Hydraulic Wire and Cable Crimper

[RUSH55]

This tool topic has been touched on a couple times in some different threads, but I didn’t see much in the way of application, so here’s a new hydraulic crimper thread.
I’m currently in the process of rewiring my FJ55, and have purchased several types of hand crimpers for completing this task.
A small part of this job includes crimping a #8 Deutsch pin and socket onto some 8AWG wire to supply my engine fuse panel with sufficient amperage. Standard Deutsch crimpers crimp #20, #16, and #12 pins, and require different high dollar crimpers to address #8’s and #4’s.
I can’t remember what exactly brought me to these plentiful and cheap hydraulic crimpers, but after a couple days of browsing through what are essentially the same two or three designs, I settled on this AMZCNC YQK-70. It has 9 die sets from 12AWG to 2/0. I wanted to see how well it would work for crimping a #8 Deutsch terminal, and take care of my 1AWG battery cables. For $40 I thought I’d give it a shot.

https://a.co/d/4XX7fdo

 

[RUSH55]

Here is the result on a #8 Deutsch pin and 8AWG

 

[RUSH55]

Here is the HDT-04-08 on Amazon so you can possibly understand my reluctance to buy one to make 2 crimps

https://a.co/d/7phoO2I

 

[e9999]

I've used mine (very similar) with generally satisfactory results. Sometimes there is a bit of a mismatch in size between the typical US connectors and the dies (which I believe to be actually metric). If the die is too small, it makes big ears at the seam (these can be cut with a flush cutter), if too large, well it may not not be as tight as it should be. So, sometimes a bit of an issue there, but it's reasonably OK to use, overall. I also make a point of turning and recrimping the connectors in the dies once or twice to even things out a bit, that seems to make it a bit better as well.

(Smart that you got one with the rebuild kit, will double its lifetime...)

 

[RUSH55]

Yeah, there are some drawbacks I’ve found. Despite the die sizes being capable of making a crimp on the larger cable sizes (1AWG and bigger), unless you’re just crimping a ring lug and can pull the cable and terminal straight back out the opening - if you crimp an actual battery terminal on, with this particular style, you can’t get the cable or terminal out of the dies. With the bigger jobs like that, the open, top loading die style would be better.

Amazon.com

 

[e9999]

yes, that latter one is a better design overall I think. As discussed in another thread, you can even make your own custom dies for those, not so much the one above. They don't come with the smaller gauge dies, though. So I guess maybe we should have both. Easy enough since those are not that expensive.

 

[RUSH55]

So I guess maybe we should have both. Easy enough since those are not that expensive.

I like that idea!

 

[e9999]

well, actually, I'm eyeing the Temco bigger 11-tons crimper with slide in dies (like the Asani above). That one is more expensive than the similar generic chinese ones. Probably the same basic unit but it comes with more dies (32) because it includes half sizes, and they claim that these are true AWG not metric sizes, don't know if true. Also those dies print their size on the crimp, which is neat. And a (real?) warranty. But it's more like $180 vs the usual $60 for the cheaper ones. But if true AWG that may be worth the difference in cost.
Still looking around to see if I can find a set of spare dies for those things that is truly sized for AWG but have not seen one available yet. That would be an alternative to the full Temco AWG kit if you have a generic chinese crimper. (Temco nominally carries those sets but they are not available at this time it seems.)
One thing to keep in mind with the bigger crimpers with the slide in dies is that they apparently come in 2 incompatible sizes of dies. Not sure which one the Temco is. If somebody has one, if you could kindly measure the dies, that would be great!

added: talked to Temco, the guy was positive that their dies are true AWG, said they were custom made for them. Also said they won't have the spare dies sets for another 3 or 4 months.

 

[thatcabledude]

I've used mine (very similar) with generally satisfactory results. Sometimes there is a bit of a mismatch in size between the typical US connectors and the dies (which I believe to be actually metric). If the die is too small, it makes big ears at the seam (these can be cut with a flush cutter), if too large, well it may not not be as tight as it should be. So, sometimes a bit of an issue there, but it's reasonably OK to use, overall. I also make a point of turning and recrimping the connectors in the dies once or twice to even things out a bit, that seems to make it a bit better as well.

(Smart that you got one with the rebuild kit, will double its lifetime...)

I have the same (visually) crimper and get the ears too. Never understood why.

 

[NCFJ]

I have been using one of the Chinese models for several years. Mostly for battery cables and larger supply lines like #8 & #4. I solder the terminals first, then crimp, finish with shrink tube.

 

[subzali]

Harbor Freight version here. Seems to work fine but ears as mentioned above.

 

[Waorani]

I have both of these. They work ok but both leak and you need 3 hands to use (2 to squeeze and 1 to hold wire). Not sure of value of AWG marked dies. Different terminals have different thicknesses.

 

[e9999]

^^ the ears are when the crimp is too tight, I think, so the copper has to run out somewhere. Just stop squeezing a bit earlier to avoid those. But easy to remove with an electronics flush cut snipper anyway. Probably better to be too tight than not enough I think.
^ I hold my crimper (the type with the pin dies like the top one above - poor design IMO) in a vise, much more control that way. Mine is not leaking.
One reason I'm considering getting half-sizes dies is that those would help with different thickness terminals. Probably too far out there for the real world, though.

It seems like all these chinese inexpensive crimpers have dies that are metric. They do advertise them as such and such AWG but that is just interpolation from what I can tell. My dies are actually marked in mm2. If you check you'll see that the AWG sizes often fall smack in between two of these mm2 dies. So you need to choose if you want loose or too tight.

And it's mind-boggling when you see all the chinese models on Amazon. They must all be made in the same factory. It's like only one design.

 

[PAToyota]

well, actually, I'm eyeing the Temco bigger 11-tons crimper with slide in dies (like the Asani above).

That's the one I have. Works as intended. No complaints.