Date:         Tue, 1 Feb 2000 07:52:06 -0700
Reply-To:     "Michael A. Radtke" <m.radtke@ELM.AZ05.BULL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Michael A. Radtke" <m.radtke@ELM.AZ05.BULL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Using wire ties on CV joint boots?
Comments: cc: John-Reed Maffeo <rlpa80@EMAIL.SPS.MOT.COM>

Hello John-Reed and everyone,

I can't tell whether you mean ties made of wire, or plastic ties made to
hold wires.

I have used wire.  I use a single conductor of the telephone wire.  It's
pretty thin stuff ... perhaps 26 gauge.  I leave the insulation on.  I wrap
it about 3 or 4 turns so it just fits the notch in the boot that's made for
the band.  I then twist the ends tight and snip off the extra.

I chose thin wire with multiple turns so I would not have to cinch it up
too tightly since the each turn multiplies the force, and so there wouldn't
be a small gap in pressure where the wire is twisted.

I too thought of plastic wire ties, but I talked myself out of it mostly
because of the small gap just where the clamp is.  I figured that might
cause a leak.  I think that the plastic ties would last OK too.  They
degrade badly in sunlight, but they shouldn't get too much of that under a
Vanagon.

Now that several people have recommended the plastic ties, I think I'll try
them next time.  However, the wire as I described above works just fine.

Thanks,
Mike        '84 GL   '60 Vespa   '58 Isetta     ---   Phoenix, Arizona