Tool for cleaning small round sockets?

[JOEPRO]

There are quite a few slightly corroded electrical socket pins on my 1989 merc.

This is the typical male part of the pins-



These pins vary from about 2 - 3mm. The pins I can clean with small brass brushes but the round sockets that are in the car harness are very hard to access.

Any ideas please? Electrical cleaner struggling to remove the green on its own. Ideally id find some sort of micro round brass brushes?

 

[Jack_K]

Dental brushes are what gets used for valve sockets but valve sockets are a bit smaller.

 

[Nomad]

I've got a couple of tiny "twisted wire with bristles" brushes (think of a scaled down rifle cleaning brush) but no idea where I got them or what they were made for.

A quick search finds similar to mine but much larger, see if you can find the smaller sizes I have?

Nylon Tube Brushes - Single Spiral | Precision Brush

Precision Brush carries a wide variety of Nylon, Single Spiral Tube Brushes in varying lengths and diameters.

precisionbrush.com

 

[Turbo]

Soak the connector in a vinegar/salt mix, rinse in water, bircarb and water mix to neutralise any remaining acid, water rinse again, blow out with airline then finally some contact cleaner or wd40 to get rid of remaining water.

Did this on some very corroded connections on a tractor wiring loom and got them really clean.

Heavy crusty corrosion will still need scraped off. A small drill bit is good for round connectors.

 

[tigdlo]

Mouldshop used to be good for this kind of thing, I bought a selection of nylon brushes from them when I was playing with car engines 15-20 years ago, cheaper than buying brushes marketed at engine builders from the likes of frosts, proper industrial quality too.

They look a bit expensive now, 3mm brass £34.03 delivered.

https://mouldshop.co.uk/tools-accessories/brushes/small-bore-cleaning-brush

You may need a better cleaner, most electrical cleaners I have used wouldn't touch the corrosion. Mend it mark on youtube uses Deoxit but it's expensive, by the time you've bought a brush and a better electrical cleaner libation it would cost you £60 to clean a relay socket, ouch.

 

[iNf]

What about an interdental brush? A bit cheaper than the ones above. Or as said drill bits, a set of 0.1mm bits used in a pin vice.

 

[cheb]

I've had a success with soda blasting on grotty motorcycle connection blocks. It might be a bit messy inside a car though.

 

[bricol]

Had success with these for similar:

RS PRO, Fibreglass, Abrasive Pen, 4mm | RS

www.google.com

 

[Mick Annick]

Something like these? Should be similar to you on Amazon.ie, I googled micro wire brush

Cleaning Kit for Carburettor Sprinklers, Brush Cleaning Tools for Carburettors Carburettors Carbon Dirt Jet Remove Cleaner : Amazon.fr: Automotive

Cleaning Kit for Carburettor Sprinklers, Brush Cleaning Tools for Carburettors Carburettors Carbon Dirt Jet Remove Cleaner : Amazon.fr: Automotive

www.amazon.fr

 

[8ob]

A bit brutish but cleans up leccy pins and sockets in seconds, literally.

Bob

 

[dobbslc]

I've always used a piece of fine rolled up wet and dry in the female connector and some of this for cleaning and lubrication

KONTAKT CHEMIE Super 10 Highly Efficient Contact and Switch Cleaner | price-radar.co.uk

KONTAKT CHEMIE Super 10 Highly Efficient Contact and Switch Cleaner - Compare the best prices from 4 stores!

www.price-radar.co.uk

 

[Dev]

What about airbrush cleaning brushes?

 

[Smallfry]

Dremel have small brushes ISTR ?

 

[JOEPRO]

Dremel have small brushes ISTR ?

ISTR?

Integrated Switch Tool Research?

 

[JOEPRO]

A bit brutish but cleans up leccy pins and sockets in seconds, literally.

Bob

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View attachment 524194

We have a winner! Great idea. I have a similar handheld blaster. I have some blast soda that would be gentle on the pins. I think that will do a thorough job of cleaning these circa 40 year old contacts.

 

[jsf55]

If it's the actual pins, i recommend this normally , but wear decent gloves

Würth Contact Oxidation Oxide Remover Kontakt OL 089360 for sale online | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Würth Contact Oxidation Oxide Remover Kontakt OL 089360 at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Dev]

ISTR?

Integrated Switch Tool Research?

I seem to remember?

 

[MoreWellie]

In my first job we used thin card for cleaning oxidised contacts
for relays or open switches you can slide it back and forth whilst gently holding the contacts closed
for sockets like this you could roll a small amount up and make sure you turn it in the direction to keep the roll from unrolling
in small connections copy paper could be used instead
for pins a pencil rubber works wonders if you can get in to them

 

[Seadog]

I seem to remember?

Recall

 

[OJCar]

Fibreglass Pencils

(Also available with steel, brass or nylon bristles)
The bristles are about a 1/4" diameter and as they wear down you can wind them out like a propelling pencil.
Refills are available.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111741724919
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/396165060352
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310094191477