Very nice crimp tool broken in shipping...  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 03:01:59 pm
content: What a shameIn today's mail came what two days ago was a very nice AMP 58448-2 die crimp tool. Very unfortunate that it was not packed properly. The positioning limit broke off in transit. I have not tried the actual crimp functionality, but the adjustable limit is no more.I am going to complain to the vendor, but I am wondering a few things1) Do they sell replacement parts for these crimp tools.2) How much is the overall functionality affected3) How much does this affect the value of the tool. I paid $65 for it.I have attached a few pictures

author: mcinque
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 03:31:51 pm
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on March 18, 2017, 03:01:59 pmIt's not bad luck, it's seller's incompetence. I can't believe he didn't wrap well that part.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 03:36:58 pm
content: Even without padding, it must have taken some really rough handling to break that.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 04:12:12 pm
content: What's that, 4-5 mm of aluminium ? I seriously doubt that was broken in transport... You need serious force to break that with such a small piece..If it's plastic, then maybe..But you can epoxy it back if you have all the pieces..

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 06:30:02 pm
content: You can use this without the plastic positioner. There's a small 'tongue' attached to the top half of the tool that will engage into a slot in the contact. This is designed to act as a wire stop, it will help position the contact so that the two sections of the die crimp onto the wire conductor and insulator.Also, $65 is a steal for a crimper that costs > $300 new.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 02:10:10 am
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on March 18, 2017, 04:12:12 pmThe piece that broke is the small one in the pictures, and was one of the wings or sides of a dovetail where the larger one was enclosed. It is plastic, and the fracture surface is about 2.5mm x 13mm, so it is not that strong. The way it was wrapped, just being tossed at the proper angle on a solid surface, like a counter, the bottom of a mail cart or a hard box, would break it. This was a case of improper packaging.Gluing it will be problematic because of the dovetail angle and need to keep tight fitting on the sliding part, which I would have to wrap in thin film, which may affect the clearance.Also, it is missing something (small retaining pin ?) between the dovetail slider and the supporting bracket. There is a small hole in the bracket with a matching hole and grove in the slider. On the other side of hole in the bracket there is a telltale marking of a small washer or screw head, and on the slider there is a corresponding friction line marking on the plastic. May be I can fit something in there... a piece of wire insulation in the groove to create some friction or a 2mm screw to secure it in position. The screw may be enough to hold it if gluing the broken piece does not end well.Other than that, the tool looks very clean, no oxidation or marks, and opens and closes properly. I will try to find the time to crimp some connectors tomorrow.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 04:56:40 am
content: I have found the locator sub assembly for the 58448-2 die in DIGIKEY for $73. I think I will pass.http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/1214310-1/1214310-1-ND/1128747

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 04:48:38 am
content: I exchanged a couple of polite messages with the seller, suggesting a partial credit as compensation. He apologized and agreed to credit back $20. I would rather have it whole but things like this happen, so moving on..I think I will epoxy one small aluminum plate as reinforcement, providing some backing to the small dovetail side. I will post some pictures when I get to it.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 11:22:12 pm
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on March 22, 2017, 04:48:38 amA little late now, but why did you not get it replaced?

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 11:02:09 am
content: The truth is that it did not occur to me that there could be a chance that the vendor would have another identical used tool in stock.