Club 80-90 Forums

Hey guys,

Failing any responses to my previous post "99 problems..."

Can anyone recommend a decent set of crimpers, cos I think I'm gonna have to repair the damaged section of the loom myself. (I haven't managed to source a mobile auto electrician in North Devon!)

Cheers
Tim

I think I'd go and browse your nearest MachineMart. Its quite tricky trying to avoid cheap bendy Chinese ones everywhere these days but at least you'd be looking in the right place. RS Components are another possibility. Can't recommend Maplins as their tools are often of poor quality.

Try and find crimp tools that have a ratchet they will be good quality.
Have you got to repair in line wires or end terminals.

Have been browsing for ratchet crimpers.

It will be an inline repair to the loom. My other thought was to solder a repair and then heat shrink wrap it.

Which do you think is the better option?

Reimotim wrote:My other thought was to solder a repair and then heat shrink wrap it.

Which do you think is the better option?

Six of one and half a dozen of the other. There are folk that don't like crimps but provided you use a correct size crimp and (as you have said) a quality crimping tool they are perfectly adequate. Their disadvantage is size; crimping multiple broken cables in the same location can become incredibly problematic due to the space they take up and the size of the crimping tool itself. Soldered joints take up no room at all but are a lot more hassle to do and the joints themselves can be a bit prone to metal fatigue.

I think it's pretty universal thinking that 'scotch locks' are the work of Beelzebub.......

1664 wrote:
I think it's pretty universal thinking that 'scotch locks' are the work of Beelzebub.......

Definitely!

If you crimp with the smallest crimp possible to go on the wires and cover with the smallest shrink rap it will be the strongest joint possible.Trouble with soldering at the end of the soldered joint the cable becomes prone to fracturing which is why all well made cables are all ways crimped.

thats not always the reason for crimping and they dont always break there, depends on the end fitting and method of fitting/soldering
mm

No you are right they don't always break there but they usually do. With 30 years of experience in high end cable building ie aerospace military and motor racing you will find soldering is a final resort only used when there is no other way to terminate the connection.

we shall have to agree to disagree
mm

I bought a set of these and have had no problems - good for the price.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-r ... tool/70036" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers,
Dave
(http://www.vwT25camper.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)