crimping terminals on big wire???

[baxtej44]

why do i find it so difficult to crimp terminals on 4g wire? i can do it fine on the 16g that i've been using, but the 4g always is loose, or if not loose just not SUPER secure, and i don't like that.

i usually pry the terminal open a little bit to shove the wire in, and then try and close it down with channel locks using all of my strength. and it still doesn't seem super secure to me.

 

[Mudhound]

Have you ever used the "universal" spark plug wire kits, or know someone that has? They come with a special "tool" for crimping the cable ends on, and it works well on cable like you are messing with, along with heavier Alternator feeds.

 

[baxtej44]

Have you ever used the "universal" spark plug wire kits, or know someone that has? They come with a special "tool" for crimping the cable ends on, and it works well on cable like you are messing with, along with heavier Alternator feeds.

i'll try and check that out...

they are called "universal spark plug wire kits"? is it for making your own spark plugs?

 

[trail B2]

Harbor freight has heavy duty terminal pliers instead of stamped plate steel work a lot better.I would'nt want my main wrenches or sockets from there but accessory tools are great.

 

[Mudhound]

The tool is for making your own spark plug wires. If they made the actual plugs, I would buy up every set that I could get hold of.
As for the H/F stuff, I have had the same set of 1/2 impact sockets for well over 10 years, and the only thing that gave me trouble was the plastic boxes broke in 1/2 after about 4-5 months. I uesd them daily since I was working in a junkyard for over 5 years, and now they get used at least 4-5 times a week, since I work out of my garage.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

This crimper works great from 8GA to 00GA.
Put the wire in terminal,lay it in the crimper and smack it with a hammer.

 

[baxtej44]

i'll definitely have to go looking around today...

i'll hit up harbor freight.

what is that big blue crimper called?

 

[exbass94]

Just put the wire in a vice. That's what I do when I have to crimp big wire.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

solder them or get one of those hammer crimpers like copper head showed. soldering is not that hard, its just intimidating till you get the hang of it. i like to strip my insulation on the wires back 1/8" farther than it needs to be (so that once the wire is inserted into the connector you can still get the solder in between the connector collar and the wires insulation), then take my terminal and clamp the tip of it in a vice so that the end that accepts the wire is pointing up. next insert the stripped end of the wire into the terminal and rest the wire over your shoulder or if its too short try to use a piece of wood or a coat hanger bent around the vice to hold the other end of the wire up so it doesnt move around or fall out of the connector when youre adding the solder. once its secured i grab a propane torch ( i have a small butane one that works well on 10-6 ga., but for 4-0 ga ill use the larger bernzomatic torch) and and start applying heat at the base of the connector, slowly working my way to the middle while at the same time pushing the solder into the connector until it flows out of the top. next i slide some shrink tube over the cable and using the distant heat from the torch or a bic, heat the tube till it shrinks.
using this method guarantees 100% connection between your wires and your connector, versus crimping which only captures the outer strands of the wire.

 

[strvger]

bfh and an old blunt chisel.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

solder them or get one of those hammer crimpers like copper head showed. soldering is not that hard, its just intimidating till you get the hang of it. i like to strip my insulation on the wires back 1/8" farther than it needs to be, then take my terminal and clamp the tip of it in a vice so that the end that accepts the wire is pointing up. next insert the stripped end of the wire into the terminal and rest the wire over your shoulder or if its too short try to use a piece of wood or a coat hanger bent around the vice to hold the other end of the wire up so it doesnt move around or fall out of the connector when youre adding the solder. once its secured i grab a propane torch ( i have a small butane one that works well on 10-6 ga., but for 4-0 ga ill use the larger bernzomatic torch) and and start applying heat at the base of the connector, slowly working my way to the middle while at the same time pushing the solder into the connector until it flows out of the top. next i slide some shrink tube over the cable and using the distant heat from the torch or a bic, heat the tube till it shrinks.
using this method guarantees 100% connection between your wires and your connector, versus crimping which only captures the outer strands of the wire.

Yep....hammer crimper.
That is the best way to do it!(as Foroffroad described)
I sell solider pellets that you drop down in the barrel of the connector,works great.

bfh and an old blunt chisel.

Works good to.............and cheap...lol!

 

[baxtej44]

ended up finding a terminal that has the insulation already on the terminal (hard plastic, but going to cover it with a rubber boot that came with my amp wiring kit too), and it is a solid cylinder of metal, instead of a solid cylinder with a slit cut in it. that was the biggest problem with trying it with the slit cut style because i could never get the two sides to agree on a common goal, they would end up distorting and looking like crap.

i would like to end up soldering eventually, however this is the more practical and economic option right now.

i'll let you know how this terminal goes, i went with a ring terminal because i was tired of the spade terminals sucking.

 

[tonykirkus]

those terminals are actually made to crimp 1 side at a time. there should be a split in the middle of the terminal if its a good one. i crimp 1 side, then the other and wack it with a hammer............ it works, trust me

 

[fili450r]

bfh and an old blunt chisel.

This good sir, made my day.