atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Consistently bad 66 punches, what am I doing wrong?

Soft or hard impact setting? I've seen a lot of cc wire like that but always single insulation. Is this wire double insulated?

Right on, Dave.

It is the tool. NT's version of the 66 block had clips that weren't as thick as the US versions. In addition, the entrance into the "throat" of the clip wasn't a smooth entry; it had sharp edges on the left and right to ensure that the insulation was being stripped as it was inserted.

What is happening here is that those edges are catching your jumper and holding it there because the opening in a traditional 66 blade is too tall.

I've overcome this before by using the non-cut position to actually seat the wire in the clip, then I go back and punch it down again with the blade. It is a hassle, but about the only way to ensure a good termination on NT's blocks with a non-NT tool.

Once again, the knowledge on this board never ceases to amaze me. Who knew that NT 66 blocks were that much different?

I blame the metric conversion

Thanks for the tip on tool, Dave. I think I know the tool you're talking about. I've seen a few ex-Bell guys with them around, but I always assumed it was just a different brand. EBay and Google both return 0 hits for that part number, but there must be some floating around somewhere. I'll keep my eyes open.

Ed, I'll try your suggestion, that sounds like it should work. I had tried Arthur's method of keeping a bit of tension on the wire end, but I found the wire would cut off before seating. Combining the tension with the no-cut setting should do the trick.

Thanks again everybody for the quick responses and practical advice.

Adam, there are probably thousands of them out there doing nothing.

You might also be able to make a deal with a Bell tech.... :rolleyes:

Note: There were two versions of the tool. One was used by most techs, while the other was the same, only that it had a hook built into the handle to ease pulling X-connects out of a tangle of wires. I forget the part number though.

If you find anyone trying to get rid of one, feel free to point them my way!

For the sake of this job, I'm probably just going to stick with Ed and Arthur's methods. This is cleanup work, and I'm ripping way more out than I'm punching back down, so I can live with a little extra labour.

That said, any 66 that I do run into around here will probably be old NT gear, so I'll definitely snap up one of those tools if I come across one.

For people who may not know the metal pins in 66 blocks are Beryllium copper. At one time it was bringing $4.00 per pound. If scrap people are familiar with it they also can reclaim the coating on the pins. All those years I threw them away!!

I didn't know that! I just got salvage rights to a bunch of old 66 blocks. I'll take a look around and see if any of the local scrap places will take them.

I had heard that they are salvageable just never got a price,
I have about 1/2 coffe can of them now.

I learned the hard way that you disassemble them in a box. Wife wasn't too keen on having the 66 clips all over the living room when I strong armed one and clips went everywhere.

I just took in some scrap and asked what the 66 clips are bringing, $2.00 per Lb. He said it isn't Beryllium copper. It was bronze???