Traveller rear earth points

[Napoleon Boot]

Hello all,

With the dark nights drawing in, I decided it was time to remove the tangle of assorted second hand cables feeding my Traveller's rear lights, and install an original style sub-loom. I'd previously noticed that one of the indicators was getting a bit temperamental due to a bad earth, and further investigation showed that the whole set up was fit only for the bin.

Having installed the new loom, which was straightforward and satisfying to do, I noticed that almost all the lights were much brighter than before, presumably more current is now getting through. However the left hand indicator, and right hand tail light are both dim, and investigation showed that this was due to the bolt they both earth to being corroded.

As the bolt is hidden inside the rear base rail, I can't really see it, but it feels like it goes through a captive nut in the chassis before passing through the wood. Is this correct?

My question is - does anyone know what size bolt this is, so that I can install a nice, clean, new one? I had to rummage through assorted old non-metric nuts that I collect for such situations, I know that it's not M6 (obviously, given the age of the car and the fact that an M6 nut won't go onto it), but it's close. I found a nut that will thread onto it, but I'm going to have to remove the bolt, clean up the metal around the hole, and re-install a new one, so if anyone can help I'd be very grateful!

Inevitably the head of the old bolt (machine screw really I suppose) is chewed to pieces so getting it out is going to be quite a destructive job...

Seb

[svenedin]

I don't have a Traveller but I have replaced the loom but not the sub-loom at the back. BA? 0BA. Very similar to the 6mm. Different thread pitch.

Stephen

[Napoleon Boot]

Thank you Stephen,

0BA sounds plausible!

Seb

[simmitc]

A good earth point is one of the bolts securing the bumper mounting bracket. Use the correct sized ring terminal.

[Napoleon Boot]

A good earth point is one of the bolts securing the bumper mounting bracket. Use the correct sized ring terminal.

That's a good idea, maybe I should just replace the ring terminals that came attached to the loom and go directly to the bumper mounting bracket instead.

Seb

[panky]

Here's where the earth point are on my '71 AP traveller. Same on both sides, seems to be the original position.

IMG20251117162219.jpg (2.93 MiB) Viewed 60934 times

[Napoleon Boot]

Thank you Panky,

What is the silvery metal bracket in the centre of the image? I don't have anything like that on mine - though that's not surprising as not much is standard on mine! I'm assuming the ring terminals on the loom are attached to that silvery thing, and then that is attached to the black painted metal at the corners of the boot?

I thought the earthing points were the bolts that run upwards from the underside of the chassis and through the wooden base rail below the back doors, but it looks like I was wrong. Funny as they're in about the right place for the earths on the Autosparks loom I bought.

Seb

[simmitc]

That thing is a cable clamp or guide to secure the loom in place. It should have a rubber insert that wraps around the loom to protect it. The photo nicely illustrates my earlier suggestion of using those bolts, much bnetter than the vertical ones.

[panky]

Yes the rubber sleeve is still there but rather degraded. I need to sort that out.
I also need to hoover out the hedge clippings

[panky]

Thank you Panky,

What is the silvery metal bracket in the centre of the image? I don't have anything like that on mine - though that's not surprising as not much is standard on mine! I'm assuming the ring terminals on the loom are attached to that silvery thing, and then that is attached to the black painted metal at the corners of the boot?

I thought the earthing points were the bolts that run upwards from the underside of the chassis and through the wooden base rail below the back doors, but it looks like I was wrong. Funny as they're in about the right place for the earths on the Autosparks loom I bought.

Seb

Not attached directly to the silver cable guide but the earth leads are joined together by a single ring terminal and sandwiched under the bolt head and washer.

[Napoleon Boot]

Thank you! I understand what I'm looking at now!

Seb