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Getting cheesed off with loose connections

Submitted by jason_jordan on Tue, 20/06/2017
Forums
Electrical

Hi folks

What is the alternative to bullet and spade end connectors?

It seems every few hundred miles I'm loosing my charge generally due to a bullet connector that is rattling around in the female housing somewhere. They are all soldered up and nice and tidy with heat shrink also but it's the female connectors that seem to be the problem. You can pinch them up tight with pliers but they never seem to stay tight for long. It's a very similar issue with the spade end connectors.

Im seriously entertaining the idea of ordinary connector blocks but am but off by the whole cowboy appearance of them and I know they are prone to corroding with age.

I was wondering if perhaps I am just using cheap and nasty connectors but it's hard to know the difference as most online suppliers all seem to be selling the same type of thing.

Thoughts and advice most appreciated as usual.

Cheers, Jason.

Submitted by bob_matthews on Tue, 20/06/2017

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I'm not sure what the alternatives are (for an old bike) but I've been using Japanese type crimp bullet connectors and spades. The spades aren't that much different from the ones we are used to (apart from the insulating cover) but the bullet connectors are worlds apart - they connect and disconnect beautifully yet hold very securely once pushed together and the silicone rubber insulation covers are simply brilliant.

I know it's not for the purist but in my opinion, it has made my electrics as reliable as I can possible get from a half a century old machine - but you do need a good crimper to attach the business ends.

Bob

Submitted by alan_osborn on Tue, 20/06/2017

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My credentials-As A O Services I have been supplying classic bike electrical parts since 1976 even if I haven't worked on many bikes. I have rewired a few bikes over the last 10 yrs or so. We do not use RED or BLUE or YELLOW DIY connectors, they are usually fitted badly with a pair of pliers and look crap.I have supplied, within the wiring kits I supply, either the F crimp which is as fitted to the Commando and Triumph Bonny for many years or a solder-able brass bullet (that can be crimped with the expensive tool.) Nowhere is there any need for heat-shrink. But I have had a good few 'slack' snap connectors from new, and as soon as I find they haven't gripped the bullet properly I bin them straight away. The 1/4 'spade' or correctly know as Luca connectors I have supplied come from an electronic/electrical supplier.As Bob says the Japanese connectors can be very good, but again there is different sizes so do not intermingle them.PS the RED things are mostly 3mm. The BLUE things are 5mm while the British bullet is 4.7mm so intermingle them at your peril.'Ordinary' connector blocks, ie DIY domestic screw connectors will melt and or rust-don't do it.Another point to note is that wiring on British motorcycles used regularly will not last reasonable for more than 10 years. You can't re make a connection properly as the copper wire inside the insulation is starting to blacken and will not crimp or solder properly.In passing, the other personal hate I have always had on other peoples motorcycles is 'sticky tape' the manufacturer never used it, so why should you?

Submitted by fritz_wettstein on Wed, 21/06/2017

Permalink

Previously jason_jordan wrote:

Hi folks

What is the alternative to bullet and spade end connectors?

It seems every few hundred miles I'm loosing my charge generally due to a bullet connector that is rattling around in the female housing somewhere. They are all soldered up and nice and tidy with heat shrink also but it's the female connectors that seem to be the problem. You can pinch them up tight with pliers but they never seem to stay tight for long. It's a very similar issue with the spade end connectors.

Im seriously entertaining the idea of ordinary connector blocks but am but off by the whole cowboy appearance of them and I know they are prone to corroding with age.

I was wondering if perhaps I am just using cheap and nasty connectors but it's hard to know the difference as most online suppliers all seem to be selling the same type of thing.

Thoughts and advice most appreciated as usual.

Cheers, Jason.

I use those: http://www.conrad.ch/ce/de/product/1188440/Verbindungsklemme-flexibel-014-4-mm-starr-02-4-mm-Polzahl-3-WAGO-221-413-50-St-Transparent-Orange?queryFromSuggest=true

Available for two, three or five wires.

Fritz

 


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