How do you clean a molex connector?

[CatatonicBug]

I've gone through a lot of the connectors on my bike and replaced a couple, and kinda cleaned a few, but I was wondering if there was any chemical solution that you have used to clean the "patina" off the connector pins in the Molex connectors. They all seem to get a white film of corrosion, and it seems to brush off the pins fairly easliy with a metal toothbrush, but the female connectors are a bit more difficult to clean.

I tried a fuzzy pipecleaner and some carb cleaner, but I'm not sure that did a very good job. Then I thought of using a product called "Tarn-X", designed for cleaning silver kitchenware. It says not to use on aluminum, but I would imagine that is because it won't leave a shiny finish like it will on Silver.

Have you guys had any luck with any other corrosion removal products/tools?

[jetmechmarty]

You should use electrical contact cleaner. There are varieties available at your local auto parts store or at Radio Shack. Specialty products are available. Just GOOGLE it. The right stuff will wash that corrosion right out.

[Bullet]

got a ultrasonic cleaner ?

When I putting together my bike, I cleaned all my harness connectors and plugs using my ultrasonic filled with about half water, then clamped a 1 quart ice cream tub to the edge of the ultrasonic with vice grips partially submerged in the water.

Sprayed some brake cleaner ( couple cans ) into the ice cream tub.

Turned on ultrasonic ( waves transfer to the brake cleaner that was in the tub )

Dip in connectors( 3-4 at a time ) for about 10 minutes in the tub of brake cleaner, they came out looking new, connectors clean as a whistle, all corrosion gone .. connectors are white again.

[CatatonicBug]

You should use electrical contact cleaner. There are varieties available at your local auto parts store or at Radio Shack. Specialty products are available. Just GOOGLE it. The right stuff will wash that corrosion right out.

Cool! I had used electrical contact cleaner in the past, but all it really did was de-grease. By the name of that stuff in the picture, I would imagine it takes the oxidation away? Does it require any kind of scrubbing, or does it just dissolve the corrosion away?

[jetmechmarty]

DeoxIT

I have not used that particular product, but I expect it is similar to what I use on the job. If that is the case, yes it will wash away contaminants and corrosion without any scrubbing.

[MrOzz]

Cool! I had used electrical contact cleaner in the past, but all it really did was de-grease. By the name of that stuff in the picture, I would imagine it takes the oxidation away? Does it require any kind of scrubbing, or does it just dissolve the corrosion away?

CatatonicBug,

I use the same product. Works great. I do use a old tooth brush and give the connectors a quick couple of passes after I spay it on.

[CatatonicBug]

Well, I went to Radio Shack and got 2 of the little 2-bottle kits. That stuff is expensive! I'll give it a shot, and hopefully, get some amperage back.

[tantor]

You can also get a tool, from a real electronics supply store, which will scrape a molex connector (both male & female side). I think that Napa had them too! I'll have to see if I still have an Ultra-Pro catalogue kicking around...

[CaptonZap]

Before you reassemble them, go to a parts store and get a tube of silicon grease, like the stuff that Ford puts in all their connectors, and put it in all yours. Then you won't have to do this ever again. CZ

[CatatonicBug]

You can also get a tool, from a real electronics supply store, which will scrape a molex connector (both male & female side). I think that Napa had them too! I'll have to see if I still have an Ultra-Pro catalogue kicking around...

I will have to look for that. I was hoping something like that existed!

Before you reassemble them, go to a parts store and get a tube of silicon grease, like the stuff that Ford puts in all their connectors, and put it in all yours. Then you won't have to do this ever again. CZ

Well, that's the point of the 2nd can in that 2-can kit of Deoxit. It's the protector spray. Of course, I also have a can of dielectric grease that I use quite often too.

[DenyP]

You can find electrical contact cleaner at many hardware stores and auto parts dealers. LPS makes a great product and is widely available.


Deny

[CatatonicBug]

You can find electrical contact cleaner at many hardware stores and auto parts dealers. LPS makes a great product and is widely available.


Deny

Yeah, but most contact cleaners are only a de-greaser. They don't do anything for corrosion. That's the selling point for the De-Oxit stuff, that it bubbles and eats away the corrosion. If there's another product that does the same thing, I'd like to know about it.

[jetmechmarty]

A quick GOOGLE turned up a bunch of them. Aerospace products work best, but they are extremely pricey.

[CatatonicBug]

A quick GOOGLE turned up a bunch of them. Aerospace products work best, but they are extremely pricey.

Well, neither of those two examples get rid of corrosion. They only get contaminants like dirt and grease.

[jetmechmarty]

I got tired of looking. I use the airplane stuff, and it does the job you seek to do. I expect the DeOXIT will do a fine job.