. It's used in places where you don't need or want insulation, such as the engine-to-chassis ground strap. Stranded is just as flexible, and the conductors are held in place by insulation.

The only place I've seen braided insulated wire is in coaxial cable. That consists of an inner conductor surrounded by insulation, then a braided sleeve, and an outer insulating jacket. The braided part has to be flexible but must stay in place when bent and of course in fabrication.
 
Oh, had not thought of that, thanks.
 
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