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Engine earth strap

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:51 pm
by Dominic
Is a separate earth required for the engine? There is a good bond between gearbox & earth, and the gearbox is of course bolted firmly to the engine. It seems to run with no problems!

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:22 pm
by Matt
No... the earth at the gearbox is the engine earth...

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:31 pm
by bigginger
Just to state the obvious - if it looks in ANY way dodgy, replace it, or you'll start a fire when you use the starter motor.
Yes, guess who forgot to re-fit it when replacing an engine :D

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:40 pm
by Dominic
Thanks Matt & Andrew. The strap looks in very fine fettle, so I'll leave well alone!

strap

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:40 pm
by Willie
What BIG GINGER meant was that if the earth strap is dodgy the only earth
path to the engine is via the throttle and choke cables!! When using the starter these will heat up very rapidly!!!

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:45 pm
by Dominic
Reminds me of when I was a student in the 70's with my 1st car, a Fiat 500. A friend insisted that bell wires would suffice for jump leads... boy did they flame beautifully!!!

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:46 pm
by bigginger
Indeed - or the gearbox steady, if you're lucky, which is a wee bit less dramatic, but still much heat very close to the cross member, which can be full of brake fluid/oil and close to the fuel pipe. Call me paranoid...