Reusing Crimp Lugs (Updated Video Available)

[@battheman777]

bless you, good sir. 5 years later and this is still being helpful. Your nail trick here saved me in a pinch. Thank you!

[@tsbrownie]

Thank you. Glad folks are still finding it useful.

[@FenrisTheMannis]

Your video just saved me the trouble to find a new brass terminal for my old battery charger that I'm rewiring.

[@pickles6993]

That's what I call a 'HOW TO' video. Perfect close-ups and narration. Keep em comin!

[@tsbrownie]

Thank you!

[@davej3487]

The male flat lugs on most equipment is common sized 1/4 inch. So it is best to just replace the female ones. The clasp that grabs the plastic is strain relief. Many common aftermarket ones do not have that but if you just put some heat shrink over the wire before crimping it does the same. Remove the Blue or Red plastic insulation and insert your wire in and crimp, slide the heat shrink over the crimp and heat.

[@TomTremayne]

Excellent video of stuff that's totally overlooked by most so called mechanics and fitters....many thanks, great help for my Alfa Romeo electrics which constantly need work.

[@tsbrownie]

Very welcome

[@TomTremayne]

Some of these automotive crimps are small & pressed on really hard. I found it impossible to open several of the thin, inner areas (the ones which grip the strands). I tried a nail (it was too big) & a strong leatherworker's needle (I bent the needle!). In the end with all the flexing I broke one where they narrow soe decided to just solder the new strands wrapped around the still closed crimp. If you can't open one out this is an option & it'll still conduct.

[@tsbrownie]

Why recover the lugs? Because 1) you don't have the right size on hand, 2) you don't want to drive to the store to get them, 3) using the wrong size (too big) can lead to them falling off or burning/arcing, 4) you know these worked already / tested. Remixed version with annotations restored: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHrHpKGhbdCkpbs

[@gussi123]

Wouldn't it have been better and easier to solder or butt connect another wire to the original piece you cut off??

[@tsbrownie]

Fair question, but I like to minimize total number of joints. Joints are where things go wrong typically.

[@connorflynn1885]

Dang, I was hoping there was a better solution than a small nail, lol. I'm having trouble driving the nail, but likely because I don't have a vise and am using an adjustable crescent wrench.

[@LTVoyager]

Seems easier to leave the terminal on the wire and instead butt splice the wires together and cover them in shrink wrap. That is faster, easier and maintains the integrity of the original crimp.

[@tsbrownie]

True enough. In older stuff (this was from a pressure washer capacitor) the wires are corroded and cutting them back and soldering them gives a low resistance, long term fix.

[@CHAOSMOVEMENT]

Nice video. I have to remove a ground wire from one of my vehicle's ground points, refresh the lead and recrimp the eyelet terminal. Wondering if applying some heat might help maintain the integrity of the crimping parts?

[@tsbrownie]

You know, it might help to anneal it. I have never tried it. If you do, please let me know how it went.

[@CHAOSMOVEMENT]

@@tsbrownie First run with propane caused a little collateral damage. The problem is it heats up so fast the entire connector becomes malleable and so I bent it a little at the neck. But I'm going to try a food grade butane torch and see if the smaller flame will be better. My wire is braided with a strong and thick braid over copper, so pulling the wires out of the smaller crimp is not an option, and this connector is difficult to find with a bracket on the side so I kind of need to reuse it.

[@tsbrownie]

@@CHAOSMOVEMENT Yes, it's easy to overwhelm those. I think a cigarette lighter would work, or even be too much. Thanks for letting me know. One (selfish) benefit of KZbin is people teach me from their experience.

[@CHAOSMOVEMENT]

@@tsbrownie Got it, with a very small propane flame. Got it bent back in shape, AND got the crimps open super easy holding it with a vise and just sticking a small screwdriver in the crimp and lightly bending. The heat made it 100X easier.

[@tsbrownie]

@@CHAOSMOVEMENT I will have to try that next time. Thanks again.

[@RixtronixLAB]

Creative video, thanks :)

[@aidanhayter2160]

Awesome, thanks for the help.

[@tsbrownie]

Glad it was useful.

[@Meggy_Callas_]

Hi, what if I can't open it up because it's too small, can I still place the wires ?

[@tsbrownie]

You need a mechanically strong connection, I do not know of any other way to get that. Wrapping the wire around it is not strong. I can't recommend doing things that might come loose and lead to a hazard.

[@Meggy_Callas_]

@@tsbrownie ye I managed to open them with a nail clipper, took me some sweet time, then, for safe measure wrapped some , i don't know what you guys call it in america, but it's a black tape that seals the electricity, thank you for your video!

[@FirePants84]

Good tips, thanks.

[@leighcatterall9616]

Thanks, great vid

[@tsbrownie]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@steves313]

just buy new ones

[@tsbrownie]

That is ok if you have time and can find the same sized ones...

[@missme9197]

Thxs!!

[@tsbrownie]

You are most welcome.

[@brendonmanship8854]

That works great! Thanks man