Hi Guys,

If you can't tell from my username, I'm the proud owner of an 85 F250 with the 6.9.

I'm in need of a new battery cable, the one I have has been cut and a new clamp spliced on the driver's side. The splice has corroded, and so in effect, I'm starting on the passenger battery only- not good.

So anyway, I was looking on Ebay, and I found one that seems to just be a factory replacement, and this other that is a little different. I'd like to hear ya'll's opinion on each. I'm inclined towards the $53 one, simply because its cheaper, but is there any performance difference between the two, do you think?

This is the one that would be an "upgrade". Would it even fit?
BATTERY HARNESS CABLE FORD DIESEL 7.3 DUAL BATTERIES : eBay Motors (item 110488493435 end time Mar-02-10 07:58:14 PST)

This looks like a stock replacement:
Motorcraft BATTERY CABLE ford F-250 92-97 96 95 94 93 : eBay Motors (item 130358677197 end time Feb-11-10 22:24:42 PST)

 

well one says its a ground wire but i dont see an issue running it.if it was my choice i would go with the $53 but first check this guy out. Custom Battery Cables F350 cables he uses better bigger cable and another user has had good luck with him

 

That aftermarket one is actually a downgrade from the stocker, same with the one from Custom battery cables. The stock one, as you can see steps up from 2/0 between the batteries, to 3/0 from the second battery to the starter.
However, something is odd about that auction listing, it shows the positive in the picture, but, the description and length is one of the grounds.

 

this ones 2/0 for both batteries connects them and then to the starter.
along with your 6 AWG accessory wire as well.
BATTERY HARNESS CABLE FORD DIESEL 7.3 DUAL BATTERIES : eBay Motors (item 110488493435 end time Mar-02-10 07:58:14 PST)

in 85 you should have 2/0 between batteries and 3/0 to the starter.
so this would be a downgrade.
the length is 116" w 62" between bats.

sometime around 1990 they switched from 3/0 down to the starter to 2/0 on the IDI trucks.its not as good no.but it obviously works and would do ya ok.
when real cold,that 3/0 helps.

the second:
Motorcraft BATTERY CABLE ford F-250 92-97 96 95 94 93 : eBay Motors (item 130358677197 end time Feb-11-10 22:24:42 PST)

is a completely different wire.
this is a ground wire and much shorter.its measures only 45".
it SHOULD also be 2/0 AWG,however it doesn't say.-or i overlooked it.be sure to find it,or ask if you need this 45" ground wire.
by the sounds of things,this isn't the wire you need anyway.

so,the reason why one is cheaper than the other,is because its only half the wire length for a ground,where the other is a long positive cable to connect both bats and down to the starter.
so there's no choice to pick from here.

overall,that top one,for what it is,is a decent deal actually.if you can live with having 2/0 down to the starter.she's got ya totally covered for the positive side of things for 90 bucks.
i think a decent way to go for a rig that you dont want to put a lot of money in.
new 2/0 is far superior to old corroded 3/0.

 

Those custom cables are actually a pretty good deal, considering what I paid to make mine. Mine do have slightly better cable ends that were 12-19 a peice

 

look at the cable ends, I think that may be 2 grounds with red covers???

 

another thought, i dont know about where you live, but we have a supply store here that deals mostly with logging supplies, if you have a store like that they can build you a cable however you want. from talking to the owner, we figured about 50$ to build one with 3/0 all the way with no splice in the main terminal area. they have all kinds of batt ends, its something to keep in mind...

 

Oh, that's what I get for shopping online late at night. I see now that that $53 one is a neg. cable. Thanks for pointing that out, guys.

Thanks for the suggestion, jmmartin, I'll look into that.

Thanks to all for your help, now I know my options.

 

In these times everyone is trying to save a buck by buying online, and with good reason but I think we will all pay for it eventually, and heres my thoughts on it. usually when I need a part I need it now, so online is not an option.
I see in the future many small parts houses due to overhead either folding or haveing to go up on prices because they are not selling the volume they need to to keep prices down.
It reminds me of what happened to the small gun shops all over the country when wallmart started selling guns. Many many closed there doors because they could not even think of comepeting and couldn't make it with just there repairs and accessory sales, so many places was left out in the cold when they needed something besides just purchasing a new gun, and now wallmart in many locations are opting out of gun and ammo sales leaving many areas out in the cold now that the small shops are forever gone.

The chain parts houses with there cheap and lifetime waurantees have changed the parts industry forever( good luck getting help measuring a ujoint for a custom application) from a person that doesn't even know what operation the ujoint performs.
I can see the day coming when something simple will have us sitting on the side of the road until a fuel filter is recieved from an online parts source.
And it is allready happening as parts houses are not stocking lots of the slower selling items.

 

if i can ever get good employment again, i WILL have a stock pile of the "small" parts at my disposal. just gotta get to work first...