Replace Honda BF8D starter cables? (options other than OEM?)

[AlexB]

Well, now I know why the previous owner wrapped a section of the kicker motor's starter cables with electrical tape.... One of the wires has a clean slice all the way through the insulation! Yay!

I looked on the Honda page, and it appears that Honda wants me to buy a whole new starter cable assembly for $165 if I want to replace this damaged wire.

Before I shell out the $ for an OEM replacement, can anyone suggest a different route? I don't like the idea of slapping another layer of electrical tape on this and forgetting about it... I could cut out the damaged section and splice it back together? Or just replace the whole wire with a new generic marine battery cable of the appropriate size?

Thanks,

~Alex

[AlexB]

I guess another option would be to hit the exposed wire with a little corrosion inhibitor of some kind, then slide a short piece of adhesive lined heat shrink tubing over it and call it good?

At least I can pull start the motor if all else fails...

[christianbrat]

if you can get heat shrink on it, i would heat shrink it and call it a day

[DeskJockey]

The outer jacket is visibly damaged, did it get into the conductor insulation at all?

[AlexB]

The cut runs all the way to the copper, but it doesn't appear that any of the copper strands themselves are compromised.

I've got a piece of Ancor adhesive-lioned heat shrink that just barely slides onto the wires, so I'm thinking that's the route I'll take.

Would you recommend a little squirt of Corrosion X or something like that on the bare copper before I seal it all up? Maybe even a little liquid electrical tape to secure that flap of rubber in place before I heat shrink it?

Thanks, all!

[DeskJockey]

I think we all agree that replacing the cable is the best answer.  With that said, I'd clean up the bare copper as best I could and use only the adhesive heat shrink, be generous when you cut it to length.  Skip any additional chemicals imo.

[AlexB]

Thanks, guys!

[Tj805]

That liquid electrical tape works well for this .
Once that dries just heat shrink over it.

[Pdxmgunner]

That liquid electrical tape works well for this .
Once that dries just heat shrink over it.

Agreed, slather the inside of that cut and out, heat shrink and call it good.

[DevMah]

Self fusing electrical tape by 3 M will work. You can go the other route if a few layers of adhesive shrink tube.
No lubricant or cleaner it won't allow the adhesive to set and seal.

https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/p/d/v000158499/
The fusing tape is not cheap a marine repair or industrial shop might be able spare some .

As long as the copper conductor is not damage and the rest of the cable insulation is in good condition you can buy sometime...


Dev