[TowerTalk] Crimp-on PL259

[Mike]

On 2/11/2011 6:32 PM, Rroger (K8RI on TowerTalk) wrote:
> On 2/11/2011 3:27 PM, Mike wrote:
>> As part of my tower refurbishment I'm giving crimp connectors (NOT clamp) a try. The
>> first 3 went really smoothly.
>>
>> No. 4 however had a problem. When I squeezed the crimper, it was like trying to crush
>> a ground rod. The sleeve was barely deformed. Crimping further away from the body,
>> over the coax jacket, was normal, but not where it should be.
> I have close to 100 crimp on, both UHF and N type inside and out with
> RG-8X, CNT-240, LMR-400, Davis Bury flex, to LMR 600.  I have both the
> standard and UF versions of both the LMR 400 and 600.  I do not
> recommend the UF versions of either as the jacket does not stand up well.
> I also have a few clamp type in use.
>
> So far, I have never had a crimp type fail and as I said I have a lot of
> them.
> The only time I ran into what you describe was with the wrong set of
> dies in the crimper, but that should not be the case here as you were
> using the same type fitting in each case.  It sounds as if *maybe* you
> were too far up on the body where the diameter is larger.  There is a
> step in size and you may have caught the shoulder which would resist
> crimping.

Bingo, Roger. I took another look at that connector and there are the crimp marks up 
on the shoulder. Another application of the tool, and it looks good.

Mike
> I've been using crimp type for quite a while now. As time progresses,
> contrary to Peter, I'm switching over to all crimp type as they are so
> much faster and more secure.  Proper cable  prep, and the proper tools
> are critical.
> The crimp should be at the close to the connector edge of the band. With
> the jacket extending a ways into the other end of the band which remains
> uncrimped.  Just be careful not to catch the edge of the connector as
> the dies will fit over the end of the UHF and I believe the N type if
> you slip just a tad too close to the end of the band.
>
>> The coax is Buryflex, and the connector fit it well. All the connectors were ordered
>> at the same time, and the ones I have left seem to be the same diameters.
>>
> I'll take a look at the UHF ones I have of that size and see if I can
> repeat the problem.
>
> 73 es good luck,
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>> Anybody have an idea what I ran into?
>>
>> 73, Mike NF4L
>> _______________________________________________