BNC Connector Tightner

[TheeStereoScout]

Can anyone point me in the right direction on the net where to buy a tool that will tighten that ring on loose BNC connectors ? I can't seem to get them tight enough to last using needle-nose pliers and/or small screwdrivers. I think they call it a spanner tool or something. Thanks.

 

[buttons]

If it comes loose that often try Krazy Glue.

 

[LordJ]

Maybe this will work?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...;item=5784792786&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[TheeStereoScout]

Thanks LordJ !

 

[mjw357]

I think that tool is to help you shove the connector into the coax, after doing a few dozen of those your fingertips are raw.
What you need is a hex crinp tool, usually 0.255" hex die for the collar. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.
Most electronics shops have them, or google hex crimper or BNC crimper.

 

[buttons]

I just thought of somsthing that might help. there are tools similar to a plier but they have a point on each tip s some have points in different directions and some can be bought with interchangable tips. they were used to fasten & unfasten interior car door handles & window cranks. try an auto parts store.

 

[garys]

I thought he was talking about the BNC on the scanner, not a coax connector. Maybe he can clarify that for us.

Gary

 

[TheeStereoScout]

Yes, I was talking about the actual female BNC jack and its external "o" tightening ring that you find on most scanners. Thanks again gentlemen for all your help.

 

[bsavery]

Needle nose (very small needle nose!) and maybe a small screwdriver (push it around, then when tight, tap it with something) is all I've ever used on them.

If it won't stay tight, a drop of loc-tite should solve that.

Bob

 

[TeRayCodA]

Needle nose (very small needle nose!) and maybe a small screwdriver (push it around, then when tight, tap it with something) is all I've ever used on them.

If it won't stay tight, a drop of loc-tite should solve that.

Bob

That's all I've ever used.If you don't have Loctite,raid the wife's fingernail polish,dab a little on the final threads(at the BNC base)-Works well.

 

[TheeStereoScout]

"Needle nose (very small needle nose!) and maybe a small screwdriver (push it around, then when tight, tap it with something) is all I've ever used on them."

Yes, that is what I have been doing for years too. But I was just wondering if there was a tool available that would do the task as well.

 

[Al42]

"Needle nose (very small needle nose!) and maybe a small screwdriver (push it around, then when tight, tap it with something) is all I've ever used on them."

Yes, that is what I have been doing for years too. But I was just wondering if there was a tool available that would do the task as well.

A thin-walled socket, if you want to be a purist. We used to take one of those 1/4" drivers with the plastic handle and epoxy a deep thin-wall socket to it to make a wrench for BNCs. But a needle-nose or duckbill plier have always been considered the "proper" tool.

 

[garys]

The ones that I had problems with were on a 235 and a 245. The but wasn't a hex, but was a round one with two notches in it. A similar, but much large version used to be used to hold GM radios in the dash board and you could buy a special wrench to tighten. IIRC, it was called a "spanner" wrench. It would seem that there would be something similar available for the BNC nut, but I've never been able to find one. I'm sure that some sort of specialized tool is used when the scanners are built, as I don't see the production crews using needle nose pliers or small screw drivers to put them together. Of course, that tool is probably pneumatic and costs a couple of hundred dollars. <G>

Gary

 

[Al42]

The ones that I had problems with were on a 235 and a 245. The but wasn't a hex, but was a round one with two notches in it. A similar, but much large version used to be used to hold GM radios in the dash board and you could buy a special wrench to tighten. IIRC, it was called a "spanner" wrench. It would seem that there would be something similar available for the BNC nut, but I've never been able to find one. I'm sure that some sort of specialized tool is used when the scanners are built

Yep ... there are spanner wrenches available for nuts running from something like 6-32 size (like the antenna on a StarTAC phone) to inches in diameter. They're just not off-the-shelf at Ace Hardware.

 

[TeRayCodA]

Possibly make one?

I once made a special tool for those small stereo headphone jack output nuts.I took a $1.00 "dollar store"screwdriver,filed a slot right in the middle to fit both sides of the nut.

I have also made ones to fit some "different" wall-warts,when I needed to replace the power cords.

BUT..especially on my old Pro-35,it is very close quarters in there,when I needed to replace a worn-out BNC!(I literally wore out the bayonet mounts over time testing different antennas!)

It was just very little turns with needle nose pliers.

The krazy-glue method will work,but it will ruin your day trying to take the defective connector out!(I worked on a friend's radio like this once)-super glued!

-Especially if you plan on keeping the scanner over a few years,there will probably come a day when that connector will get worn out.
I think I ended up heating the BNC nut with a soldering iron(scary) :shock:

 

[garys]

This might be what you are looking for,

http://tinyurl.com/cqzpr

I can't tell from the picture if it's the correct end or not, but an email to the seller would probably answer the question.

Gary

 

[nmfire10]

Bear in mind that if that jack has become loose, there is a good chance the solder joint on the board is now bad also. Every Uniden portable scanner I've encountered (mine and others) have required me to open it up and resolder the center pin to the board. Usually I replace the solid connector to the board with something flexible to prevent it from happening again.

After you retighten the jack, open it up and see if it needs some help, otherwise you won't hear squat.

 

[BiGtRuNk]

I modified a nutdriver by grounding off the edges.
Works great