sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information noob cross-connect question

That spark means that you're shorting the circuit, but it's not THAT bad. Remember that on a phone circuit, a dead short just means "Busy."

IF you're working on an older Intertel -- the ones with 6-cqt digital cards -- you can blow a fuse and lose a line card (until you replace the fuse) by shorting a phone that way.

Otherwise, no big deal.

(For real fun, set your finger gently against the tip and ring, then call the phone) :nono: .

:nono: That's a no no. I've never had to "spread" the pins to clean them out.

I agree Bill.
Never dis form the pins, that can only lead to major problems.

Ameritech has used 22 gauge wire on a lot of their stuff, it messes up the block when you go to punch down 24 gauge...I just use a pair of needle nose to squeeze the clip.
You may find the spudger locally, I got mine at Graybar. You can find them online...https://www.specialized.net/Specialized/
is a good place for all those tools.

Whatever happened to the " pickle-fork " we used these back in the 80's, they were perfect for getting under the wires and pulling them out, even after 1 side broke off the tool, they were still useful. Haven't seen them around, just those crappy yellow plastic ones with the little metal tip on one end and the useless plastic other end...

I use a spudger to remove trapped insulation. Sometimes I'll use needlenose pliers to try to slide the insulation forward so it falls out of the clip.

Back in November, Arthur P. Bloom quoted from the BSP where it discusses termination for 19 & 20 gauge conductors into a 66 block:

"The BSP for terminating 19- and 20-gauge wires instructs the craftsman to cut back the insulation and to terminate the bare conductor. It also advises not to reuse a 66-type terminal pin after the initial wire is removed, because the pin will have been deformed and will not accept another conductor reliably."

Brian...bottom of this page, is that what you are talking about?
https://www.sandman.com/pdf/Page26.pdf

Make your own pick, take a large paper clip; strighten the long end, file it to a knife edge, use a very small screwdriver to slightly open the pin and use the paperclip wire removal tool mark 1, to remove any wire stuck in the clip.this tool is very cheap and available most anyware. Noname I still have my "pickle fork".

That's it Jeff. They sure are proud of it.

I'm guessing they don't sell it anymore..and for 15 bucks...wow