Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

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Topic: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

Posted By: TreeSeeker on 10/29/17 03:41pm

Griff wrote:

If anyone still had the original dual ballast resistor connector, it's possible to refurbish it as long as the shell hasn't deteriorated. (I've done this kind of work a lot ... in this case, new spade terminals and wires inside the original shell.)

I would be interested in how you did this. I expect there is some kind of one-way tab holding the spade connectors into the housing. How did you get these out?

I assume you mean "shells" instead of "shell?" Mine has two dual connector shells.

Did you replace the entire wires? Mine are part of the wiring harness, did you just cut off the originals and zip tie the new ones to the harness?

I just messed up. I cracked the casing of one of the wires to the ICM pin connector when trying to close the hood. I had moved that connector out of the way while looking at the ballast resistor connectors. I think I can patch it with liquid electrical tape (or whatever it is called). I have some.

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 10/29/17 04:44pm

Yes, there is usually a tab, either on the metal terminal or inside the shell. I do enough of these to justifying buying the special tools for 'releasing' the locking tabs. In many cases, you can use a small flat-blade screwdriver but you need to be careful. (That's what I used before I bought the tools.)

(Most of the tools I have are for working with weatherpak connectors or similar, which really require those tools.)

Yes, two shells ideally ... I was thinking of a picture I saw online. with a single one-way shell. From what I saw in the picture, I assume someone broke the other shell. (It actually had two bare, un-insulated spade terminals at one end ... Yikes!)

Yes, I usually replace the old wires with new. But that's because I'm often strapping a whole new harness, or at least a section/bundle.

If it's just a single connector, it's a judgement call. What's the condition of the old wire? What's at the other end of the wire? How much slack do I have? Can I make a neat, professional-looking splice? Et cetera, ad nauseam.

(I can usually refurbish those with hard plastic shells ... the molded rubber-like connectors are a PITA and usually have to be replaced with a complete new pigtail.)

I do NOT like using the inexpensive, readily available zip-ties on wiring ... they tend to eventually cause issues with the wire insulation. (There are zip-ties made specifically for wiring, which tend to be wider and use better plastic ... but those are hard to find and more expensive.) In the past, I've used vinyl electrician's tape, wrapped around the bundle at 6-8 inch intervals. Now I use the self-adhering silicone tape.

Repairing the plastic shells themselves is often difficult, frustrating, and impossible. (Gluing plastic is an art, bordering on wizardry.) It's possible to buy new plastic shells for the more common types of connectors but it requires quite a bit of 'internet digging' to find a source. The connectors for dual ballast resistors are somewhat unique so would require a lot of searching, if they're available at all.

1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 10/29/17 05:12pm

BTW - in the case of dual ballast resistor connectors, there's no need to 'lock' the terminals inside the case. The main purpose of the shell is to make sure the right terminals go in the right place on the resistor. Even if the shell slides up and down on wires, it won't come off and will ensure proper orientation. (That's the reason for the pin on the shell ... otherwise, the shell just insulates the terminals against accidental contact.)

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 10/29/17 05:58pm

Also, I tend to use weatherpak connectors instead of wire splices. This creates a degree of 'plug-n-play' modularity.

Depending on how you insert the male/female terminals in the shells, you can establish a 'one way only' connection. (To ensure proper polarity or avoid crossed connections.)

Posted By: TreeSeeker on 10/30/17 10:07am

I found an article that says we don't really need a ballast resistor if we don't have points (I don't).

Quote:

Electronic ignition systems, whether factory Mopar or aftermarket, don’t utilize breaker points, thereby not actually needing a ballast resistor to control amperage through the pickup coil. And while ignition coil life may be compromised without a resistor, the additional secondary voltage (at the spark plug) is increased which generally improves power. So does your application require a ballast resistor? Quite simply, if your distributor has breaker points the answer is yes; if not, the answer is no.

For full article go here.

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 10/30/17 03:33pm

TreeSeeker wrote:

I found an article that says we don't really need a ballast resistor if we don't have points (I don't).

Quote:

For full article go here.

Yes, I read the same article ... and cringed.

I've said, way back in this thread, you can connect the ballast resistor leads together if your ballast resistor leaves you stranded, far from help and without a spare. IIRC, I said only to get out of a remote area and preferably for not more than 50 miles.

What is the author's credentials? Personally, I'd trust a fleet of Chrysler electrical engineers and decades of successful operation in thousands of vehicles over one person's (questionable) suggestion.

There's a saying among engine builders -- "How much horsepower can you afford?" The same question applies here. The article is written primarily for hot-rodders and muscle car enthusiasts, who are willing and able to spend money to build and maintain high performance vehicles.

Moonshine runners omitted the ballast resistor in "bait" cars to outrun the cops once they'd drawn them away from whoever was hauling the moonshine. They also replaced the coil, sparkplugs, distributor cap, rotor, and points at least yearly, to keep the bait car from dying at an inopportune time.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try this ... I wouldn't. Also, weigh the potential cost against your motivation.

* This post was edited 10/30/17 03:50pm by Griff in Fairbanks *

Posted By: TreeSeeker on 10/30/17 05:23pm

Griff,

I'm with you. I wasn't thinking of eliminating the ballast resister, just sharing what I found.

I plan on carrying spares of most of the parts in the ignition system.

Posted By: Eric Hysteric on 11/01/17 04:53am

Hi guys, i had last days big problems with 502 error messages and couldn't connect to the forum. I study the topic from 600 forward and it's very interesting to understand what is inside our engines going on. Thank all for your tips. I like this knowledge input.
Today i want to change sparks ,spark cables, distributor cap etc...

I am a liitle bit tired now, because there is a lot of things to handle after my father and my brother died and.
Life is no request concert ;-)

The motorhome is my hobby and my adventure vehicle and it's a kind of relax when i work on it.
Are you similiar?

'79 Dodge Sportsman 5.9 LA 360 TEC Campmate

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 11/01/17 04:23pm

Eric Hysteric wrote:

The motorhome is my hobby and my adventure vehicle and it's a kind of relax when i work on it.
Are you similiar?

Yes.

'Tinkering' is a vital stress relief activity. Sedentary activity, like reading, crossword puzzles, knitting, scale models, and so forth, are good for diverting your attention from everyday issues. If it involves a higher degree of physical activity, it's even better for you.

My military service-connected disability rating is 40 percent. (Ten percent for chronic pain and thirty percent for clinical depression and PTSD.) This means the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has determined, on average, four out of every ten days are shot to hell due to my disabilities. (I believe their rating is 'optimistic' ... a higher rating would require greater Congressional mandated care and treatment. Because that would involve more expense, the VA is very resistant to 'granting' higher disability ratings.)

It's worth noting the VA determined my heart disease is not service-connected, in spite of evidence in my military medical records and the determination of multiple doctors. (The VA medical system is controlled by bureaucrats, who are more concerned with money than medical care and treatment.)

The primary cause of both of my heart attacks was emotional and mental health issues. Interestingly, the VA actually makes things worse rather than providing even minimally adequate care. A vast majority of the stress that caused the second heart attack was due to the VA's policies and bureaucracy.

So, I'm much better off self-treating rather than depending on VA medical care. My various projects are a significant element of my self-treatment therapy.

I have to be careful to ensure these activities don't cause stress. When I encounter difficulties and start experiencing stress on one project, I temporarily drop that project and move to working on different project. As a result, I work on the various projects in rotation, moving from one to the next in a regular cycle.

Interior Alaska's climate and weather adds to the difficulty. So, I have 'summer projects' and 'winter projects.' (I'm now in a position where I can -- and do -- work on building the new house throughout the year ... including when outdoor temperatures are significantly below zero.)

In the winter, I always spent time -- daily -- in a brightly lit room or area, to counter the possibility of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). (My family and I don't experience 'cabin fever' because we're just to busy to have time for that.)

I apologize for the rambling. My intent is to demonstrate how 'projects' -- i.e., hobbies -- helps someone with serious mental health disability. The same type of activity is equally, or more, beneficial to those with better mental health.

Eric - I'm not ignoring your loses. A large portion of my PTSD is the result of identical loses. (The death of my father and brother.) Unfortunately, the emotions I was dealing with weren't recognized and treated until much later in life. It's taken years of treatment and therapy to partially offset that festering into full blown clinical depression, PTSD, and suicidal tendencies.

So, if you're experiencing difficulties dealing with what you've gone through, admit it and get help!

Posted By: Eric Hysteric on 11/02/17 04:39am

You do it right Griff. I also do not understand how some people can get bored :-) I just wanted to say, that family tasks are more important than hobby. Dying is unfortunately a part of our life.

After removing the airfilterhousing i discovered two things, that irritate me.
1. connector without without a connected cable
2. some vacuum unit(?) without a hose

Do you know what it is?

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