Topic: Cleaning wiring harnesses

[69supercj]

Whats the best method and products to use to clean and restore the color to the various wiring harnesses without removing any lettering? These will be done in car by the way as the car is fully assembled?

[70-Conv_4sp]

Hello - I use the hand cleaner "GO-JO" in the cream form with a little warm water, wet micro-fiber cloth, I cleaned
a set of Autolite plug wires using this method, turned out nice, of course as always test on an inconspicuous
place on the wire(s) before tackling a large area to be sure it will work for you application.

Keith

[RoyceP]

Hello - I use the hand cleaner "GO-JO" in the cream form with a little warm water, wet micro-fiber cloth, I cleaned
a set of Autolite plug wires using this method, turned out nice, of course as always test on an inconspicuous
place on the wire(s) before tackling a large area to be sure it will work for you application.

Keith

+1 Go Jo - original formula - works great on wiring harnesses. I sometimes use wax & grease remover first if the harness is extra greasy.

[70-Conv_4sp]

+1 Go Jo - original formula - works great on wiring harnesses. I sometimes use wax & grease remover first if the harness is extra greasy.

Thanks RoyceP for the other tip, i will try that too, it seems that would make less the work using the Go-Jo

Keith

[midlife]

I don't like Go-Jo, as it will leave a greasy finish that attracts dust.  It is also fairly labor intensive with application and wiping.Because I do so many wire harnesses, I turn to lacquer thinner and a quick wipe.  Heavy applications of firewall application black tar is nearly impossible to remove.  Many harness' tape becomes stained and LT won't remove it.  I suspect Go-Jo might, but I haven't tried in in years.
Whatever you do, do NOT immerse the harness in any liquid of any kind: any break in the insulation will cause that liquid to migrate up the copper wire and cause corrosion.

[J_Speegle]

As a mild cleaner compared with other harsher choices I've often defaulted to wax and silicon remover. Of course earlier formulas were better the EPA approved stuff can still work for the purpose of cleaning. 

Fins that hand cleaners can get trapped between the individual wires and the loom cover  

[Bossbill]

I've had great luck with GoJo Natural Orange with grit (fine pumice).
Although you'd think the grit makes it more aggressive it does NOT appear to remove the painted on stencil writing applied to the wire and the Orange formula is not greasy at all. It also removes grease.

Do note that I use just a very light pressure.

[jwc66k]

Even more important is what NOT to use:
"Goof-Off";
Any acetone based solvent;
"Krud-Kutter" (unless you wipe it off in under a minute);
Paint thinner (unless you wipe it off in under a minute);
Gasoline (obvious).
Jim

[kitdoctor]

I have seeen these done in an ultrasonic cleaning machine.

[HDAshmore]

I tried a few odd ball extra electrical end plugs in an ultrasonic cleaner several years ago as a test.  The original white connections were cruddy brown and stained.  They came out beautiful and white.  However, they were cut off ends and just testing the effectiveness of ultra-sonic on rubber pieces. I would never put a wiring harness in a tub of liquid.  See Midlife's comments.  What I learned is it works great for small plastic, rubber and fiberglass trim, grommet pieces and metal bolts etc...  I would consider using it on plug ends only if I could guarantee I could seal off the inside of the plugs, not sure that is even possible.  It works great on small nasty rusted suspension parts if you use citric acid for degreaser and de-rusting.

Otherwise, I love my sonic cleaner for all kinds of little do dads!

They come in all kinds of sizes.

Just my experience and two cents.

Dan in Kansas