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How long does a harness last?

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Old 11-22-2014, 06:23 PM
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Default How long does a harness last?

The last few times I had to splice into my harness I found some corrosion on the wire.

It got me to wondering how long a wiring harness can go before it has to be replaced.

Anybody know?
 
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Old 11-22-2014, 06:44 PM
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Tex, it's gotta be related to things like environment, humidity, exposure, etc... I don't think there's a straight answer.
 
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Old 11-22-2014, 07:21 PM
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The harness on my '77 Superglide lasted 'till about 1980 or 81,when I pulled it all off,threw it in the garbage and rewired the bike.Real simple when there was just points ignition,charging system,headlight and taillight,and brakelight.
My '61 Studebaker still has it's original wiring,well 98% of it.
 
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Old 11-22-2014, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Rhino-1
Tex, it's gotta be related to things like environment, humidity, exposure, etc... I don't think there's a straight answer.
I was kinda hoping for a ballpark.
I used to build catv systems and I know the cable for that is rated at 27 years.
I don't know what the wires in the harness are rated for.
 
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Old 11-22-2014, 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by hdbob2006
The harness on my '77 Superglide lasted 'till about 1980 or 81,when I pulled it all off,threw it in the garbage and rewired the bike.Real simple when there was just points ignition,charging system,headlight and taillight,and brakelight.
My '61 Studebaker still has it's original wiring,well 98% of it.
I don't think I could build a harness from scratch.
I damn sure don't have the correct wires for it.
 
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Old 11-22-2014, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Rhino-1
Tex, it's gotta be related to things like environment, humidity, exposure, etc... I don't think there's a straight answer.
What Rhino said. ^^^^^
 
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Old 11-23-2014, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by texashillcountry
I was kinda hoping for a ballpark.
I don't think there is any such thing, for a wide variety of reasons. My new 1974 FX started giving problems when only a couple of years old, due to the wiring being of marginal length IMHO. My 1977 BMW. also bought new, started giving trouble after 8-9 years, due mainly to flexing of the handlebar harnesses. My 1990 Glide, bought new, is still on it's original harness, although it has been adapted quite a bit.

As for rewiring a bike, there are a couple of products I have come across that help to make it easy. They both use a central magic box, inside which reside all the basic functions a bike needs and into which one simply connects wiring for each switch/function. I have even considered using one myself and an occasional HDF Evo member has already done so.
 
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Old 11-23-2014, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by grbrown
As for rewiring a bike, there are a couple of products I have come across that help to make it easy. They both use a central magic box, inside which reside all the basic functions a bike needs and into which one simply connects wiring for each switch/function. I have even considered using one myself and an occasional HDF Evo member has already done so.

Thunderheart is one of these, marvellous piece of (expensive) kit.
 
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Old 11-23-2014, 05:38 PM
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Default How long Does A Harness Last?

I guess it depends on the mileage............














 
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Old 11-24-2014, 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Rhino-1
Tex, it's gotta be related to things like environment, humidity, exposure, etc... I don't think there's a straight answer.
In the 70's and early 80's Harley started using quick connects with no moisture protection, the bikes were fire hazards right out of the box...a more modern bike with waterproof connectors, the wiring will outlast the bike if not butchered.
 


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