Bullet wire crimper tool

I would highly recommend the RTL tool sold by the site below. I have owned the tool for several years now (note the different options on "jaws") and it is a pleasure to use. It is fantastic for the non-insulted double tab terminals especially.

http://www.vintageconnections.com/
 
I made a hardwood fixture so I could solder three bullets at once. I feel solder makes for a permanent trouble free connection.
Bruce
 
One of the topics with varied options. A lot of professional autowirers prefer the crimped method with a lot of explanation as to why. I have soldered a lot of wiring fittings, but there are some solid arguments for the crimped method.
 
Just my opinion but I used to solder most of my connections. I found too many of them fail over time due to vibration fatiguing the place where the solder ends and the wire strands continue. If you do solder, the joint needs shrink tubing and to be fixed solidly to prevent flex between the wire and solder joint.
 
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Rustedjunk said:
What tool should I buy to crimp the wire bullet ends, and where do I find it?
Click to expand...

Can you put a picture up of the terminal you are planning to use so we can see what the end that needs to be crimped looks like. The company I worked for used many types of crimped on terminals and many different types of crimpers were necessary on our assembly lines. I wound up with many types of hand operated crimpers in my tool collection.
Some of our products were inherently high in vibration and the terminal connections that held up best were mechanically crimped to stranded wire with a strain relief on the back of the terminal that covered or crimped over the wire insulation. A typical soldered on terminal connection, where the solder would wick down the wire strands and cause all flexing of the strands to occure where solder stops, would never have lasted on these products that were prone to heavy duty use with flexing and vibration present.
 
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4-way crimping tools are available but they are too pricey for the average guy. Some of the newer brass ones crack if you try to crimp them. It's like they were machined instead of formed. I always look for the shiny brass ones that are formed. I've purchased some from vendors before that were half formed and half machined. That made me mad. I don't buy much from them any more.
 
I believe as rotorwrench said that the bullet terminals from a well known supplier in VA are machine turned on a screw machine. I, as other prefer a soldered connection, as long as don't get to much solder into the bullet to stiffen the wire, and make it prone to failure. I also use shrink tubing as a strain relief. Our old Fords probably don't see a lot vibration in a properly supported wire harness.
 
Note that Vintage Connections will not make any refunds if the terminals are soldered.

I have built four cars doing the electrical myself. Always crimped the terminals. Only had one failure. The first car I did I have run 35 years. I have an old, cheap crimp tool that makes an indent on one side. I think that adds to the strength.
 
I've always soldered my bullet connectors. The fork and ring terminals I crimp with an aircraft tool, then solder. Never had any issues.
 
In 40 plus years of soldering every class and certification that I have attended taught that you make a mechanical connection and an electrical connection. Crimp and solder


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Rustedjunk: What you have shown above, in your hand, is not the same connector as Ford used in your upper photo. Make sure the connector works properly before crimping or soldering onto the wire. The proper replacement connector is available, I believe Mac's and Drake have them along with a number of other suppliers.
 
On the original style connection (if I had a bunch of them), I'd crimp and then solder. I think you'll find on the replacement one shown in the second picture, that they are too brittle to crimp (will crack), your only choice is to find new bullet connectors or solder as many mentioned up above. This is one of those things that sort of aggravates a fellow - so many of the replacement electrical parts are of really poor quality.
 
I have never trusted crimping those bullet connections
Solder with good solder and flux.


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When I ordered my new wiring harness from http://www.riwire.com/ I also ordered some extra bullet connectors for circuits that I was adding.
Some suppliers only supply machined bullets that will not crimp but fracture and should only be soldered.
Did a little massaging on one of my tools and it worked for me.
The trick is not to over crimp.
 

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