Easy way to clean terminals

[Matchless]

Somebody on here used hydrochloric acid and it brought the things up like new. Never tried it myself (and I still have all my fingers) but it did appear to work very well.

Out our way its used for swimming pools, to correct the PH, also called "spirit of salts" I think.

Keep the multiplug assembled
Degrease the connector properly, immersion.
Immerse it in pool acid (Hydrochloric acid) until the brass is clean.
Swirl well in clean water to completely remove any acid, especially from the crimped part.
Now spray with WD40 or your favorite moisture displacer.

The time taken is determined by how strong the acid is you are using.

The spade connectors have a tendency to lose their grip: The bent over sides on the female are opened up slightly when the plug is taken apart. So cleaning does not solve the problem completely. It best to rather replace the spade connectors in a suspect multiplug with new and properly crimped terminals.

[azr]

I second the Deoxit. Fairly expensive this side of the boarder but works well. Matchless, you bike looks great!

[BUSARIDER]

Vinegar

I use white distilled vinegar on everything. I cleans terminals, won't hurt the insulation and It will make a rusty fuel tank spotless in 24-48 hours.

[Normk]

Another trick which I use is a hand held sandblaster. The sand reaches into the terminal and does a great job. Works well for "Buss type" glass fuse boxes also. As someone mentioned, one needs check that the terminals fit tightly although many can be adjusted by means of an "O" ring pick or pliers, depending.

[chuck hahn]

Got some of them in a cup with white vinegar soaking.. see how they look in the morning!!!

[Crazy_Russian]

i would also use a q-tip to get the dirt out afterwards

[TheCafeKid]

I got a tip from a BMW restorer that muriatic acid brushed onto the brass with one of those solder cleaning brushes (metal wire brush but looks like a paint brush sorta...dunno the tech name for it..heh) is what he uses and he says they look brand new. Haven't tried it myself however as keeping acid in the shop of that strength kinda scares me off..

[chuck hahn]

Qtips and the Vinegar soak seemed to do the trick very well..nice brassy look to them now. was even some chunkies laying in the botom of the pan this morning.

[Crazy_Russian]

im glad it worked for you man
im getting ready to put my harness back on the bike ofter cleaning and wrapping everything

[chuck hahn]

Qtip and vinegar worked wonders.

[Matchless]

Qtip and vinegar worked wonders.

And you can lick your fingers if you spill some!

[chuck hahn]

AHHHHHHH.....no.

[Jason the terminator]

I got a tip from a BMW restorer that muriatic acid brushed onto the brass with one of those solder cleaning brushes (metal wire brush but looks like a paint brush sorta...dunno the tech name for it..heh) is what he uses and he says they look brand new. Haven't tried it myself however as keeping acid in the shop of that strength kinda scares me off..

It's called an acid brush.

[tkent02]

Stuff in a yellow spray can called MechanicAll, bought it at Fry's electronics. Spray it into the connectors, wait a little bit, it's all clean. Eats corrosion much better than Deoxit. It leaves an oily residue, but so far no problems with any of the connectors. I'm guessing the oily residue acts like dielectric grease.
One can has lasted several years doing lots of motorcycles, and it's still almost full.

[TooManyToys]

DeoxIT and MechanicAll are both made by Caig Labs.

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.18/category.1791/.f