gnkjoy

Does anyone have a successful repair method for fiber optic cable? I have a broken cable about 5" from the LH taillamp.

Alan 71

ZIP Products shows a Fiber Optics Repair Kit on page 129, part no.E-493. I've never seen one and don't know how well it might work. It's certainly worth a call.
Regards,
Alan

gnkjoy

I have this kit. All it consists of is a piece of fiber optic cable and some shrink wrap. You're supposed to butt the two ends and shrink wrap. Doesn't work for me. I haven't been able to keep the two ends butted securely while applying heat to the shrink wrap.

weimer20

take enough of the outer cover off of the fiber to get the width of just your average scotch tape around it. Thread the shrink wrap (any electrical black shrink tubing will do) onto one end. Take both ends of the fiber and butt them together. They should touch. Carefully wrap the scotch tape around both ends to hold them together. Slide your shrink tubing over the whole mess and shrink it down.

Eddie 70

At one point, someone on here wound up using some flared fittings and put the two together. I don't remember the sizes but, they were pretty happy with the results.

StickShiftCorvette

I have repaired fiber optics by drilling an aluminum tube to make a press fit to the fiber optic line, cutting the ends clean and butting the cable together in the tube. I then seal the tube with silicone to keep it all clean. I think I got at least 85% light transmission through the repair, sometimes it works nearly perfectly.

You might need numbered and or lettered drills to get the best fit.

Good Luck!!

Dick Whittington

Always take a "q" tip and alcohol and clean the ends of the fiber. Make sure your cuts are exactly 90° cuts. This will minimize the light loss. I have never bought the kits, just used a single edge razor blade to make the cuts and parts house shrink tubing. Have fixed many over the last 25 years

0Willcox Corvette

Dick is right. (hey Dick, long time huh).

I've repaired the fiber optics on a car and you can always bet you will loose light! If you cut fibers at an angle you will stand to loose less light! But you will never have the same light as before unless you repair each strand to it's original (AT&T will tell you this).

The trick is to get the optic cables as close to a matching end as possible! The only way to do this and keep most of the light is to angle cut it! Then use electrical tape to hold them as tight as possible (using only a tiny amount). Once you have this done buy some over the counter heat shrink tubing and get the blow drier out!

This will give you as much light as possible and hopfully enough to make the lamp in the dash work. The only other solution is to replace the optics in the harness from front to rear.

Another thing people don't realize is that each headlamp bulb had a hose (grommet) on the bulb tit. It forced the light to the optic harness connector. If these hose's (grommets) are missing then the light will not be as direct to the optic lens at the headlamp connection!

If you check your assembly manual you will see these present! You can make these from vacuum hose and when you push on the electrical connector to the headlamp bulb just insert them! The light will greatly improve from the headlamp to the dash instantly.

Willcox In

71rdster

There was a kit at one time that included "glue" (probably just super glue) to butt the broken pieces. Then shrink tube to seal the deal.

0Willcox Corvette

I know, but glue on the optics will only impede the light emitted from optic strand!

The glue may have been for the outer optic strand, but if you put it on the strand itself it will dim the light. Butt fit the stands is the only way to repair and it's a crap shoot!

Willcox Inc.