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Old 04-14-2021, 07:16 AM   #1
mgambuzza
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Default Light Bar Repaint Question

Removed, repainted, and tonight I'll reassemble my light bar and horn assembly tonight. Before I do this, an item came to mind and wanted to ask the people on here from past experience. I just remembered the bar probably serves as the positive ground for the lights and horn?? Do I need to sand off paint in any particular area to ensure a good ground on the headlights and horn? I wasn't sure whether that or the bolts when they tighten on the fenders and on the headlamps provide the "good enough" ground for these items.
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Old 04-14-2021, 08:02 AM   #2
ahirt
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Default Re: Light Bar Repaint Question

Just did the same thing last week.. I did not sand any areas but I did clean the bolt holes well as well as the threads on the bolts themselves. I then used Loctite Copper Antiseize 8008 on the mounting holes and bolts. This antiseize is advertised as being highly conductive. When I checked the ground it was very good.
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Old 04-14-2021, 08:46 AM   #3
Badpuppy
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Default Re: Light Bar Repaint Question

ahirt has a good solution. The method I use is to clamp a wire to each conduit inside the radiator shell and run to the forward hood latch screw under the frame. Use a star washer to cut through frame paint. Eliminates the bar and fenders completely.
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Old 04-14-2021, 11:37 AM   #4
CarlG
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Default Re: Light Bar Repaint Question

The horn does not depend on a ground path thru the headlight bar. I always run a separate ground for the headlights.
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Old 04-14-2021, 12:33 PM   #5
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Default Re: Light Bar Repaint Question

I had the same issue, headlight ground I mean. I usually wrap some copper wire around the bar-to-fender bolts before putting them in. An old farmers trick ... on old tractors the rear fender lights always failed. We simply jammed a copper nail between the fender and the rear axle housing ...

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Old 04-14-2021, 09:12 PM   #6
mgambuzza
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Default Re: Light Bar Repaint Question

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Thanks All for your suggestions - Success!! Took a bit of each suggestion. After painting, when reassembling, used star washers on the fenders, used some copper wire to wrap on bolt, and copper antiseize. I will admit I was initially worried it wouldn't work, but when all tightened and the switch thrown - all lighting worked, and horn still operated - thankfully no broken wiring!
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