Topic: Electrical connectors

[evanphi]

Give the wire a tug when you're done. Occasionally I will get a loose crimp, but most of the time it is a result of smaller gauge wire. In those cases I will strip 1/2" of insulation and double the wire back on itself to mimic a heavier gauge wire.

Brilliant. Why haven't I ever thought of this...

[OldSchool_IsCool]

For really small gauges of wire, like those attached to LEDs, I'll even fold the bare wire over the insulator itself thus allowing BOTH sets of wings to crimp onto the insulation.

[jamesbekman]

Long story short, I started doing the wiring, then stopped and just used the stock harness for now...

So I have a bunch of wire and connectors for a project at a later date.  I started with the points wires going to the coils and stopped.  I had took off all the original electrical tape from the harness and realized it really was in good shape.  For now....  Till I have lots of time.

I couldnt find a crimper like the one shown locally and my buddy didnt have the right one, nor did the IT guys at work.  I went to Sears though, who apparently was closing down for good... and got a 1hp crafstman buffing wheel/grinder for $55 !  So im glad I was out searching for the dang crimper!

I did buy one of the automatic wire strippers from my local hardware store and it works great.  Ran me about $25

And this is the crimper I bought for $20 at my local townie auto store thats been around since like the 20s...  The sad thing is I think I have one at my dads house in his tool box already....    http://www.amazon.com/SK-7703-Ignition-Crimping-Plier/dp/B0009WRL1U/ref=sr_1_18?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1429546457&sr=1-18&keywords=automotive+wire+crimper

This does the same exact crimp...  Its in the top part of the tool.  It handles the inner crimp perfectly.  Its not perfect when doing the outer crimp that helps secure it to the plastic sheath on the wire...  This causes it to be harder to put the plastic weatherstripping part of the crimp connection in place due to it not being a perfect shape. 

[madmtnmotors]

And this is the crimper I bought for $20 at my local townie auto store thats been around since like the 20s...
  http://www.amazon.com/SK-7703-Ignition-Crimping-Plier/dp/B0009WRL1U/ref=sr_1_18?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1429546457&sr=1-18&keywords=automotive+wire+crimper

 It handles the inner crimp perfectly.  Its not perfect when doing the outer crimp that helps secure it to the plastic sheath on the wire...  This causes it to be harder to put the plastic weatherstripping part of the crimp connection in place due to it not being a perfect shape. 

Maybe use the inner crimp portion of the tool for the outer crimp on the insulation, just stop short and don't "drive it home"?

[jamesbekman]

Yea I see what your saying.  The first two I did came out great.  The part of the outer crimps that actually get crimped looks fine, its the back side that gets jacked up, sort of doubles over on itself as the crimper isn't as thick as the outer crimp is and it sort of ends up making an L shape if that makes sense, on the back side.  So when you are pulling the plastic clear weather strip over it to get the outer crimp to fit in that grove in the plastic, you have to really force it to get there. 

Anywho, I could make it work for sure, just at a later date.  lol

[MoMo]

You sold me, I will get a crimper next time I order from them 

definitely worth the money Prokop...Larry

[NobleHops]

This is the one I have ( the one at the top of this page, with the green handles). It is excellent.

http://www.cycleterminal.com/crimp-tools.html

[jamesbekman]

Ok quick question...  On the multi crimp too that I linked to in my last post...  I was using the smaller crimp to do the inner part of the crimp that physically crimps to the bare copper wire, then I was using the larger crimp on the tool for the outer crimp that goes to the plastic part of the wire...  I havent tried to the smaller crimp on the tool to do the same thing.  It might work...  I will report back for posterity of this thread.  Hopefully