How to Replace Bad Molex Connectors

Cary Hardy·video·7m 16s·analyzed·May 19, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.014

TL;DR

Cary Hardy shows how to replace bad Molex connectors on pinball machines step-by-step.

Summary

Cary Hardy demonstrates the process of replacing a deteriorated Molex connector on a pinball machine. The video covers identifying crispy/overheated connectors, downsizing a larger connector to the correct pin count using a grinder, desoldering and transferring individual pins to the new connector, and crimping them properly. Hardy emphasizes the importance of addressing failing connectors before they worsen in a degradation cycle.

Key Claims

Degraded Molex connectors create a self-reinforcing cycle where heat causes further deterioration
high confidence · Hardy states: 'the worse they get, the hotter they get. hotter they get the worse they get so it's like a it's a ring of fire that is gets worse and worse'
Hardy uses a one-size approach, buying larger connectors and grinding them down to the required pin count rather than stocking multiple sizes
high confidence · Hardy explains: 'I don't buy multiple sizes of these... I just give me this and then i'll dwindle it down to the size i need'
Proper Molex pin installation requires the flat retention portion to protrude correctly and snap fully into the connector housing
high confidence · Hardy demonstrates and explains: 'The flat portion right here, that is gonna be protruding through this portion right here... sometimes it'll slide in with ease, other times not so much'
Transitioning a pinball machine to all LED lighting eliminates the need to worry about Molex connector failures in the future
medium confidence · Hardy states: 'once we get all leds on this then we won't have to worry about these connectors going bad ever again'

Notable Quotes

“the worse they get, the hotter they get. hotter they get the worse they get so it's like a it's a ring of fire that is gets worse and worse”
Cary Hardy@ 0:26 — Describes the critical failure mechanism of degraded connectors and urgency of replacement
“I don't buy multiple sizes of these no i because you're going to have this situation i don't want like oh i need a nine pin connector a 10 pin connector a 12 pin connector like no just give me this and then i'll dwindle it down to the size i need”
Cary Hardy@ 1:04 — Reveals Hardy's practical inventory and workflow strategy for connector replacement
“This is my method about doing this is that I do one wire at a time. Basically I just go ahead and cut it and then I have all my tools right here ready at my disposal that I'm going to need and then I insert it into the new connector”
Cary Hardy@ 2:35 — Outlines the systematic process for transferring pins to avoid confusion and errors
“The flat portion right here, that is gonna be protruding through this portion right here. So we're just gonna slide that in... Sometimes it'll slide in with ease, other times not so much”
Cary Hardy@ 4:30 — Identifies the challenging aspect of Molex pin installation and retention
“once we get all leds on this then we won't have to worry about these connectors going bad ever again you”
Cary Hardy@ 6:40 — References the long-term solution of converting to LED lighting to eliminate connector-related failures

Entities

Cary HardypersonMolex connectorsproduct

Signals

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community_signal: Educational video content demonstrating practical repair techniques, supporting the DIY restorer and operator community
high · Cary Hardy produces detailed instructional video showing step-by-step repair process with tools and methodology
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technology_signal: Molex connectors are a known failure point in pinball machines, representing electrical infrastructure vulnerability
high · Hardy demonstrates a heavily degraded connector and emphasizes the deterioration cycle; shows connector replacement as routine maintenance

Topics

Molex connector repair and replacementprimaryPinball machine electrical maintenanceprimaryConnector degradation mechanismsprimaryLED conversion advantagessecondaryPinball restoration techniquessecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.75)— Hardy is confident, pragmatic, and educational in tone. Shows satisfaction with successful connector replacement ('new hotness'). No complaints or negative sentiment; content is instructional and solutions-focused.

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.022

Holy hell! Yeah, I'd say it's a little crispy. Alright, so what's bad about when you get connectors like this is that the worse they get, the hotter they get. hotter they get the worse they get so it's like a it's a ring of fire that is gets worse and worse so yeah we're gonna be replacing this entire connector right here so I've got the new connector but as you can see the new connector is got just three more slots than we need so technically I mean I could just keep it the way it is and just install it with three pins hanging off but uh no never so let me show you how i go about getting this down to the correct size i don't buy multiple sizes of these no i because you're going to have this situation i don't want like oh i need a nine pin connector a 10 pin connector a 12 pin connector like no just give me this and then i'll dwindle it down to the size i need all right so i don't have to keep track of it too much i've got a marker basically highlighting which ones need to go. Got the good old grinder right here. Difficult to do with one hand because it on wheels So it's rolling as I'm trying to push it into this damn thing. I'm going to give you this visual right here so you can see that it will eat it up. All right, that's pretty much it. Now the connector, just clean it up a little bit. It is the correct size I need it to be. So this is my method about doing this is that I do one wire at a time. Basically I just go ahead and cut it and then I have all my tools right here ready at my disposal that I'm going to need and then I insert it into the new connector and then move on to the next one and then eventually this will be the new connector. So the tools that you're going to need, maybe this, set that to the side. Definitely going to need your crimper. This is what I've used right here. You got your 0.5 and your 10, your 1.5, or I guess it's 1.0. Then I use these for my wire strippers. And then, of course, your replacement connector. So let's say you just clipped this off from right here. Toot clipped it off I need to get some bare wire showing That all you going to need right there Let get a new pin Just like that. Now, the flat portion right here, that is gonna be protruding through this portion right here. So we're just gonna slide that in. Oh, slide that in like that. And this is the challenging part. I'm gonna turn it so I can get it through there. Sometimes it'll slide in with ease, other times not so much. you don't get it all the way in then it just slides out so almost got it to snap in but this is where these tools come in handy grab my small screwdriver kind of push that into place down further there so that all nice and snapped into position not going anywhere and you are gonna have a really good connection going forward nice and clean and just rinse and repeat that all the other pins one at a time and here we have old and busted a little bit crispy there and new hotness so now that should just go mmm oh that was nice and snug that was beautiful I'm gonna I'm not actually gonna plug these in and turn this machine on now to see what it looks like make sure that backbox is all fully lit and all my GI is still going let's just check here maybe that bulb is bad yeah okay that's the only problem I was starting to wonder I was like doesn't make any sense should be good to go so and once we get all leds on this then we won't have to worry about these connectors going bad ever again you