Yesterday a second set of forks came in. Much better than the ones on the Hunley. Just a few very light nicks that I've already smoothed and polished. I'll still probably rebuild them, since they are off and there is a whole winter of wrench time ahead - plus I have two sets of new seals. I'll probably even see if I can try to save the old set and rebuild them.
I now have new connectors for replacing the old rotten and corroded multi-pin connectors on it, and have already started that project. I am pulling the old pins on most connectors and stripping, cleaning tinning, and soldering after crimping the new connectors on. Part of this is because as I began "ringing out" the wires, I noticed resistance from .6 (low for my meter leads) - 8 ohms as I wiggled them - indication of severe corrosion inside the crimps. I'm also applying Liquid Electrical Tape to all of the nicks in the insulation caused by a PO using those awful tap connectors. I just hope none of them seriously damaged the internal wires. The "three yellow wires" are being connected with 150 amp gold-plated RC helicopter connectors, and then fully sheathed in yellow shrink tubing. Harbor Freight has marine shrink tubing with adhesive on the inside, and I'm using that in many places to weather proof as much as possible. Hey, moisture happens - I just want to keep it where it doesn't do much damage. The poor Hunley has already had her time under water!
I now have new connectors for replacing the old rotten and corroded multi-pin connectors on it, and have already started that project. I am pulling the old pins on most connectors and stripping, cleaning tinning, and soldering after crimping the new connectors on. Part of this is because as I began "ringing out" the wires, I noticed resistance from .6 (low for my meter leads) - 8 ohms as I wiggled them - indication of severe corrosion inside the crimps. I'm also applying Liquid Electrical Tape to all of the nicks in the insulation caused by a PO using those awful tap connectors. I just hope none of them seriously damaged the internal wires. The "three yellow wires" are being connected with 150 amp gold-plated RC helicopter connectors, and then fully sheathed in yellow shrink tubing. Harbor Freight has marine shrink tubing with adhesive on the inside, and I'm using that in many places to weather proof as much as possible. Hey, moisture happens - I just want to keep it where it doesn't do much damage. The poor Hunley has already had her time under water!