Wiring Loom Tape

[FarFire70]

I've seen some posts recommending tapes for wires inside plastic wire loom and different tape (fabric tape) for the outside of wire loom.

I've used Super 88 tape in the past for the outside of wire loom but usually have thrown a preventive zip tie around it because it can get tacky and I suspect unravel...

I'm about to unravel a good portion of my OEM wire loom, so looking for a recommendations of tape internal to the wire loom and external, so I don't need to repeat how I did it in the past if better products exist.

 

[FarFire70]

Also welcome any tool ideas to cut into the existing loom to avoid cutting or clipping wires. I plan to use an exactor with a short blade extension for tape that doesn't unravel easily.

 

[Zorba]

They make special harness tape, but I've mostly used good old friction electrical tape. May even be the same thing, I dunno. Seems to work well.

 

[John Cooper]

This is what I used, it's holding up well. I wrapped my harness in the tape then put the loom over the tapped harness.

Oyviny Electrical Wire Harness... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C153TS9D?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[macleanflood]

Tessa tape is what a lot of folks use for wire looms. I don't like it. Leaves a sticky mess when you inevitably have to redo work. I much prefer Super 88. That and a heat resistant split loom. Cable ties over taped split loom...not directly touching wire to prevent chaffing. Want to spread the load.

I just carefully use an old fashioned razor blade.

-Mac

 

[Andy-WhiteTJ]

The generic term for wire loom tape is friction tape.

 

[NskLJ]

I've seen some posts recommending tapes for wires inside plastic wire loom and different tape (fabric tape) for the outside of wire loom.

I've used Super 88 tape in the past for the outside of wire loom but usually have thrown a preventive zip tie around it because it can get tacky and I suspect unravel...

I'm about to unravel a good portion of my OEM wire loom, so looking for a recommendations of tape internal to the wire loom and external, so I don't need to repeat how I did it in the past if better products exist.

On all the harnesses I do. I will put a wrap of tape ever 6-8” and at the take outs where the harness splits just to keep everything neat. I will cover with the slips loom then wrap the split loom with a decent electrical tape. At the ends of the split loom I will wrap the wires the install the split loom and run the tape through the the split and a couple wraps around the loom keeps it from pulling back.
For cutting open looms you can use a seam ripper (sewing tool) or use a razor blade and just cut carefully once you get a small hole you can insert a small flat tool (screw driver or plastic panel tool) and cut on top of that.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prym-Lar...O-oJNAs2HzfxSIjS2EIpOMcUEqf4CqoRoCKd0QAvD_BwE

 

[Mike_H]

There is a page on FB called the clean 12V or something...Those guys make some NICE harnesses. Might ask over there too.

 

[machoheadgames]

I've tried a few different tapes over the years. Tesa Interior (cloth) and exterior (the tough one that is hard to tear). Polyken (kind of like a duct tape smooth backing), and friction tape.

I have found that I don't really like Tesa or Polyken for looms. Mainly because at a loom junction, it is hard to wrap in a satisfying way that won't unravel over time or bunch up and let adhesive goo up and leak out.

My preferred way to do things now is wrap the actual wires in Tesa (interior or exterior depending on where the wires will live), and on exterior jobs, use loom and friction tape on the loom. On interior jobs, the tesa wrapped wires either stay just wrapped, or they get put in an expanding braided loom sleeve. I don't like loom inside the vehicle much, unless it's like the tail harness that runs down the tub.

 

[mrblaine]

I've tried a few different tapes over the years. Tesa Interior (cloth) and exterior (the tough one that is hard to tear). Polyken (kind of like a duct tape smooth backing), and friction tape.

I have found that I don't really like Tesa or Polyken for looms. Mainly because at a loom junction, it is hard to wrap in a satisfying way that won't unravel over time or bunch up and let adhesive goo up and leak out.

My preferred way to do things now is wrap the actual wires in Tesa (interior or exterior depending on where the wires will live), and on exterior jobs, use loom and friction tape on the loom. On interior jobs, the tesa wrapped wires either stay just wrapped, or they get put in an expanding braided loom sleeve. I don't like loom inside the vehicle much, unless it's like the tail harness that runs down the tub.

We've found that the Polyken "duct tape" style is very close to what the factory uses. If applied with clean hands and cut not torn, it does not unravel and the opposite happens. It kind of melds all together and is a royal PITA to open back up for removal or addition of wires.

I don't like any of the Tesa stuff since it doesn't stick very well. I've also yet to find a friction tape that works, I've tried several. If you are going to use Super 88 or similar, find something to make it stay put because heat under the hood turns the adhesive into a gooey unstuck mess.

 

[machoheadgames]

We've found that the Polyken "duct tape" style is very close to what the factory uses. If applied with clean hands and cut not torn, it does not unravel and the opposite happens. It kind of melds all together and is a royal PITA to open back up for removal or addition of wires.

I don't like any of the Tesa stuff since it doesn't stick very well. I've also yet to find a friction tape that works, I've tried several. If you are going to use Super 88 or similar, find something to make it stay put because heat under the hood turns the adhesive into a gooey unstuck mess.

I did not find the polyken stuff to stick to meld together much, but I may have done something wrong. I did cut it, not tear. The friction tape I like is 3M, but I haven’t been using it for very long so I guess I’ll see if it holds up well.

I don’t like electrical tape at all, never seems to hold.

I do like the silicone tape that fuses to itself, that stuff is awesome but expensive and thick so it doesn’t work well for joints. My factory tape on the looms was more like an adhesive lined paper or something like that. I have yet to find anything that matches it. Maybe it just seems like paper because it’s so old.

 

[mrblaine]

I did not find the polyken stuff to stick to meld together much, but I may have done something wrong. I did cut it, not tear. The friction tape I like is 3M, but I haven’t been using it for very long so I guess I’ll see if it holds up well.

I don’t like electrical tape at all, never seems to hold.

I do like the silicone tape that fuses to itself, that stuff is awesome but expensive and thick so it doesn’t work well for joints. My factory tape on the looms was more like an adhesive lined paper or something like that. I have yet to find anything that matches it. Maybe it just seems like paper because it’s so old.

I found the Polyken by studying the tape the factory used and noting the duct tape like appearance. They do use some friction tape but we've never found any that works as well.

Check Josh's thread, he found the same results with the Polyken stuff.

 

[FarFire70]

Tessa tape is what a lot of folks use for wire looms. I don't like it. Leaves a sticky mess when you inevitably have to redo work. I much prefer Super 88. That and a heat resistant split loom. Cable ties over taped split loom...not directly touching wire to prevent chaffing. Want to spread the load.

I just carefully use an old fashioned razor blade.

-Mac

That's been my approach so far

 

[FarFire70]

I found the Polyken by studying the tape the factory used and noting the duct tape like appearance. They do use some friction tape but we've never found any that works as well.

Check Josh's thread, he found the same results with the Polyken stuff.

Are you using this just on the wires inside the loom or also the loom itself because that seems to be more fibrous.

With the super 88 that I've used on the loom replacements, I've zip-tied it because I suspect the heat may cause it to peel over time compared to a fabric tape like is on the OEM harness...

 

[Stinkbug]

I guess I am in the minority here but I have very good luck long and short term with Tesa High Heat Harness tape. Maybe others that had different results are not using the high heat version? About the only drawback I have found it that if you apply a few wraps, the harness becomes very stiff and not flexible.

 

[FarFire70]

For reference, I'm finding this type of tape on the exterior of the wire loom (at the joint):

And I'm finding this style that keeps the wires together inside the loom:

 

[Coadster32]

Funny...I thought regular electrical tape was for band-aids on cut fingers only..

I used 88, and then switched to Tessa. I find Tessa takes longer to get "gooey" than 88 does, and looks a bit better for my tastes.

I thought I read someplace that Tessa is not a substitute for electrical tape, in that it won't shield bare wires.

 

[matkal]

Some good info here.

 

[hear]

I've used this stuff with good results, for whatever that's worth.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08239PWL7?tag=wranglerorg-20