18 pin american connectors - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mike Brett · 29th Oct 2006, 9:29 pm

Hello all
I have an 18 pin american military plug that I want to open to rewire. It has a locking fold down key on front for screwing into the socket. I have removed the two screw rings, one at each end but still cannot gain entry. Anyone had any experiance with this type of plug.
Mike.

stephanie · 30th Oct 2006, 5:17 pm

Do you have a picture?

paul.brett · 30th Oct 2006, 10:24 pm

Hello Stephanie,

Thanks for the reply. Hope the enclosed pictures help. As you can see, I have taken off the two rings, but nothing seems to move.

http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2507.jpg
http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2508.jpg
http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2509.jpg

Regards, Mike.
(sent via my son's account - Paul)

peter_scott · 30th Oct 2006, 11:20 pm

Hi Mike,

I have no experience of this connector but is it not possible that the rigidity of the existing wires is preventing you from getting the connector out of the housing. If you unscrew the cable clamp then it might help.

Peter.

stephanie · 31st Oct 2006, 5:42 am

The cable clamp would be that nut around the wire.

I'm with Peter. Try loosening that animal....and then jiggling things around. The wire should push it out

That sure is one serious looking mother.

Sean Williams · 31st Oct 2006, 9:19 am

Hi Mike,

Hopefully you will not find this problem, but on a number of US military connectors they back fill the connector with potting compound - thus making the connector non reusable.......

Fingers crossed.....

Cheers
Sean

Mike Brett · 31st Oct 2006, 3:10 pm

Hello all
Thanks for all the help. I have already tried taking of that nut but still rock solid so I think the potting compound idea may be a reality.

stephanie · 31st Oct 2006, 6:12 pm

If it's potting compound, I wonder if heating it gently inside an old toaster oven could soften that tar up?

I guess the potting is so that moisture and dirt don't find their way in there and foul up the terminal connections to the wires?

Does that key thing on the back loosen up? See if there's some sort of little screw or nut in the middle hole that holds that thing in place.

DaveG0MXD · 1st Nov 2006, 9:28 am

Paul,

Looking at your photo's it's a bit unclear: is there an internal thread inside the connector cover (look a photograph 2 - head on into the pins, the castellated bit between the connector body and backshell looks like a locking ring?).

If you can feel an internal thread, then there are two options: make a C shaped tool that will fit into two opposing slots, like it was probably assembled with, or gently knock a screwdriver / flat piece of metal into one slot (the ring will probably come out anti-clockwise as viewed from the pins).
Reason I think it's a locking ring is that it seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to cutting fancy shapes in a piece of metal otherwise??

Sorry I can't suggest anything else, but I'm more used to UK military hardware (all threads, backnuts and roll-pins!!).

Dave W

Mike Brett · 5th Nov 2006, 11:02 am

Hello all
Have found how to open connector so if anyone else has the same problem this is how you do it. Grasp body of plug in a vice with pins facing upermost and with a small piece of wooden dowling placed on the central locking pin give a tap with a mallet. This will release the whole back of the socket as it is only held in by an O-ring. There was no potting compound in my plug. Thanks for all your suggestions.
Regards Mike.

29th Oct 2006, 9:29 pm	#1
Mike Brett Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 452	18 pin american connectors Hello all I have an 18 pin american military plug that I want to open to rewire. It has a locking fold down key on front for screwing into the socket. I have removed the two screw rings, one at each end but still cannot gain entry. Anyone had any experiance with this type of plug. Mike.

30th Oct 2006, 5:17 pm	#2
stephanie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Bern, North Carolina, USA Posts: 346	Re: 18 pin american connectors Do you have a picture?

30th Oct 2006, 10:24 pm	#3
paul.brett Tetrode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 97	Re: 18 pin american connectors Hello Stephanie, Thanks for the reply. Hope the enclosed pictures help. As you can see, I have taken off the two rings, but nothing seems to move. http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2507.jpg http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2508.jpg http://paulbrett.plus.com/tmp/DSCF2509.jpg Regards, Mike. (sent via my son's account - Paul)

30th Oct 2006, 11:20 pm	#4
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,274	Re: 18 pin american connectors Hi Mike, I have no experience of this connector but is it not possible that the rigidity of the existing wires is preventing you from getting the connector out of the housing. If you unscrew the cable clamp then it might help. Peter.

31st Oct 2006, 5:42 am	#5
stephanie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Bern, North Carolina, USA Posts: 346	Re: 18 pin american connectors The cable clamp would be that nut around the wire. I'm with Peter. Try loosening that animal....and then jiggling things around. The wire should push it out That sure is one serious looking mother.

31st Oct 2006, 9:19 am	#6
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,518	Re: 18 pin american connectors Hi Mike, Hopefully you will not find this problem, but on a number of US military connectors they back fill the connector with potting compound - thus making the connector non reusable....... Fingers crossed..... Cheers Sean __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

31st Oct 2006, 3:10 pm	#7
Mike Brett Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 452	Re: 18 pin american connectors Hello all Thanks for all the help. I have already tried taking of that nut but still rock solid so I think the potting compound idea may be a reality.

31st Oct 2006, 6:12 pm	#8
stephanie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Bern, North Carolina, USA Posts: 346	Re: 18 pin american connectors If it's potting compound, I wonder if heating it gently inside an old toaster oven could soften that tar up? I guess the potting is so that moisture and dirt don't find their way in there and foul up the terminal connections to the wires? Does that key thing on the back loosen up? See if there's some sort of little screw or nut in the middle hole that holds that thing in place.

1st Nov 2006, 9:28 am	#9
DaveG0MXD Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Whitchurch, Shropshire Posts: 8	Re: 18 pin american connectors Paul, Looking at your photo's it's a bit unclear: is there an internal thread inside the connector cover (look a photograph 2 - head on into the pins, the castellated bit between the connector body and backshell looks like a locking ring?). If you can feel an internal thread, then there are two options: make a C shaped tool that will fit into two opposing slots, like it was probably assembled with, or gently knock a screwdriver / flat piece of metal into one slot (the ring will probably come out anti-clockwise as viewed from the pins). Reason I think it's a locking ring is that it seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to cutting fancy shapes in a piece of metal otherwise?? Sorry I can't suggest anything else, but I'm more used to UK military hardware (all threads, backnuts and roll-pins!!). Dave W

5th Nov 2006, 11:02 am	#10
Mike Brett Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 452	Re: 18 pin american connectors Hello all Have found how to open connector so if anyone else has the same problem this is how you do it. Grasp body of plug in a vice with pins facing upermost and with a small piece of wooden dowling placed on the central locking pin give a tap with a mallet. This will release the whole back of the socket as it is only held in by an O-ring. There was no potting compound in my plug. Thanks for all your suggestions. Regards Mike.