Brass bullets

[a101960]

I have just purchased a hexagonal bullet crimping tool. Prior to that I had a two flat type which I was not impressed with. Anyway I digress. Can I askwhat are your experiences of the best quality brass bullets for crimping are before I commit to buying any. Names of suppliers would be useful. I have read that some bullets do not crimp well because they crack due to being to brittle.

[chaterlea25]

Hi A10,
It all depends on what you are trying to do?
Is it standard industrial bullet connectors?
The modern "Lucar" type or Japanese type?
Each type needs its own crimper
A photo of what you have bought and the bullets you intend to use would help

John

[jhg1958]

I bought most of my electrical stuff from AES https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/. Much to recommend them in the quality of their products. The pain is that you pay postage for each order.  I ran out of bullets after re wiring 3 motorbikes and ordered the extra from eBay. The eBay bullets have failed fairly frequently either because they were slightly off diameter or the crimp failed. I got so fed up with this I have changed to the Japanese bullets are far superior as they click together and they have a crimp that holds the insulation as well as one the crimps the wire.

I will never use the British bullets again. Shame it took me so long to realise. 

John

[a101960]

The tool and the bullet crimps

[Swarfcut]

 Brass Bullets? Why not tin the wire, poke through the hole and finish with a nice blob of solder? Much more reliable in my estimation.

 Swarfy.

[a101960]

 "Brass Bullets? Why not tin the wire, poke through the hole and finish with a nice blob of solder?" Because I only have a lock up garage with no electric power facility

[limeyrob]

I solder mine and don't crimp. But its important to clean the flux off as it can corrode the wire.  I was repairing an outboard motor recently and was going to solder the connectors.  Looked it up and its a big no-no on marine applications, they effectively ban solder connections, its all crimp only. It seems salt environments really attack the solder and the connections break down in a few years.  News to me!

[a101960]

Aircraft looms are all crimped because of potential corrosion problems

[JulianS]

I use these from ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135479024975?_skw=Triumph+BSA+Norton+Lucas+Type+Bullet+Connectors+For+Wiring+Looms+Switch+NEW+x50&itmmeta=01JHDF1EB96C1Y87X951SCQS3M&hash=item1f8b2ddd4f:g:8YcAAOSwtVBmKsyI&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABMHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkQ8mm49JkaRbrJXMGGsaBg6rvn7NBxCD7V%2BcigJCx7NjwS8wOeA9NEnS5inX0kW

[groily]

https://www.almsolutions.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=97_188
Is what I've been using. I bought what I have in bulk some years back - but the bits shown here look the same. Assuming they are, they crimp well using a decent chunky hex-crimper, but of course you do need wire of a suitable gauge. Too fine won't be gripped.
The bullets are  big enough id to take pretty well any wire we need on a bike though, be it 6v or 12v, apart from battery leads maybe. I like as chunky as possible to minimise voltage drops and ensure good crimps.

Apropos soldering, the only connector I can remember failing was one I'd soldered. Probably my bad - flux residue & corrosion per Rob's point, too much solder up the wire making it rigid outboard of the bullet, or whatever.  So I just crimp now.

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
The ebay linked bullets have an extended sleeve that I think should crimp onto the insulation, where as the others do not??

A friend i know bought a special "lucar" crimper that  squeezes the bullets in 2 places 1 on the wire and second on the insulation.

If the insulation is not secured there is a weak point where the wire is compressed as it enters the crimped area.

It's been quite a while since I rewired any bikes
so have not used those lucar crimped bullets
In ages.
I salvage any old solder on bullets I find to do any running repairs  needed

John

[a101960]

Thank you all for your comments. Groily eventually (after a lot of faffing about) I managed to place an order. No mean task. The website is totally counter intuative, and there is no guest purchaser facility so you have to go all through the rigmarole of opening an account. Why I wonder do traders frequently make it such hard work? Anyway chaps thank you all for your contributions. John

[Colsbeeza]

I have not had enough success with crimping. For my BSA I soldered everything. I use a small soldering flame - a very sharp pointed flame.
Col

[Bsareg]

I prefer soldering (except on the boat). I used to use an iron but have now bought a cheap 240v solder pot. Quick dip into flux then solder pot, quick rinse and job done.

[Joolstacho]

The one thing worth bearing in mind is that soldered connections are more vulnerable if the wires are able to move around a bit. The wire is weakened right next to the 'solid' soldered part.