solenoid connectors
In the TRA Concours judging guide page UH8 bottom, it states that the positive battery lead has a boot on the solenoid connection. My question is the description of "boot". The cable I have from British Wiring as a boot that covers the nut on the solenoid. I have other vintage and well worn cables that have a hard rubber tube that covers the end of the cable, sort of like shrink tubing. Bill Piggott has a picture in his Triumph TR2,3 &3A in Detail page 37 of a TR2 engine bay with the sleeve type end on the solenoid. Is this the "boot" mentioned in the guide? Similarly, is this type of boot also on the connectors on the cable from the solenoid to the starter?
Thanks
Chris
Hello Chris:
Generally a boot is intended to cover something. In automotive electrical systems this is usually a connection point that you want to keep dust free and/or prevent a short circuit when touched or bridged by another conductive part. The sleeving that you often see at the end of a heavy cable (battery, starter, etc) is sometimes referred to as a boot, but IMO that's not correct. A better term might be a strain relief sleeve and you will find them near the termination point on higher end cables. They provide a bit more support at the termination where there is the potential for excessive flexing of the insulation and conductor strands.
Good Day!
To boot or not to boot........
I'm sure many of us would like to see what the "official" boot looks like. I've studed my Bill Piggott originality guide but could not make out a boot on the solenoid. At TRA 2011 in Fort Wayne I did see a couple of boots but they seemed to lack consistency from car to car. Just for fun I went to NAPA and picked up a 90 degree boot and modified it to cover the solenoid nut on my TR3-A. It actually looks pretty good and Mark Macy only laughed a little when I sent him a photo of it. However....I would like to see what the official boot looks like if it even is a boot as we define it as it's always our goal to keep our car as close to "new build" as possible.
Keep us posted on your ongoing adventure with this mysterious boot!
Cheers,
Ray
TR3-A
TS54473L
"Emily"
Fairly sure from memory of my original TR2 that those 90 degree rubber protector boots were fitted to both battery cable terminals on the solenoid and the starter motor terminal.
Moss Europe has them listed as part 8G548. Quantity is shown as three units per car which tends to confirm this.
Viv.
Hi Viv,
Great information. I went to the Moss Europe Site and found exactly what you described. Ironically the "boot" looks exactly like the boot I purchased at NAPA and as you described is for 3 areas on the car.
Looks like we are on the right path here. I've attached a couple of web shots from the European site.
Cheers,
Ray
TR3-A
TS54473L
"Emily"
Attachment: Solenoid Boot.pdf (141.0KB)
Attachment: Solenoid Boot 2.pdf (412.0KB)
Actually, the early cars lacked the boots; they were added in the TS10,000 range, if I recall. Might be sooner or later.. Don't have my source but I believe it was in Piggott's latest 'Original' edition. Wouldn't hurt to add them though.
Ray:
My laughter was pointed at your recent retirement an apparent need for something to do, not at the results of your boot experiment! 
Mark
Hi Mark,
Yep...I took a bit of creative liberty in my response but certainly enjoyed your comment. Lots of fun things to occupy my time during "retirement" in the the summer time but come fall it's time to find something to do to keep me out of trouble.
Just got done reviewing the brochure for the Switzerland Inn site of TRA 2012. Should be a great place to play.
Cheers,
Ray
