Edge connector contact remover

[Crashramp]

Hi Guy's,


What do people use to remove the contacts from edge connectors? The 21 pin connectors used on system 1 pins don't seem to be available anymore so I need to reuse the connector and I'm having a bastard of a time trying to get them out.

[Retropin]

You gradually remove them by lifting one side then the other.. bit by bit they come away.

[Crashramp]

Thanks Gav,
 I had filed down a piece of piano wire so it fits in the pcb side of the connector but haven't tried lifting the contact from both sides. Do you use a specific tool?

[Retropin]

Yes - fingers

[Crashramp]

Thanks Gav but it's the contact pins inside the connector housing that I'm trying to remove so that I can re-pin the wires and reuse the housing. Removing the connectors from the board is no problem.

[Steevsee]

You have to push them in slightly when inserting the tool and then pull them out.  The lock tab tends to wedge against the plastic of the housing if you  try to pull them straight out.

[Crashramp]

Thanks, I think I've been pulling at the wire rather than pushing it in first.

[pinnies4me]

There is a tool for this, but I find it easy to push the wire inwards a little, then through the gap in the connector where the tab on the pin ends up, using a tiny flat edge screwdriver, bend the tab down, and then the lot will just pull out.

[Retropin]

Ha ha!!! - I thought you were trying to get them off the board..LOL.
But yes, as stated before... push the tab of the clip in quite hard and pull out.

[Strangeways]

There is a tool, but it breaks easily if you use it a lot.

Go and buy a cheap jewelers' screwdriver set and grind the tip so it is thin enough to fit in the cavity where the tab on the metal clip is. Simply push the tab down with the screwdriver, and pull it out. In a pinch I use a nail - much quicker than using the tool designed to do the job !

[Retropin]

There is a tool, but it breaks easily if you use it a lot.

Go and buy a cheap jewelers' screwdriver set and grind the tip so it is thin enough to fit in the cavity where the tab on the metal clip is. Simply push the tab down with the screwdriver, and pull it out. In a pinch I use a nail - much quicker than using the tool designed to do the job !

That's right.. my tool bent over on the first go. Used a tiny screwdriver instead

[Crashramp]

Thanks for all of the replys guys. Very helpful.   

[riverinapinball]

Here are some pics of a tool i picked up a while ago , works fine.










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[Crashramp]

Thanks Dan.