Battery cables in Chattanooga?

[Sean]

Folks,

I need to have a new starter cable made, a new end swaged onto the main battery cable, and a new positive-to-field jumper made.  All of this is necessitated by the lugs on the alternator end of these cables literally melting through.

The field jumper is 0 or 00, the starter cable looks to be about 000, and the main battery cable is 0000.  The shop here does not have the tools to do this, and, apparently, neither does the shop which is rebuilding the alternator and starter.  Don has called a few of his vendors and none has the proper swaging tool.

Does anyone know of a shop (or individual) here in town with a proper swaging tool for 00-0000 lugs?  We can't use soldered lugs due to the heat involved, and I don't want to use any half-baked tools such as the type you hit with a hammer.

Thanks!

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Busted Knuckle]

msg sent

[desi arnaz]

have you tried a welding shop? or welder?

[Len Silva]

Try these guys:
http://www.iepowersystems.com/

Don't know if they will do it for you but they should have the tools.

If you can have everything ready except for the crimping, they might be able to help.

[luvrbus]

Any good hydraulic hose house can do that for you Sean the guy here in this Podunk town were I live does it for me all the time,also any industrial supply that sells wire rope can do it for you

good luck

[rv_safetyman]

As was mentioned, any good welding supply store will have the cable and a large assortment of connectors.  

I have used the hammer crimper, but every time I bring it up folks tell me that I will somehow poison the world or something like that  They have worked well for me for many years.

In my opinion, welding cable makes excellent battery cables.  I would bet that I will get a divergent opinion on that one too

Jim

[robertglines1]

Bad Idea disreguard

[Chopper Scott]

Isn't the Choo Choo shop close by? You are in Brice's neck of the world and I'm sure he sent you to the place you needed.

[John316]

Sean, let me know if you really get in a pinch. I really don't have the time, right now, but I think I could make them. I have the hydraulic press/crimper that is needed, I would just have to make sure that I have the die (I think I have those too). So if push comes to shove, let me know. We made all of our own for our bus.

Scott, I believe they are at Choo Choo....

[larryh]

Sean,

It's time for you to get to know your local power crew each line truck has the small hydraulic crimpers and the lugs . If you can't get them I do have the crimper and the lugs but I'm leaving here Friday and won't be back to home until Oct sometime and would gladly help you I have cable and lugs.

Larry Higuera

[Sean]

Thanks, everyone.

Mr. Bowen here at Choo-Choo Express seems to know just about everyone in town, and, for the record, he has called four welding supplies and three hose shops -- none has the proper crimper.

Harbor Freight down the street here carries a hydraulic crimper, but the dies only go up to 00.

I have a couple more calls to make this morning based on off-board responses, but I am still seeking a specific recommendation for someone who can make these cables.  We do have the hammer-type crimper here, and in a pinch that is what we will have to use.  But I'd really like to get this done right while the engine is still out.

Thanks again.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[bottomacher]

My son in law is an industrial electrical contractor and has the crimper. He says that nearly any electrician who advertises high power work should have them, too. You might try the yellow pages. Sorry- that's all I got.

[stevet903]

Sean - I have one of these and it works great - http://www.evsource.com/tls_cabling_tools.php  Unfortunately they are out of stock.  I'm in Colorado Springs - If you want to pay shipping each way I could send you mine to use, but it's heavy and if you need it overnight it may be prohibitively expensive.  I also have some 2/0 cable and terminals - what do you need - color, length and terminal size and maybe I can make what you need from what I have.

If you need wire and terminals I've had great experience with this guy on Ebay - http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/gregsmarine

You might want to check these crimpers out - http://cgi.ebay.com/16-TON-HYDRAULIC-WIRE-LUG-TERMINAL-CRIMPING-CRIMPER-NEW-/250846036609?pt=BI_Electrical_Equipment_Tools&hash=item3a6796c281

Looks similar to the one I have and it's in PA....

Steve

[TomC]

On my truck, I used a copper end for large feed cable that is made up to a quad zero cable that crimps with a set screw.  Sounds hokey, but it has been on my truck on one of my batteries for years with no problems.  Available at Home Depot.  Good Luck, TomC

[jjrbus]

I used one of the same  end's Tom C used. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!  JIm