Tips 'n' Tricks
When wiring your truck, there are a few areas you're going to run across. Here's a quick survival guide on how to handle a few basics in wiring that you're bound to run into. It's best to have the proper tools to get the job done. As that isn't always the case, it's good to have alternative means, as you'll see below.
Crimping a non-insulated ring terminal:
A. Slip on a rubber sleev...
A. Slip on a rubber sleeve.
B. Strip off a small amount...
B. Strip off a small amount of insulation.
C. slip on terminal and crimp...
C. slip on terminal and crimp with the non-insulated side of the pliers, then slide the sleeve over the crimp.
Crimping an insulated terminal:
1. Strip off a small amount...
1. Strip off a small amount of insulation.
Crimp with the insulated side...
Crimp with the insulated side of the pliers, but make sure not to squeeze the pliers so hard that you puncture the insulation on the terminal.
Crimping a Twin Lock withouth the proper pliers (when ina jam, improvise):
1. Strip Insulation to desired...
1. Strip Insulation to desired amount.
2. Pre-bend the four tangs...
2. Pre-bend the four tangs of the terminal with small needle-nose pliers.
3. Use a small screwdriver...
3. Use a small screwdriver to bend the tangs the rest of the way, a few light taps with a hammer on the end of the screwdriver will help.
4. Once bent, use the normal...
4. Once bent, use the normal crimpers to finish the job.
Last, snap the newly crimped...
Last, snap the newly crimped terminal into the plastic housing.
Examples of good and bad Twin lock crimps:
1. Good: just the right amount...
1. Good: just the right amount of wire proportions.
2 Bad: not all wires are crimped in place.
3. bad: wireplaced in terminal too deep.
4. Bad: wire is in too shallow.
Here's an example of how Sam...
Here's an example of how Sam routed wires using the proper-sized rubber grommets (green arrow) in firewall openings, and how the stick-on zip-tie holders (blue arrows) make for a nice install.