How to crimp terminals

[Kid Vette]

This style of terminal will hold just fine IF it is crimped on properly . I do it all the time and have done so for years. I always use Delphi electric terminals and Delphi Packard or Kent Moore crimping plires , makes a factory style crimp that just won't let go. Just be sure to pack the terminal cavity with plenty of Dielectric grease and it will be reasonably weather tite. Go here for a good set of terminal crimpers that won't break you :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Delp...7485597?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item35af7d371d

I have bought things off of this seller and he ships FAST and his prices are reasonable. Stan

Dang! I wish you had posted sooner. I already bought the cheapo :chinese: crimpers I found on Ebay that will take 2 weeks to ship.

 

[Kid Vette]

I would throw those in the trash, and buy some real ones.:tomato:
If your insistent, as Noonie says, strip the wire to fit the front tangs. Fold each tab down with needle nose, then crimp the closed loops with a good crimper. Then, solder it, because they suck and will pull out anyways. Good luck.

So, other than they require a special crimpers, what don't you like about this style terminal? Apparently the auto companies have been using them for years. Just curious. :fishing:

I am siding with big2bird on this one. The O/P stated it is for a headlight relay or something. Sorry to say but I think the O/P should re-evaluate this idea and use weatherpack relays and pigtails. It isn't that difficult to make a weatherpack relay do what that poor mans relay will. Why you think auto makers went to weatherpack?

I'm sure many of you remember the early 80's when ecm's and electric fans came and the issues they had with unsealed relays etc. from corrosion buildup that crossed terminals and shorted stuff out.

Sorry but those autozone el-cheapo relays have no reason to be under a hood of a car. I would go out of my way to make weatherpack relays work simple as that.

OK, well I'm the O/P. No argument that the WeatherPack connectors are better; however, I believe they use the same style crimp on the terminals so I would only be gaining weather and corrosion protection. I've already got these relays (Bosch not cheapo Autozone) and terminals so I think I will use them. My Vette is only driven on nice days and here in Santa Cruz, weather and corrosion doesn't seem to be a big problem. If I put WeatherPacks on they would be the only WeatherPacks on the whole car - all the other connectors would still be the old style. Doesn't seem to be worth the bother.

Still haven't heard exactly what is so bad about these terminals. I'm just asking so I know what I'm risking.

 

[mrvette]

I solder my wires to the relay spade terminals directly....NO plug of any sort....

for anything carrying any current....assuming I can get TO IT, with a iron and do a credible job....

the way they make typical FWD cars today...GAFL....

:drink:

 

[JPhil]

"My Vette is only driven on nice days and here in Santa Cruz, weather and corrosion doesn't seem to be a big problem"

Sorry, Kid---You ain't lived in SoCal very long.....

That was where I finally learned to correctly crimp, solder, silicone and double shrink-tube my connections & splices.
(Blisters on my thumb from midnite shrink-tubing with a Zippo... These all on pan-shovel, flat 80, 4-speed blockhead & 59 Chevy Apache)

And that's also where I learned about GENUINE Bosch relays. They've never let me down. If that's the type of relay you can use.

 

[Kid Vette]

"My Vette is only driven on nice days and here in Santa Cruz, weather and corrosion doesn't seem to be a big problem"

Sorry, Kid---You ain't lived in SoCal very long.....

That was where I finally learned to correctly crimp, solder, silicone and double shrink-tube my connections & splices.
(Blisters on my thumb from midnite shrink-tubing with a Zippo... These all on pan-shovel, flat 80, 4-speed blockhead & 59 Chevy Apache)

And that's also where I learned about GENUINE Bosch relays. They've never let me down. If that's the type of relay you can use.

You're right, I've only been here a little over a year - its really more Central Cal than SoCal.

Everybody knows how those Milwaukee vibrators shake everything off! I learned on my pan years ago that my roach clip could be handy to reattach wiring.:amused:

So what are you saying - corrosion from the ocean air? I live only a couple blocks from the ocean but haven't seen any problems with corrosion. This certainly is nothing compared to the salt they dumped on the roads back in MI.

 

[010752]

"My Vette is only driven on nice days and here in Santa Cruz, weather and corrosion doesn't seem to be a big problem"

Sorry, Kid---You ain't lived in SoCal very long.....

That was where I finally learned to correctly crimp, solder, silicone and double shrink-tube my connections & splices.
(Blisters on my thumb from midnite shrink-tubing with a Zippo... These all on pan-shovel, flat 80, 4-speed blockhead & 59 Chevy Apache)

And that's also where I learned about GENUINE Bosch relays. They've never let me down. If that's the type of relay you can use.

That's the way I do mine too. Will last the longest especially around salt air with some grease added.

Salt air corrosion sneaks up on you.

 

[big2bird]

I thought this was put to bed. The tubular sta-kons require a human to insert the wire. Those units posted by the O/P are production units, where one machine strips the wire, and then it is "face laid" into a connector and crimped. (No threading necessary).
Will they work? Sure. Are they the best? No.

 

[JeffP1167]

"My Vette is only driven on nice days and here in Santa Cruz, weather and corrosion doesn't seem to be a big problem"

Sorry, Kid---You ain't lived in SoCal very long.....

That was where I finally learned to correctly crimp, solder, silicone and double shrink-tube my connections & splices.
(Blisters on my thumb from midnite shrink-tubing with a Zippo... These all on pan-shovel, flat 80, 4-speed blockhead & 59 Chevy Apache)

And that's also where I learned about GENUINE Bosch relays. They've never let me down. If that's the type of relay you can use.

You're right, I've only been here a little over a year - its really more Central Cal than SoCal.

Everybody knows how those Milwaukee vibrators shake everything off! I learned on my pan years ago that my roach clip could be handy to reattach wiring.:amused:

So what are you saying - corrosion from the ocean air? I live only a couple blocks from the ocean but haven't seen any problems with corrosion. This certainly is nothing compared to the salt they dumped on the roads back in MI.

I live in California too and guess what happens when you wash your car or it rains or damp air. California isn't safe from corrosion to electrical stuff, not just the salt you have to worry about.

 

[Kid Vette]

Well, I've done some research and I guess I'll try the open barrel/F-crimp terminals. I don't know how good the cheap crimper I ordered is going to work but I'll give an update after I give it a try. Thanks for the input guys.