I work for a Cat dealer on heavy equipment and we use the same DT electrical connectors Harley does. I was troubleshooting an electrical problem and when I researched bulletins I found a service magazine the stated we should no longer use the dielectric grease. Here is the bulletin...
Dielectric grease should NOT be used in electrical connectors on Caterpillar machines regardless of the connector family. The use of dielectric grease in connector assemblies can result in moisture and dirt contamination. Moisture and dirt contamination can lead to shorts and/or intermittent connections.
Dielectric grease shall be restricted to use on bolted connections such as the following: ring terminals, cable assemblies, battery posts and spark plug connections. On bolted connections, Caterpillar part number 151-1340 Dielectric Grease should be used.
Just sayin...


My throttle has acted strange a couple times here recently on my CVO RG .... but only for a couple seconds. In checking out the threads, JR makes a great point .... and I have had to re-educate many of my customers regarding the use of dielectric grease in the automated laser and gps systems we install on Cat, and other brands of heavy equipment. They can use Deutsch DT, and some Canon, Bendix, Amphenol military style and other types of sealed industrial connectors .... and you do NOT use dielectric grease IN them. I'm not sure where this mis-conception is from ....... but it is common. Dielectric grease is silicone based, and non-conductive. Coating conductors with dielectric grease is a very bad idea, especially low voltage. Thats why it is/was common to use around high voltage applications ... such as spark plug wires, and ignitions or magnetos; it is meant to seal and insulate. In high moisture applications, or connectors that are subject to weather and moisture such as on heavy machinery, we use Lubriplate inside the connection; as it conducts and is an effective moisture/corrosion barrier... and is suitable for low voltage applications......Just like your trailer connection on your truck. Lubriplate works wonders on boat trailer connections as an example. Be careful how you use dielectric grease on your bike, is my point.