(Topic ID: 180047)

Alternate tool to re-pin system 1 connectors?

By kobayashimaru

7 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 16 posts
  • 14 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 7 years ago by NicToria
  • Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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#1 7 years ago

Greetings!
I'm currently working on getting a Charlie's Angels up and running. I was in the process of rebuilding the MPU to driver board harness and I snapped the tip off of the Molex pin extractor tool trying to remove a stuck contact. Has anyone here used something else successfully to do the job? I'd rather not have to pay another $15 and wait three days to get going again.

Thanks!
Joe

#2 7 years ago

I've seen a couple folks grind down some spring steel.

#3 7 years ago

Hammer down a paperclip to get it thinner. Grind the sides if it's too wide.

#4 7 years ago

I've used a jewelers screw driver in a pinch. I think I may have gotten it out of a watch repair kit from Harbor Freight.

#5 7 years ago

Jewelers screwdrivers work perfectly. I prefer them over the Molex extraction tool to be honest. Those can be pesky connectors to remove.

#6 7 years ago

I ground down an allen wrench to work. Problem is you have to be careful about not putting the tool in too far or you can damage the housing clip.

#8 7 years ago
Quoted from kobayashimaru:

Greetings!
I'm currently working on getting a Charlie's Angels up and running. I was in the process of rebuilding the MPU to driver board harness and I snapped the tip off of the Molex pin extractor tool trying to remove a stuck contact. Has anyone here used something else successfully to do the job? I'd rather not have to pay another $15 and wait three days to get going again.
Thanks!
Joe

Same thing happened to me. I thought since the tool is now "junk", why not try to regrind it back to same point/shape? A few minutes on the grinder and I had a shorter tool that still worked. Actually, it has lasted longer in its current form then it did from the factory

1 week later
#9 7 years ago

Wow! Everyone has these laying around. I cut an old leaf switch down with a pair of metal cutters and file the edges. Takes a couple minutes to make.

#10 7 years ago

What I can't figure out is why Molex thinks these things are worth that much. These should be a couple bucks - tops.
Tried to get some custom made by a local tool and die shop. I thought a generic handle with replaceable tips would be a great idea. They promptly spaced me off...

2 weeks later
#11 7 years ago

Thanks for the input everyone! I ended up going to Harbor Freight and found an electrical probe kit, which basically look like dental tools. There are 5 different types in the package, 3 of which fit in the housing to disengage the retainer. Considering the kit was $3.49 and considering the questionable quality of HF tools, I bought several sets, considering I have at least 100 more contacts to replace. I also ended up splurging on completely new MPU to driver board and power supply to MPU harnesses. Hopefully this will go a bit faster now.

Thanks again for your help!
Joe

#12 7 years ago

I second Ed, Molex way overcharges for this tool.

#13 7 years ago

I make pics out of windshield wiper blade inserts. The metal piece that is in the wiper blade. A piece of round wood dowell. Still hole, insert metal in there. Gorilla glue and you can grind it into any shape you need to pick.

#14 7 years ago

Still is drill.

#15 7 years ago

That molex pin extractor tool is a flimsy piece of crap that doesn't even work very well because it's so flimsy. Hated it. I went to Menards and bought the smallest regular screw driver they had. It's a billion times more sturdy and works great!

#16 7 years ago

We are doing the same thing... Is there a great crimp tool to re-pin the Edge Connectors.. ?? THX> For all the responses so far on getting the pins out ..

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