110 County main battery earth

[mark2]

The main earth lead from my battery on my V8 110 is just about had it. Its very long as it runs from the battery box under the seat, along the LH chasis rail, accros the bellhousing and terminates at a bolt on the bellhousing right next to the starter motor.

Does it need to be this long or can I just run a shorter one to a bolt on the back of the transfer case or the chassis near the battery box? If so, what would be a better termination - transfer case or chassis? There is an earth strap near the LH engine mount connecting engine to chassis which would handle starting currents.

It looks like the original earth lead - would LR have done it this way to avoid running current through gearbox bearings etc - similiar to the principal of not running welding current accross bearings? I can see advantages ie less voltage drop in running a shorter earth lead. Obviously the positive lead needs to be long as it runs on a similar parth to the starter solenoid.

[D110V8D]

1 to the chassis and 1 from the chassis to the gearbox.;)

[Bigbjorn]

Always run your earth lead to one of the starter motor retaining bolts. Run another one from the engine to the frame. Ifthe vehicle is of separate body/ chassis construction, then another one from either engine or frame to body. mine also has one from engine to bullbar as I have 350 watts of lights earthed to the bull bar.

[mark2]

Always run your earth lead to one of the starter motor retaining bolts. Run another one from the engine to the frame. Ifthe vehicle is of separate body/ chassis construction, then another one from either engine or frame to body. mine also has one from engine to bullbar as I have 350 watts of lights earthed to the bull bar.

Thats the way it is now - whats the reason for going directly to the starter bolts - is it to prevent damage to bearings from arcing? - I would have thought the transfer/gearbox would be a better conductor than a single battery cable............

[JDNSW]

My original battery earth went to the chassis close to the battery box. There is a engine/chassis strap across the LH front engine mount. Following a series of starter problems eventually traced to the engine/chassis earth, I have replaced the lead with a new one running direct to the nearest spare tapped hole in the transfer case, and added an earth lead from there to one of the LH gearbox mount bolts on the chassis, taking the usual care to clean the bolt, nut and chassis. This provides a good earth path for the starter via the gearbox and bell housing castings to the flywheel housing casting. There are multiple bolts across all the joins, and I have had no problems or measurable voltage drop since.

In my view, running an earth lead direct to the starter should only be necessary if all the joins between the gearbox/bell housing/flywheel housing/starter are either corroded or loose. But a lead direct to the starter will work perfectly well provided it is a reasonable size.
John

[Andrew]

I think you will find the reason why is because the engine and gearbozx are mounted with rubber mounts, as the starter is draws a high amperage, take both the pos and negative strait to it. If your earthing to the engine block and the chassis is not good you may get faulty readings from the temp gauge.

So earth both the engine/gearbox and the chassis.

Andrew