rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Hello - another question! The new loom for my GT6 Mk2 has wire tails to connect to original hollow bullets - because of course all the lights use these type of connectors. Is it recommended to use this old style of hollow bullet (i.e simply folding the loose wire around the bullet) or should I solder them or perhaps use a modern crimped bullet instead? Many thanks for any advice. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Rich, The hollow bullets are to enable solder to be used - which is what I do with all Lucas bullet connectors. Regards, Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 and suggest once the bullet is assembled in the connector a good dose of oily inhibitor is added to reduce any future corrosion back in the 60/70s truck wiring used to corrode badly and we tried a lot ended up with a squirt of Tectyl 506 ( or similar) to solve terminals dropping off Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Indeed Pete. Over the decades this is what happens to the connectors - they become brittle causing the obvious problems. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 OK thanks all. But the hollow bullets originally had the wires folded over and pushed into the femail end right? Pretty poor so I can see teh point of soldering them! Many thanks Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 If you mean the early style hollow bullet as opposed to the later crimp; these were intended to just have the strands folded back. Soldering may make you feel better but creats a weak point at the point where the solder wicking into thr cable ends, that's where it will break eventually. The key is moisture proofing. David Nice picture here:- https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/mobile/product/709/category/6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 the factory harness bullets where fixed not folded ,, the hollow / folded is a aftermarket fix /repair bullet take care with solder some flux can aggravate corrosion Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 if you wish to solder then you need the better solder /crimp bullet with holes for appropriate wire diameters https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/27/category/6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 4 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: the factory harness bullets where fixed not folded ,, the hollow / folded is a aftermarket fix /repair bullet take care with solder some flux can aggravate corrosion Pete Interesting - none of the glands were fixed on my cars loom 😨 You'd think they would include then in the new harnesses (the cable ends are not wired) whereas they are (to spades) for the Mk3 (I was supplied one in error first), both autosparks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 18 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: if you wish to solder then you need the better solder /crimp bullet with holes for appropriate wire diameters https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/27/category/6 I agree but I think the later crimps are a different size to the early hollow bullet. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Is it better to use a crimped bullet instead of soldering then (or is this a personal preference thing!!). Many thanks Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 a crimped joint is classed as good as it gets there are diameter differences that can make mix and match such that not all fit everything , but paired connectors are really good Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 The early hollow bullet fits something like the adapter in the picture; the later crimp I've shown falls straight though the hole! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Hmm. Yes, all th modern connectors seem to be a different diameter to the original (4.6mm). The type of bullet you show is avalable at 4.7mm diameter (from AES anway). The crimped connector in the picture i posted is only 3.9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 18 minutes ago, rulloyd said: Hmm. Yes, all th modern connectors seem to be a different diameter to the original (4.6mm). The type of bullet you show is avalable at 4.7mm diameter (from AES anway). The crimped connector in the picture i posted is only 3.9mm. I think the one you posted is called a japanese bullet; there are many different styles and critically sizes!!! And I've seen many unfortunate wiring incidents where someone has tried to fit the wrong one and used pliers to squash the mating half down to make it fit. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 You can buy a decent crimp tool. Well it does a decent crimp to the wire but you have to make sure you have squeezed it all the way, its not like a racket crimp tool! I have been using it on the Herald and it makes very good connections. See https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/crimping-tool-for-lucas-terminals Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 6 minutes ago, mpbarrett said: You can buy a decent crimp tool. Well it does a decent crimp to the wire but you have to make sure you have squeezed it all the way, its not like a racket crimp tool! I have been using it on the Herald and it makes very good connections. See https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/crimping-tool-for-lucas-terminals Mike What bullets are you using Mike? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 That's the style I have on the MK1 GT6 rear lights; the loom came from Autosparks back about 2001 and I think they were soldered on. They just fit into a curled metal contact which will expand round larger bullets or can be tightened (gently!) for smaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: the factory harness bullets where fixed not folded ,, the hollow / folded is a aftermarket fix /repair bullet Not true of rear lights on roundtail Spitfire and GT6. Or the front indicators on Mk1/2 Spitfire / Mk1 GT6. They all used the style Colin posted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 5 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: That's the style I have on the MK1 GT6 rear lights; the loom came from Autosparks back about 2001 and I think they were soldered on. They just fit into a curled metal contact which will expand round larger bullets or can be tightened (gently!) for smaller. Interesting. Mine came from autosparks but withoutteh terminals which is why I'm trying to work out what to use! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Mine also came without terminals for those type. I bought the brass bits separately and I'm fairly sure not from AutoSparks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 4 minutes ago, NonMember said: Not true of rear lights on roundtail Spitfire and GT6. Or the front indicators on Mk1/2 Spitfire / Mk1 GT6. They all used the style Colin posted. I think you are right as all mine were folder wire. I think I will but teh original hollow type and fold them. Should last 30 years or so!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted June 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Thanks for all the great advice. Much appreciated. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 57 minutes ago, rulloyd said: What bullets are you using Mike? They came from Carbuilders have a look at the web link "For 4.7mm (3/16") Lucas Type Brass Bullet ConnectorsPart Number: LUCRIMP" Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted June 4, 2020 Report Share Posted June 4, 2020 I have a jar full of solder connectors I have pulled off looms over the years and I reuse them. Use my high temp hot air gun to melt the solder and pull the old wire out. Presolder the new wire getting the solder well into the strands then fill the connector with solder by sticking the tip of the iron into the end of the connector and feeding solder in from the cable end. When solder is nice and hot and dripping on my toes poke presoldered wire in. Jobs a goodun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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