Melted Wires

[DanNagy]

Dear all,

I had a very slight electrical fire in my TR6 a few weeks go and was going to order the wiring harness next week. I won't connect the battery cable until this gets done, so need to figure out what to do. Does anyone have a recommendation? I see both VBL and RF has them, but has anyone installed either? It's too much money to put out without getting some advice.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Guest]

NFI and all that, but this seems strangely apropos.

wiring harness experience

 

[Tinster]

Dan-

Try the folks at british Wiring:

https://www.britishwiring.com/

They are very friendly and very helpful.

You can purchase a few or as much of a wire harness
as you can afford.

I suggest you purchase the bullet crimping tool, bullet
pliers as a start. Chase down what and why you got melted
wires, call BW and order replacement wires and the tools
and bullets/sleeves.

That will get your feet wet with installing a full car
wire harness (if you in fact need one).

PS: The bullet crimping tool is pricey but I use it all
the time around the house/TR6 as a general clamping tool.

Folks here on the forum can walk you thru a wire harness install.

regards,

tinster :thumbsup:

 

[DanNagy]

Ugh. This sounds like a nightmare at TRF.

Yes, the message was difficult to write in light of that very sad news.

-d

 

[DNK]

Dan- Where was the fire?

 

[Tinster]

Dan!

I believe Dan Masters "Yellow Book" on Triumph electronics
is still in print and available. An excellent reference.

Several of us here on the Triumph forum have installed the
Dan/Mike Masters Power Block wire harness. This accomplishment
gives one a great in-depth understanding of the car's wiring.

Whatever you attempt with your car, there is plenty of help
to be found here.

regards,

tinster

 

[DanNagy]

Well, I had wires fry on both sides of the firewall. It looks like the short started under the hood, and perhaps it started as an arch. Then some short occurred in the cabin and it filled up with smoke. I pulled the car over right away, turned it off, and the smoldering subsided. There was a brief flame under the dash I put out with my fingers. Some Mennonite guy pulled over and offered me his wrench so I could get the cable off the battery. Can you imagine that I left the house without a toolbox and extinguisher? I was foolish to believe that since the car was rebuilt, nothing could go wrong. Ha!

Yes, I saw on Master's web site that the diagrams are there, and I'll print them out and put them in a notebook on Monday. Well, I guess it is a good thing that his work still lives on.

-d

 

[Tinster]

Dan,

All the Triumph wires are color coded for easy
identification.

Find your specific year wire diagram and print it out.

Get a digital camera and start taking photos of fried
wires. You can reach under the dash to snap close-up photos.

My first thought, if you got smoke and flame on BOTH
sides of the firewall, is that one of your ignition
switch wires shorted to a convienient ground.

Post some photos of your fried wires when you can.
I'm stuck at home under Doc's orders for a few days
so I'm a ready resource. je,je,je,je!

regards,

dale

 

[Brosky]

Dan,

Check you PM's. I just left some important info for you.

 

[DanNagy]

Thanks Dale, thanks Paul. I wasn't able to get into the forum for a few days. I have no idea why. It would just "time out".

Dale, I really think you may be on the right track. I had an overdrive unit installed on the car while the engine was out during the restoration, and believe it has something to do with it. I was on the highway for a long time and had it engaged. When I stopped for gas and kicked it off, that's when the fire started.

I won't be able to post any pictures until next week because I am traveling.

Thanks again,

Dan