Anyone know the best method to clean & polish ends of fibre optic cables. I have a few transmitting low light and the ends look dull compared to good ones

 

Just take a razor blade and make a clean cut.

 

Thanks L88

 

There are optic fiber cutters that will make the slice straight and true. If you have several cuts to make, you might want to have one. If you just need to do one or two, a skillful move with a fresh, sharp razor blade should get it done.As far as 'polishing' ?? ...the fibers are glass! (I guess I need to Google that info, now that I'm curious.)

hmmm.....diamond lapping discs....whoa...

 

Unless I am mistaken, I believe in this application they’re just plastic.

 

Nope..

 

Although mine were not dull they had paint overspray on them. I read here that toothpaste was mild enough yet could remove dirt and polish them. It worked good for me.

Plus my fiber optics no longer have plaque and are minty fresh. 4 out of 5 Corvette forum members recommend this for Corvettes that have fiber optics.

 

Nope- the Corvette's fiber optics are plastic- can easy be melted with a heat gun.... Only good for till 158°F

Glass fiber optics are good till somewhere in the neighborhood of over 1100°F

 

Crisco: If you make a cut please let us know what you did and how it worked out? Mine are kind of dim as well. Also I would assume only the transmitting end needs rework.

As to whether they are plastic or glass, we're getting mixed messages. Mine are a bundle of fibers as I recall but I would have to look to be totally sure. If that's the case that makes cutting a bit harder.

 

How do you remove and replace the metal ferrules on the ends in order to do that?

 

just sayin- this test was not done by a trained professional- but by an amateur myth buster...


When I pulled off the tape wrapping and recovered them the fiberoptics in heat shrink- I had to be super careful NOT to heat them up much- as they would melt way too easily.

I've cut all of mine when I redid the wiring in the front of my car. I ran the wires at the base of the radiator and not at the hood surround- which made the fiber optics too long-







The plastic fiberoptics was easy to cut - the ferrule pulled off relatively easily.

Reattching the ferules I used silicone - as it looks like it was crimped originally.

Here's what it looks like split open- Original fiberoptics cut from my 71.

Looks like thin fishing line-





Here's my scientific test equipment- blue tape and duct tape does a lousy job stopping light

The lens from my grille is taped on to my Milwaukee LED light and a short piece of fiberoptic is placed without a ferule in the lens





And here's what it looks like-

The fiberoptic's loose brightness the further away from the lens...my lens are clean- but 50 years old- they were not cut precisely- but at an angle with dull wire cutters- not polished- but still are nice and bright



And here's the plastic versus glass test- less than 5 seconds with a heat gun they shriveled up and melted together in a clump- defiantly PLASTIC!!!





For a baseline- took a few strands of fiberglass- hit it with the heat gun till the tape was going to catch on fire- no change....

 

I have trouble imagining the installation of something that melts at 158*F in the engine compartment of a C3.....

 

62Corvette,

No need to remove the ferrules unless someone has been in there before. My experience is that the cable protrudes from the end of the ferrule enough so you can trim the overhang. I’ve also spliced a few over the years with shrink tubing with reasonable results but I’ve recently seen another post where you can buy replacement ferrules and the like for very little. Don’t have the time right now to search or I’d post that link.

Richard454

Thanks for the myth busting. GM would not have spent the money for glass fiber, especially when POF (plastic optical fiber) was in wide commercial use then and far more accommodating to the harsh environment of an automobile.

 

Got at the fibre optics. My problem was at the trim plate right side headlights and signal. on the console. Heck of a job getting things apart. 2 of the fibre optics did not show at the ends of the outer casing it was a bit longer so trimmed that back. Had to remove ferrules but could reuse them. Other 1 was dull so cut it. These are plastic fibre optics And cut easy as L88 suggested.(thanks again). Looked for a source to buy new ferrules but could not find 1.They are diff. fro headlight & rear light ferrules which you can get.Hope this helps some else

 

The fronts (high and low beam) are different sizes as well-

Headlights-
https://www.lectriclimited.com/termi...-ferrules-ends

Front turn
https://www.lectriclimited.com/termi...les-ends-boots

Rear
https://www.lectriclimited.com/termi...les-ends-boots

 

Found the website. Fiberopticproducts.com

Cable part number is E1000. Splice tube 51-1. Retention clip 46-1.