A trip in the Way-Back machine

[Jim & Susan]

Anybody remember Rocky and Bullwinkle? Moose and Squirrel? Boris and Natasha? The Professor and that little geek that always went with him on those voyages thru history?

Way back in September, 1972 when our camper was built, Airstream used the type of clip in the picture below to hold the electrical wiring in place between the outer shell and the inner skins (they grey one in the picture). These are great fasteners…until you start taking things apart and the plastic disintegrates. The adhesive on the back of these things still sticks to the aluminum after 35 years, the basic problem is that the plastic becomes brittle after all those years.

So the question is, what have y’all used as a replacement for these things?

Jim

[Aerowood]

I've seen the exact clips here. McMaster-Carr
on page 1436

[lewster]

Perhaps you would like a little larger selection?

Find these at Waytek Wire : Electrical Wiring Supplies & Industrial Products. go to the products page and scroll to clamps and select 'adhesive backed clamps'.

They are wholesale only with significant quantities required, but they carry only the BEST!

25323 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/2" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.3452 25328 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/2" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.1048 25387 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/2" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.2403 25321 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/4" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.2578 25327 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/4" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.0786 25385 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/4" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.1770 25391 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1/4" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.1027 25330 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 1" MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.3714 25320 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 3/16 MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.2075 25384 ADHESIVE BACKED CLAMP 3/16 MAX
WIRE BUNDLE EA0.1311

[Jim & Susan]

Well, here’s the deal. I purchased these little guys (pictured below) back in February and reinstalled all the wiring. As soon as the weather warmed up, the rascals started to fail. These dang things were supposed to be good to 165 degrees. The basic problem is that the sticky “feet” attached to the fastener remains attached to the aluminum, but pulls away from the fastener. I’ve tried several ways to attach the fasteners to the aluminum directly (glue, epoxy and so on) and nothing seems to work.

Has anybody actually used any of the fasteners listed above with any success?

Jim

[Condoluminum]

Just to close loop, the Professor and inventor of Wayback Machine was Mr. Peabody (a dog..), and his young geeky companion was his boy, Sherman...

Rocky and Bullwinkle were great TV...

[overlander63]

Have you thought of velcro?

[clancy_boy]

Go low tech - use duct tape.......

[Aerowood]

I,ve used these at work, expensive but the best I've ever used: Click Bond, Inc.

[Jim & Susan]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll bet one of these will work.

Clancy--I assume that the wires should not be taped down in all places because they need to flex with the camper.

Terry--I'm using velcro in some places already, but it can't be used every place because you still need to be able to fasten it down.

All of this is based on the idea that the wires need to be held loosly in place. In other words, there needs to be some minor movement allowed in the wires to account for flexing of the camper, but they need to be tied down in order to avoid the insulation being rubbed off the wire by the walls while rolling down the road.

Thanks again everybody.

Jim

[john hd]

jim

just save your old clips if they don't break and renew the adheasive by using 3M double stick tape for body mouldings.

any good body shop should have some.

john

[markdoane]

Use the original factory method, from before Rocky's era (1959).