whats the best budget idc tool?

[stevebm1]

can anyone recommend a decent cheapish idc tool to suit bally SS pins,I know you can make one with an old screwdriver and a hacksaw,but wondered if anyone has one that they would recommend?

 

[Spandangler]

I just got the black plastic one from
Pinball mania think it was £7.00.

 

[replicas]

Plastic is the budget one at around £7.
The metal one is the premier one at around £18.
Best results with the metal unit.

 

[J.C.Rox]

I just got the black plastic one from
Pinball mania think it was £7.00.

Ditto works fine

 

[ronsplooter]

If you're going to the trouble of replacing connectors then I'd advise sacking off the IDC ones and going with the trifurcon molex connectors instead. You can get a good ratcheting crimper from the Legend @Pinball mania for about £30 as well as the connector blocks and pins. All the connectors I've replaced on my Flash Gordon, Fathom and Fireball 2 have been done using these parts and tools

 

[DRD]

+1 on @ronsplooter 's advice here

I find the plastic ones fail quite quickly. Haven't tried the metal ones, so these may well be much better. Both my tz and funhouse have had issues caused by idc connectors. I have broken one plastic tool on these 2 games alone, and have now bought molex bits to do the jobs properly

I used the crimped connectors on my older bally games and find them far superior

http://www.pinrepair.com/connect/#looped

 

[stevebm1]

thanks for the replies guys,I may well go down the replacement route

 

[new forest pinball]

Metal one lasts forever....had mine for a good decade or more...left it on site a few months ago and just got a new one from Phil at pinball heaven...never tried the plastic mind you..........