bullet conecters

bullet conecters

Author
Discussion

plasticpig72

Original Poster:

1,647 posts

156 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Because of electric connection problems i have bought 100 double bullet female connecters.I have replaced all at the front supplying the front lights and indicators which has solved all the problems at the front.
My method is to use a stanley knife to cut through and remove the insulation on the female connecter in the middle, that way i can then use a small screwdriver to twist and release the male connecters. I find it's better than just pulling apart which sometimes breaks the male connecter off. Once the male brass bullet is cleaned i refit with a new double female bullet in the middle.
Do female bullet connecters exist in Brass which would be so much better.
The problem is that the female bullets are always rusted which is why there are so many problems.
Imho the problem is not the Harness but the crap female bullets rusting.
Alan

Astacus

3,488 posts

241 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Yes, this is a classic problem for classic British cars of the 60s and 70s. I don't think brass female bullets exist because they wouldn't be springy enough to hold the male section in place.

plasticpig72

Original Poster:

1,647 posts

156 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
o.k. i'll continue cleaning and replacing all female bullets i can find.
I find it strange that on my 1976 3000M the wires are colour coded but on my 1978 3000S the wires in general are all Black.
I will buy a tool also to dismantle the Multiplugs so i can clean all the contacts.
The pins in the Multiplugs have Latches so you need a special tool to dismantle to clean.
Alan

RCK974X

2,521 posts

156 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Tip...

If you can find some spare sockets from the multiplugs, you can use them as removal tools by opening them up slightly so that they fit further in and compress the tabs. Works for both pins and sockets.

There are also a few different sizes (diameters) of sockets across makes, so that gives more options.

Done this several times - a bit of time doing this saves heaps of breakages and frustration, and doesn't cost anything, just some time...

phillpot

17,279 posts

190 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
plasticpig72 said:
The problem is that the female bullets are always rusted which is why there are so many problems.
Plenty of Contralube will help.

bluezeeland

1,965 posts

166 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
You will find that some of the male connecters will have corroded inside (and even in the cable proper) hence would change them too. What also will help is to install some extra earth wires, like to the front and rear of the car.....

plasticpig72

Original Poster:

1,647 posts

156 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
I'll look around for an old socket to make extracter tool and make up some good extra earths to improve things.
The car has "French Carte Grise" V5 and French reg now so i've put it in the under the house garage "sous sol". I put it on my car trailer which is hitched to a tow ball fixed in the wall. I can crawl under the car easily to fix bad connections underneath too.
Alan

Cerberus90

1,553 posts

220 months

Monday 5th September 2016
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I don't use 4.7mm old bullets anymore, I'm using 3.7/3.9mm Japanese bullets on everything now, crimp connections for the wires, clear boots so you can see what's going on and you can grab them and disconnect much easier than the old fashioned bullets, which as you say, usually pull the wire out when you try to disconnect. Available in single, doubles and triples.

plasticpig72

Original Poster:

1,647 posts

156 months

Tuesday 6th September 2016
quotequote all
I just wondered if the female connectors can be found in brass so no rust.
In multi connectors the barbs seem to do their job and spring into locked position and they are made from a non rusting metal.
The male bullets are in brass on my original loom and see no point in replacing them, just a rotary wire brushing.
Alan

280i

160 posts

159 months

Tuesday 6th September 2016
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I have seen some gold plated ones from Japan. I bet they would hold up better than the ones you are using.

plasticpig72

Original Poster:

1,647 posts

156 months

Tuesday 6th September 2016
quotequote all
Yes, but my bank balance wouldn't hold uprolleyes
Alan

Andrew Gray

4,969 posts

156 months

Tuesday 6th September 2016
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When you fit new male connectors use the brass ones there is a tool available to compress them however tin the wire first the take wire through the hole and solder the bullet needs the heat so it runs in then compress a little with the tool.
Andrew