Page 1 of 1

Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Sat, 16 Jan 2021 11:53 +0000
by Rob_Wood
HiYa,
The loom plug under the back of the tub (for blinkers, stop, tail etc) fills up with dirt & mud and slowly pushes the connectors apart. Living on the road I do it takes around 2 years before I lose my tail lights at which point I pull it apart, scrape out the crap and put it back. I've considered glue lined heat shrink to stop the mud getting in, but then I wouldn't be able to get back in either. I've tried insulation tape, but it just unravels and the process starts again.
I've thought of replacing the plug with barrel connectors, but this'd defeat the purpose of having a plug.
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on how to resolve the mud ever getting into my plugs again?

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 8:38 +0000
by martynvella
Replace the plug with a Deutsch plug and receptical. Make sure any unused pin positions are fitted with blanking plugs. Put a good coating of a dielectric grease such as "senson" if thats how it is spelled, inside the receptical before locking the two together.
For extra protection if you feel it is required wrap it up with the petrolium gell impregnated Denso tape and hold it on with cable ties.
Should last forever on a road going vehicle.
It will be heavy and need to be secured to something.
Use Caterpillar brand plug and receptical if you can.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 8:40 +0000
by martynvella
Or just wrap your existing plug with denso tape. It is messy but never sets.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 5:30 +0000
by Rob_Wood
martynvella wrote:Or just wrap your existing plug with denso tape. It is messy but never sets.


Denso tape? Supercheap or Repco, or somewhere special?

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 5:55 +0000
by martynvella
Not really sure to be honest. It always just been there in sites I work at.
Denso is the brand so make a few different tapes.
You want the petroleum gell impregnated type.
I would try Ashdown Ingrams for starters.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Jan 2021 2:38 +0000
by ashy
Plumbing suppliers would have Denso tape, such as Reeces.

Ashy

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Jan 2021 9:20 +0000
by Skrewdriver
x2 on the Caterpillar Deutsch Connectors. I work for WesTrac and i have seen them being pulled out of environments that make your situation look like stuff all. From memory, you can go from 2 all the way up to 16 pins.

I have upgraded the removable tailgate on my box trailer to a two pin plug and I think cost me less than $20 for all of the sockets/pins and associated hardware.

PM for more info.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:25 +0000
by Gipsy
As a simple fix why not use heat shrink and be prepared to cut it off if you need to access the plug? Maybe heat shrink but only shrink it at the ends?

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Jan 2021 2:46 +0000
by Rob_Wood
ashy wrote:Plumbing suppliers would have Denso tape, such as Reeces.

Ashy


There's a Reeces in town, I'll give it a shot, thanks.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, although it sounds a bit messy, this one sounds like the option to go with first simply because of the conditions of the road I live on. I'll try to let you know if I get more than 2 years out of it. ;) :) 8-)

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Tue, 19 Jan 2021 6:31 +0000
by martynvella
Its messy when you put it on and rub it into itself, but a few minutes on a dirt road coats it in dust and it gets a crusty outer coating.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:10 +0000
by Rob_Wood
martynvella wrote:Its messy when you put it on and rub it into itself, but a few minutes on a dirt road coats it in dust and it gets a crusty outer coating.


If I put it on in Reeces Carpark it'll be crusty by the time I get home then. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Wed, 20 Jan 2021 7:24 +0000
by hiluxxury
If you looms are full of dirt, it would be worth cleaning you fuel tank breather.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 3:19 +0000
by Rob_Wood
hiluxxury wrote:If you looms are full of dirt, it would be worth cleaning you fuel tank breather.


Cool thought, I'll check with Pete' and see if it's something he does during a 10K service. Makes me think, I might also ask him about diff breathers as well.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 6:15 +0000
by hiluxxury
Yeah the tank breather is a common one to keep on top of.

The diff breathers work rather well in most conditions unless you do boggy holes.

Re: Loom Plugs full of dirt

PostPosted: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:03 +0000
by Rob_Wood
hiluxxury wrote:Yeah the tank breather is a common one to keep on top of.

The diff breathers work rather well in most conditions unless you do boggy holes.


I'll Ask. Never hurts to ask the question. ;)