Wire Harness Cleaning/resto questions

[sdb8100]

Hello all,

I'm going through my harnesses (off the car) and checking everything, cleaning, re-wrapping and protecting. I couldn't find much information on the ability (or inability) to separate the various connector types from their plastic housings or rubbery shrouds without destroying either.

The wire diagrams on the wiki are amazing help by the way. Such a great resource.

[spl310]

There is a tool to do that. I believe that Curtis is the wiring guru and can point the way.

[sdb8100]

Okay great. Hopefully he can chime in or maybe I'll PM.

[spl310]

http://www.vintageconnections.com/Products/Tools

[Linda]

I never had good luck with the Vintage tool, too flimsy. Instead a very tiny flat screwdriver works. Here’s a pic, though I have used one even smaller..much sturdier. Push it in and press down on the tab, may take a few tries
viewtopic.php?p=302536#p302536

[Curtis]

I use the vintage Connection tools regularly. They work well but also take some time to get the technique down. You'll need the set of large and small since it is a 69.

Depending on what size wire you are extracting it can take some effort and fiddling. Sometimes you have to push the wire in so you can release the tab holding the terminal. There have been a couple times I have just broken the housing open and replaced.

The housings get brittle with time and if in doubt at all I would replace them now while the harness is out of the car. Very difficult to do in the car. You'll need several different types. Check all the terminals and get the crimper as well so you can replace any bad ones.

The wires are metric size and don't correspond exactly to the crimper sizes of 18 to 10 gauge. I generally crimp the bigger wires in the one and then crimp them again in the next smaller size. I always use some pliers to pull on the terminal and make sure it is going to stay on.

[sdb8100]

Thanks for the insight. I work in the automotive R&D world and as it happens the company I work for is a tier 1 wire harness manufacturer for OEMs among other things. That said, I have access to all sorts of great tools. However, knowing that the housing get brittle after 50 years and not being sure of exactly what the locking system was on the various connectors I figured I would ask first before I just start stabbing and prying.

thanks all. I'm getting into now...stay tuned.

[Linda]

Locking connectors are a nice upgrade over OEM , especially at the *#*!!# starter harness connector....
Vintage Connections got bought out in 2017, they have less than they used to, from what I recall.
Ebay also has the terminals, vinyl covers, and various white connectors in all sizes.

Linda

[redroadster]

It's frustrating to impossible do ( remove the male or female spade connection ...because even back in the 70s and 80s
The popup tab ,that you need to spring down to have the wire back out will have worn or a groove , melted into the nylon block which stops the tab from springing down .
You need 3 hands 1 to hold the connector block , 1 to push in the wire your wanting out of the block and 1 to use the tool to , pushing in to spring it down while pulling it out when free
Usually the thin tab will fold over that jams it from coming out and working like it did on reassembly also it just breaks off too.
Your better off cutting out the connector. Soldering the wires and use heat shrink tubbing or a new or very new salvage yard connector

[spriso]

This is a situation where if you use the right tools its easy, and if you try to ham fist it with the wrong tool, it can go wrong quickly.

I use these and they work brilliantly to depress the retaining tab on brass terminals:



https://www.amazon.com/Delphi-Terminal- ... B07DD3PC8H

If you play with wiring harnesses, you should own these tools.

Michael

[redroadster]

This is a situation where if you use the right tools its easy, and if you try to ham fist it with the wrong tool, it can go wrong quickly.

I use these and they work brilliantly to depress the retaining tab on brass terminals:



https://www.amazon.com/Delphi-Terminal- ... B07DD3PC8H

If you play with wiring harnesses, you should own these tools.

Michael

Those tools look NEW
Here's a pic of mine bought in ? 79 although the pin release tool was replaced in mid 90s the red and white tool is very good for ECU pins

[sdb8100]

I have all those tools and I was able to get through the whole chassis harness and start the engine this weekend. No issues, everything checked, cleaned, reassembled and re-wrapped. Fingers crossed the rest of the job continues to be positive.

[redroadster]

I have all those tools and I was able to get through the whole chassis harness and start the engine this weekend. No issues, everything checked, cleaned, reassembled and re-wrapped. Fingers crossed the rest of the job continues to be positive.

You need to solder the copper wire to the brass connector while apart ...after getting the tarnish off the wire so it will then its good to go for years ...ive done many

[70-1600]

+1 for the Vintage Connections housings and lugs. I am in the process of installing an upgraded radio into the center console of my 70 1600; as to be expected, the nearly 50 year old housings were pretty sad, especially the 9 pin housing for the flasher switch. I replaced the housings on both sides, switch side and harness side. The wiring schematics were not an exact match to my wiring, so I carefully moved each of the terminations one-by-one from the old housing to the new. All the lugs were in great shape, so I only needed to replace the disintegrated housings.

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[sdb8100]

Nice to see. I found a few brittle or cracked plastic connectors within dash and engine harness. Overall everything good, but I’ll be grabbing some replacements from vintage Connections.