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Date:         Mon, 7 Feb 2005 17:35:56 -0800
Reply-To:     Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Cleaning bad grounds
Comments: To: Tim Marciniak <tmarciniak@WI.RR.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <6B0149F6-790B-11D9-9488-000A959B856A@wi.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Do an Internet search on the following: anti-seize electrical conductivity Google returned: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=anti-seize+electrical+conductivity&spel l=1

The results indicate that many anti-sieze compounds have good electrical conductivity. Often these compounds have a lot of metal in them, so this makes sense to me.

To make the best ground connection using a bolt, I count on the mating of flat conductive surfaces to each other. Clean the surface of the grounding metal (body, head, etc.), really well. Same for the piece being bolted to the grounding metal. I like to use anti-sieze on the threads sometimes, but grease or oil is ok, too, as long as it is on the threads and not the flat conducting surfaces. You can also use an internal lock washer (star washer) to bite into both surfaces of the connection, as long as it is not a high-current connection such as a starter. The high current will heat the washer, it will lose some springiness, and the connection is now loose! Or use the star washer between the bolt head and the connector, as long as it is not the only path for high current.

The lubricant on the threads will make it easier to get a tight connection with less torque needed, especially if the threads are corroded. Remember, most lubricants will not prevent some metal-to metal contact between the male and the female threads.

When I'm all done making the connection, I spray it with oil, rust preventative, or best yet, a zinc-rich spray if the application permits. Go to http://www.crcindustries.com/crcweb/ and search on the word zinc.

Hope this helps!

Ron A

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Tim Marciniak Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 5:23 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Cleaning bad grounds

Having had some starting and idle problems with my van I am going through and cleaning all the ground connections in the van. Does anyone have a sure fire method for cleaning the threaded bolt holes were the ground screws go in. I tried rolling up some emery cloth and just turing that in the hole but i cant see that that works very well. maybe running a threading tap might help but then there is the risk of crossing threads. Any got any other methods.

Tim 1990 Multivan


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