Depinning generic waterproof electrical connectors?

[fastpakr]

I've been using this style connector for various projects for a while now:

They're available dirt cheap online and seem to work pretty well considering the cost. However, for the first time I need to de-pin one to swap a couple of wires around. For the life of me I can't figure out what the simple way is to do so. None of the depinning tools (admittedly a limited collection) that I have seem to work. Maybe I'm just using them wrong. A quick browse of reviews has only led me to others trying to figure out how to do so themselves.

Have any of you guys been down this road and figured it out?

Here's a couple of links if you want to look at more info about them:

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Automotive-Electrical-Connector-Connectors/dp/B09GN8TQYQ/?tag=959media-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KP369MF/?tag=959media-20

 

[Uncle Gump]

There has to be a tab that locks it into the connector body. That little tab has to be pushed down to release it from the body.

Look at the terminals that haven't been inserted into the body to see it. Most times a flat connector pick or a tube type pick slid in the front face of the connector body will release the tab.

 

[fastpakr]

There's definitely a tab that locks in on the terminals as you insert them to the back of the connector shell. I'll look again this evening with some of the extras in the kit. I did that the other day and still couldn't get them to release, but I found a couple of photos of using the official Metri-Pack tools on those connectors, which are very similar. Hopefully there's a simple way.

There's enough extra on the cable that I could just cut off one side of the connector and remake it, but I wouldn't learn anything that way.

 

[Uncle Gump]

When you find that spot they come right apart. It's sometimes requires a bit of a push inward on the wire... release the tab and then pull the wire. If that makes sense.

 

[fastpakr]

It definitely makes sense. I've done it plenty of times on other connectors. This particular variety is just giving me fits.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've seen those before and figured it out but it's been a while...

I especially like the last picture in that ad where near everything in their detail pictures is done wrong... wrong type of crimping pliers, seal not crimped in the crimping waist...

for like 90% of the connectors we use at work (a lot, and many different types) I use a simple T pin with the help of my pocket knife to pry different things apart, sometimes it helps to have a tiny pair of needle nose pliers or a hook tool...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Gm weatherpacks use a tube tool to unlock them.

A centerpunch might work too.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have some of these, can’t remember the de-pinning process though, if I think about this tomorrow I’ll take a look

 

[Snoranger]

Those look like Metri Pack 280s… are they tangless or do they have tangs?
By that I mean are there metal tangs that stick out that lock them in or is it a plastic tang on the body that holds the metal in place?

If they’re tangless, you need to push the plastic clip away from the metal insert. If they are tanged, you have to push a tiny screwdriver in and bend the metal tang to release it. (Then you bend the tang back out to reuse it.)

Tangless:

Tanged:

 

[fastpakr]

Tangless.

 

[scotts90ranger]

As shown in your third picture, take a T pin or something thin and pointy, put it against the top of the terminal and push back until you get to the catch on the connector then pry it away from the terminal and you should be able to pull the wire out the back.

For ease of use I like the Deutsch DT type connector, amphenol and others make copies since the patent lapsed...