MG Midget Madness (i.e. It was either this or kill it with fire)

[Pete_89T2]

Originally Posted by GySgtFrank

My memory sucks anyway, but when I have to put it down for a few days I'm screwed when I get back to it. I have to go back and study the wiring diagrams and figure out what kind of stupid shit I have already done. It eats up a lot more time than necessary that way.

The memory problem can be fixed by drawing up your own interconnect wiring diagram as you take apart the old harness and/or rewire the new one. Doesn't need to be fancy, just legible to you. Take the time to do that, and the rest becomes a lot easier, and avoids the tedium errors.

Your diagram should capture this minimum info: (1) What connector & pin # the wire connects to on each end - create your own connector key/labeling scheme if it's not otherwise documented anywhere in an FSM somewhere, and (2) color of the wire's insulation.

Key point is to NEVER move on to a new wire until you've fully documented the last wire you were working on. That way if life interrupts the project, you have your diagram to help you pick up where you left off.

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

The memory problem can be fixed by drawing up your own interconnect wiring diagram as you take apart the old harness and/or rewire the new one. Doesn't need to be fancy, just legible to you. Take the time to do that, and the rest becomes a lot easier, and avoids the tedium errors.

Your diagram should capture this minimum info: (1) What connector & pin # the wire connects to on each end - create your own connector key/labeling scheme if it's not otherwise documented anywhere in an FSM somewhere, and (2) color of the wire's insulation.

Key point is to NEVER move on to a new wire until you've fully documented the last wire you were working on. That way if life interrupts the project, you have your diagram to help you pick up where you left off.

Whaaat?

Proper prior planning? I no longer know you!

[TitaniumTT]

Actually... Pete nailed my biggest "issue" while wiring... If I see something that I don't instantly know what it's for, I get Squirreled. Last April while working on FrankenB, Whoop was trying to connect everything behind the firewall. Power and Gnd supplies etc, wire up the gauges shit like that. Not making it pretty, just trying to get it done enough to fire. Well... I spent a day going through that and trying to remember what everything was for.
Now it's all neat, bundled shrunk and labled

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Actually... Pete nailed my biggest "issue" while wiring... If I see something that I don't instantly know what it's for, I get Squirreled. Last April while working on FrankenB, Whoop was trying to connect everything behind the firewall. Power and Gnd supplies etc, wire up the gauges shit like that. Not making it pretty, just trying to get it done enough to fire. Well... I spent a day going through that and trying to remember what everything was for.
Now it's all neat, bundled shrunk and labled

That is one of the things that makes it slow. Generally I label everything that will be hanging out of the harness or will be loose at any time, but sometimes my labels get ripped off or become illegible. If I don't remember for sure what it was for, it means finding it on the wiring diagram, or tearing the packaging off and tracing it back, all over again. Keeping it all straight is a major chore.

[JL1RX7]

Gunny they do make those things called a label maker. Even a cheap one will do the trick. Not just a wiring one, which can be pricey. Now the label tape will cost you more than unit itself. Just like printers they sell them cheap and nail you on the ink.

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by JL1RX7

Gunny they do make those things called a label maker. Even a cheap one will do the trick. Not just a wiring one, which can be pricey. Now the label tape will cost you more than unit itself. Just like printers they sell them cheap and nail you on the ink.

Actually what I use is the mailing labels that come on sheets for printers. They are easy to mark and come with adhesive on the back. Cheap and they work OK, but sometimes they do get ripped off. Easy to remove too when you screw up and mislabel something.


Rear harness is now done and strung. It is mostly hooked up except for one ground wire which of course turned out to be just short once the wire was strung where it needed to go. There wasn't quite as much room behind the tank enclosure as I thought and stringing the wire behind it was a bit of a @#$%.

[JL1RX7]

Murphy always says one wire will short on you. Always in the hardest to reach spot ever.

[TitaniumTT]

Yaaaaas!!!

[chibikougan]

$20 and $17.99 for the Tape..


http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...FYpffgod2qcFXg

[TitaniumTT]

printers?

[GySgtFrank]

http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...Laser-Address/

.866 cents per label

[GySgtFrank]

... and the rear harness is installed and hooked up except for the license plate lights and the back up lights. I need to go get a couple of weather proof connectors for each of those, well that and back up lights whenever I build the rear bumper. I now have fuel pump tail/signal lights and side marker lights, and trunk illumination lights whenever I get the rest of the system running.

[TitaniumTT]

10 Weeks! Jo0 can do it!!!!!

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

10 Weeks! Jo0 can do it!!!!!

Probably not, as I have to head up to Montana for a few months sometime next week. It's not as if I'm not used to the disappointment of not having a rotary at DGRR, but it is getting rather old.

[chibikougan]

Originally Posted by GySgtFrank

Probably not, as I have to head up to Montana for a few months sometime next week. It's not as if I'm not used to the disappointment of not having a rotary at DGRR, but it is getting rather old.

Squeeeee! Remember you visit Family as priority. I can just ride back with Gunny!