Bonding wire on a bravo 3

[DaleM]

I noticed while painting that one of the bonding wires that connects from the drive to the gimbal ring had pulled out of the eyelet that mounts to the gimbal itself. In attempting to back out the torx head screw it snapped off. The original location of the screw is on the inner side of the gimbal close to the exhaust bellow and isn't the easiest to get a screw driver to.

Can I relocate the connection to the outside of the gimbal by drilling a hole and then use a small self-tapping screw to recreate the connection? I've checked the area I am think and it would be free from binding on anything during full deflection in any direction.

Thanks!

 

[DaleM]

ok so here's a FWIW for anyone who has a similar experience in the future.

I got a stainless self-tapping screw that I got from Ace Hardware along with an eyelet that I could crimp onto the end of the braid that pulled away. I drilled a pilot hole into the drive component that originally had the connection and that would allow the threads to bite into the gimbal ring on the rear facing surface (which won't bind with the drive trim/trailering. I cleaned off an small area of paint, etc. Carefully worked the screw into the pilot hole by going a turn in, back out and clearing the chippings, etc until things were tight.

Sidebar - our shop manager happened to be driving through and told him what I was up against and he said what I was doing was perfectly fine and would complete the bond.

Finally - if anyone is up against this same issue it's all about maintaining the electrical connection. I would assume they placed the original mechanical connection points on the inside of the ring/drive so things wouldn't snag on something. Where I placed it seems to be pretty safe.

Just posting to close the loop.

Be safe everyone!~

Dale

 

[Paladin]

Thanks Dale