how to remove a pin from the connector

[porschenut]

Do I need a special tool to get these pins out of the white connector housing? I did this on a motorcycle connector with a paper clip a few years ago but as I recall the connector was a little different than this one. Any way to do it with an ordinary household item?

[javadog]

Dave,

It's better to remove the pin with a pin removal tool. These come in sets and are pretty cheap to buy. If you need to do it before you can get your hands on a tool, look in the end of the connector and see if you can see the tab that must be manipulated by the tool to release ithe pin. You might try grinding a paper clip flat on two sides to make it thin enough to fit in the opening provided. The plastic that the connector housing is made from is a little flexible. If you don't get to rough with it, you can probably get the pin out.

JR

[Zeke]

I find paper clips useless, sorry. They fold up too easily. I use small screwdrivers, even a jewler's SD.

[bazar01]

Try this.

http://www.action-electronics.com/molex.htm

Scroll all the way down to AMP/Molex style 4-pin power connectors

[bazar01]

Or just use a jeweler's flat screw driver as Zeke said and insert it from the back end (wire end) to straighten the locking spring tabs on the pin then push out the pin from the front.

[bazar01]

Sorry, insert the screw driver in the front end and push the pin out from front end also.

[Early_S_Man]

Dave,

That is a Molex connector ... the factory tool has two parts, a cylindrical sleeve with grip, and a pusher pin with thumb-knob ... and is a fairly expensive tool, when you have to buy it as part of a connector kit.

You can remove a pin with a pair of small 5" needle-nose pliers. The trick is to pull on the wire at the same time as compressing the two tabs that are flared-out -- holding the pin in place in the connector body!

[porschenut]

Warren, your description of the "two tabs that are flared out" sounds like you're talking about separating the male and female plastic connectors..?

Anyway, I'll see if I can find a little flat blade SD and fiddle with it some more.

[Early_S_Man]

Dave the Digikey catalog page below has the 0.156" connector kits I was referring to ...

http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T061/0109.pdf

The pic below from the Digikey page shows the two flared tabs I am referring to on both the male pin and female socket:

[porschenut]

You're right Warren, thanks. Actually I managed to get them out a little roughly, but intact, with needle nose pliers and a paper clip. Each pin has a thin metal sleeve that has 3 flared tabs near the crimp end. The pic you posted appears to be correct except for the number of tabs, unless I'm looking at the wrong thing.

The pin removal tool in the link that bazar01 posted is exactly what I needed. next time!

Anyway, thanks to all for the guidance.

[mackskibum]

You need a pin removal tool for this. Check with one of the national "jobber" parts stores like NAPA- i believe they have an inexpensive tool that looks like a 4 way lug wrench with different pin tools on each side.