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Ratcheting wire crimping tool

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  • #1

    Ratcheting wire crimping tool

    So we all know that XS's can benefit greatly by redoing the wire connectors, but for them to last like the originals the terminals really need to be properly crimped. Which means you need a real crimping tool - NOT a pair of pliers. I've been using a Kely crimping tool I got at Mikes XS years ago, but what I really wanted was a ratcheting crimping tool. These days I'm all about leverage, and a ratcheting tool will put more pressure on the terminal with less effort at the handle. Problem is, they want real money for those things.

    So after spending the day yesterday squeezing the bejesus out of that Kely, I went looking around for a ratcheting crimping tool. And I found this one on ebay - Ratcheting Crimping Tool. Now I'm not expecting much, but I figured for $16.99 (including shipping) I couldn't go too wrong. So I ordered one. Time will tell how well it does the job, but I've got my fingers crossed. Just passing it along...

    I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

    '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Looking forward to your review. I need an affordable open barrel crimper. There have been a couple others mentioned here. This is the cheapest, but does it work ok is the obvious question.
    Amazing how expensive these things can get for some reason.
    80 SG
    81 SH in parts
    99 ST1100
    91 ST1100

    Comment

    • #3
      Geezer sells a good one on his site.
      1979 XS1100F
      2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by DeanR View Post
        Looking forward to your review. I need an affordable open barrel crimper. There have been a couple others mentioned here. This is the cheapest, but does it work ok is the obvious question.
        Amazing how expensive these things can get for some reason.
        Does it work? - that is the question. I'm amazed at how expensive these things get, too. After all, it's basically a glorified pair of pliers. I figure 90% of the tools you buy anymore are made in China, and these are actually shipping from China. Should be here by early September, and I'll let you know how well they work when I get 'em.
        I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

        '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by IanDMacDonald View Post
          Geezer sells a good one on his site.
          True. And I'm not trying to take anything away from Geezer - his reputation precedes him, and it's a good one.

          However... here's a pic of the tool Geezer sells -



          And this is the one I just ordered -



          They sure do look similar. But again, time will tell.
          I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

          '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

          Comment

          • #6
            Here's a few more, just to get some affordable ones in one place:


            $28.62 proskit.com.


            $31.55 cycleterminal.com


            $32.00 cycleterminal.com

            32.95 cycleterminal.com
            80 SG
            81 SH in parts
            99 ST1100
            91 ST1100

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by DeanR View Post
              Here's a few more, just to get some affordable ones in one place:


              $28.62 proskit.com.


              $31.55 cycleterminal.com


              $32.00 cycleterminal.com

              32.95 cycleterminal.com
              That one on top doesn't look like it has the dies in it. And I have to assume all those places are going to charge shipping on top of the purchase price?
              I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

              '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

              Comment

              • #8
                Well I got the crimping tool today, and I must say, I'm shocked. And in a good way. Not only did it get here from China pretty doggone quick, it's a nice little tool. It's got some heft to it, and it appears to be well made. It's clearly for crimping light gauge wire, and I tested it out on the 2.8mm and 6.3mm terminals from Cycle Terminals, and the 6.3's are about as big as it's going to do with the installed dies. Which is fine by me, 'cause that's as big as I need it to go. And it does a double crimp, as opposed to some of the more expensive hardware mentioned previously that require a two step crimping process.

                As with any crimping tool it's important to position both the terminal and the wire properly. Do that and this little sucker will do a very nice crimp with very little effort. The only wire I had laying around was some old speaker wire, which is pretty close to the same gauge as most of the wires in an XS11. So I split a little piece and crimped some terminals on them.

                For my purposes it will fit the tasks at hand perfectly, and it's well worth the $16.99 it cost.

                Here's what the crimps look like -









                I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by dbeardslee View Post
                  And it does a double crimp, as opposed to some of the more expensive hardware mentioned previously that require a two step crimping process.
                  Do you mean it crimps the wires and the insulation at the same time? and is that a good thing?
                  80 SG
                  81 SH in parts
                  99 ST1100
                  91 ST1100

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by DeanR View Post
                    Do you mean it crimps the wires and the insulation at the same time? and is that a good thing?
                    Yes, that's what I mean. I think it's a good thing - one step process vs. two.

                    With the ratchet action you can put the terminal in place, and squeeze the handle a little to start the crimp, and it'll stay like that. Then all you have to do is insert the wire to the proper depth, squeeze it the rest of the way and when the jaws close the ratchet releases. It's also got an adjustment for how tightly you want the jaws to close, but it was set pretty much right on for my needs so I didn't monkey with that.
                    I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                    '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Like this!

                      https://youtu.be/LXDedfvmI_0

                      I have the Pro's Kit tool and I believe the quality is very good and I'm pretty fussy about stuff like that.
                      Marty (in Mississippi)
                      XS1100SG
                      XS650SK
                      XS650SH
                      XS650G
                      XS6502F
                      XS650E

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by jetmechmarty View Post
                        Like this!

                        https://youtu.be/LXDedfvmI_0

                        I have the Pro's Kit tool and I believe the quality is very good and I'm pretty fussy about stuff like that.
                        I've got a Pro's Kit tool with spark plug wire dies in it, and it's a nice crimping tool. But it cost three times as much as the little blue job in the OP, and personally I don't think it's three times the tool. That little cheap blue one actually works pretty well, and it's pretty well built, too. Time will tell.
                        I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

                        '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

                        Comment

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