Confused by ratcheting crimper

[pwinters]

A few months ago I bought an old Ideal Crimpmaster frame and a generic die for insulated terminals (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007888BXK/?tag=atomicindus08-20)

Trying it for the first time last night I could not make a crimp. I noticed there is a gap between the die jaws when the tool is fully closed. Is there some adjustment I need to make, or is the die the wrong size or meant for a different frame? I’m really scratching my head since it seemed like it should fit and there are many happy customers.

 

[pwinters]

Photos

 

[Innovate1]

Toward the lower right there is a sort of washer with different detent positions of varying depth. There is an arrow for + direction and - direction. It appears to be set at the least closed position. Rotate it in the + direction and I am guessing it will close more.

 

[pwinters]

Toward the lower right there is a sort of washer with different detent positions of varying depth. There is an arrow for + direction and - direction. It appears to be set at the least closed position. Rotate it in the + direction and I am guessing it will close more.

Thanks, I did spin it all the way to the plus side but it didn’t make much if any difference. Can it spin multiple full rotations? Maybe it is really loose?…

 

[Innovate1]

I doubt multiple turns do anything.

 

[wssix99]

It looks like you have a mismatched set of dies installed in the tool. With the tool shut (as you have it), the dies should look like this:

 

[pwinters]

Interesting. It almost looks like the dots on the one in your picture are on the other opposite and the jaws are flipped vs mine. I have tried flipping the dies and they didn’t fit. The two jaws I have both are stamped 2H. I’m wondering if these generic ones are just no good…

 

[LeonardY]

It's a combination of two things. The dies you bought states they are for a Klein model. You have a Crimpmaster. Die handles are not necessarily the same. Here's the Klein Crimper. The geometry is not the same as yours.

 

[pwinters]

That’s it! You are absolutely right. I bought the dies on ebay actually and it says Ideal Crimpmaster specifically as one of the compatible frames. It clearly isn’t. Thank you.

 

[LeonardY]

That’s it! You are absolutely right. I bought the dies on ebay actually and it says Ideal Crimpmaster specifically as one of the compatible frames. It clearly isn’t. Thank you.

I was going off your Amazon link. They actually might be. Try adjusting the the back cam. Remove the screw and turn to close the jaw.

 

[rlitman]

I was going off your Amazon link. They actually might be. Try adjusting the the back cam. Remove the screw and turn to close the jaw.

That will bring the tips together, but will not close it at the back of the jaws. i.e. it is not a parallel adjustment.
What you need is something that will shim the shoulders of the jaws so they are brought together in parallel.

 

[Sinatra]

Try loosening the screws holding the dies and see if the jaws close tighter then. If they do, tighten the screws with the jaws closed. It looks like the tab on the front of the top die is not engaged in the bottom die. The top die needs moved forward or the bottom die moved toward the hinge.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

i have the same die for a different brand. they close like shown in #6 and #8. your dies dont match

 

[Hawke]

I have one like that. I had to put some shim stock under the jaws to get them to close properly.

I‘m also a slow learner. Cheap eBay tools often aren’t as good as the original.

Next time - I’ll make better decisions.

 

[rburke65]

Wisdom says you get what you pay for....