 | Home > Technical > Crimping Lucas 4.7mm Bullet Connectors |
 
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1788   
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Hi Dinnu,
when I was an apprentice very many years ago, we always soldered these not crimped them I can remember filing the ends of hundreds of them making up looms for TACR2s etc. HTH Keith |
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5th Jan 2023 7:15pm |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 748 |
I also think soldering bullet connectors gives a better result.
When I re wired my series 1 I bought the special crimping tool which makes a hexagonal crimp which I think will be difficult to replicate with the cheap crimping tool. Even with the correct tool some have pulled out over the years and if I did the job again I would solder the connectors. |
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5th Jan 2023 7:20pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1225 
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Soldering will almost always create a better connection on connectors. The reason crimps are more popular is they are faster and more reliable when done by monkeys.
Soldering is a skill and therefore costs more to train someone and is like welding in that to know its good you have to trust the solderer to a certain extent. Crimps can be calibrated, tested and operated by monkeys with repeatable results. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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5th Jan 2023 7:24pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3430  
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Ahh thank you. I did not think of soldering. Would try that
 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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5th Jan 2023 7:27pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2048 
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My understanding is if crimps are done correctly with the correct tool they are better than soldering. Mainly because soldering can make the joint brittle and in a vibrating environment such as a vehicle this can cause the joint to fracture.
However the generic non ratchet tool Dinnu showed rarely gives a good crimp. The downside to crimping is the cost of quality ratchet tools and the need for several of them for different connector types. At circa £25 to £35 each tool ( much more for large gauge wire tools ) it can get quite expensive if the tool is rarely used. In your situation Dinnu I would likely solder as as well, pre tinning the wire and soldering while the connector is facing down, so the solder runs away from the insulation will help in stopping the free wire from becoming ridged and brittle. |
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5th Jan 2023 9:04pm |
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| Mdm Member Since: 11 Sep 2013 Location: Sunny Lancashire Posts: 1628
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i tried for ages with other tools,and ended up with 4 crimp tools now. the best being the ratchet one for normal terminals.
yes soldering works but takes time the proper tool is only £20-30 and plenty on ebay new and old and its saves so much time |
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5th Jan 2023 10:06pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1225
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The same is true of crimps but its a known and quantifiable measure and crimps can be designed to strain relieve the wire. That is the key point - strain relief. A soldered collection will provide a better electrical contact but as with all joints it needs strain relief to prevent metal fatigue happening over time. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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5th Jan 2023 10:11pm |
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| mikeh501 Member Since: 07 Jan 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1142
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I bought the special crimps but in all honesty the bullet connectors are rubbish and best replaced.
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6th Jan 2023 8:50pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1089 
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You can get these bullet connectors with glue heat shrink build in. If you make the electrical connection good then the heat shrink will take care of the mechanical strain
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7th Jan 2023 6:13am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3430
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Have came across these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/322952982755?hash...R8bJ84WxYQ They look a bit cheap, but much follows the trend of all other connectors. I only need to replace the bullets on the side repeaters as in the wisdom of the manufacturer, they used something like 3.5mm bullets. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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7th Jan 2023 6:23am |
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| murph81 Member Since: 11 Sep 2022 Location: Ireland Posts: 63  
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I used the ratchet type crimping tool from Autosparks along with the bullet connectors I got from them when replacing the chassis loom on my old 90 and it was perfect.
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7th Jan 2023 9:14am |
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