Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Electrical and Instruments => Topic started by: pj on March 01, 2017, 04:28:02

Title: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: pj on March 01, 2017, 04:28:02
It's hard to find new electrical connectors. SLS has a diagram that shows many of them on their page 54c, but most are unavailable. I want to ask some 3D/additive printer folks if it's possible to make these things on demand. So I wonder if folks have any details about what material the proper connectors are made of. The Tech Manual just says "hard plastic," but is that a good enough answer? I think I recognize Bakelite on some of the broken pieces I have. In that case, I presume we would want to upgrade to a modern material. Any hints or suggestions?
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: ja17 on March 01, 2017, 15:55:39
There were two materials used. Early cars used a screw-together hard plastic. It is not a thermo-plastic and might be bakelite and is most likely NLA new. The later cars used a snap-together thermo-plastic connector. Both types are compatible with each other and inter-change. Large quantities of "used" are still available on sedan parts cars of the era.
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: pj on March 02, 2017, 02:38:10
Thanks, Joe. I continue to study this. Any idea what the logo is on the piece shown in this photo? Looks like it might be KL or LK. Most of my connectors have this logo
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: Benz Dr. on March 02, 2017, 03:20:43
I'm pretty sure that I'll have those connectors on used systems I have here. Dropped by late today but no one was around.
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: pj on March 03, 2017, 03:04:27
Thanks, Dan.
Sorry I missed you.

I'm getting the impression from all the research that I'm doing that connectors are rather generic but also that they don't all look identical. Maybe I can help you "harvest" collectors from your graveyard. I would probably learn a lot!
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: hkollan on March 03, 2017, 07:01:38
Thanks, Joe. I continue to study this. Any idea what the logo is on the piece shown in this photo? Looks like it might be KL or LK. Most of my connectors have this logo

Hi,

I believe these connectors where made by Kostal, with the "K"  logo.
The Kostal company is based in Germany and is still around.

http://www.kostal.com/kks/en/index.php (http://www.kostal.com/kks/en/index.php)

Hans
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: Jack Jones on March 03, 2017, 18:50:55
Hi Peter,

I can't comment on availability currently with Mercedes but a few years ago I purchased many different connectors and the pin terminals. If you tell me what connectors including location and number if pins, I can provide the part numbers and find availability.

Jack 
Title: Re: Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co. KG, Lüdenscheid
Post by: 114015 on March 03, 2017, 22:21:31
... the  Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co. KG, Lüdenscheid


Hello Peter,

Ah ..., one of my top-favorite topics - Kostal bakelite plugs !
Been a heavy collector of those - now I should have enough for my both cars ... ;)

Quote
Hi,
I believe these connectors where made by Kostal, with the "K"  logo.
The Kostal company is based in Germany and is still around.

[urlhttp://www.kostal.com/kks/en/index.php][/url]

Hans

Hans shouldn't only "believe" this, because this is absolutely true!

The "KL" (kind of) sign means "Kostal Lüdenscheid", (corrected)
The "LK" sign means "Leopold Kostal" (the company founder's name)),
that's the company were they were made.


Joe is absolutely right, initially they were made of bakelite, later types of plastic.
There are also "mixed combinations" where the lower part is still made of bakelite and the snap-on lid already made of plastic.

Some/many of these are still available from the MB dealership but unfortunately only the late plastic type; sometimes you'll receive the even later style of the W124 chassis, which do also fit.
Yes, those were used on all contemporary MB passenger cars. You can also use same-aged Porsches as parts donors  ;) ;D

Best is to look out for used MB parts dealers.
Also an old used wiring harness of an MB  pass car of the 60ies would be suitable. That's how I collected my missing bits. These are still around.
Hardest ones to find are the 12 pin male plug (e.g. for column switch) and the 6 hole female plug (for tail & headlight assemblies).

 ;)

Best,

Achim
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: 114015 on March 03, 2017, 22:26:26
Quote
Looks like it might be KL or LK

Yes, Peter,
you are right.
Does read more like LK to me than KL.
So, it means "Leopold Kostal" then instead of "Kostal Lüdenscheid".
Appears to me to be so .... (corrected)
Mea culpa!


Achim
(Kostalplugcollector)
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: pj on March 04, 2017, 17:17:04
You guys are awesome.
Sure enough, the logo was easy to find:
http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v79/meshingear/170V/TR-KOSTAL.gif~c200

So the next question is whether LK was the only supplier of connectors during the W113 years. Or, if not, when and what fraction of the connectors came from LK?
Of course it would be even more amazing if the present-day company could help us.
Title: Re: What are the Electrical Connectors made of?
Post by: pj on April 02, 2017, 09:00:38
Just a quick update. I ordered two of the regular 6-pin connectors from Tom at MBCC and they arrived today. They have the LK logo on them and say "W. Germany" just like the originals do. Each connector is in two pieces. The small piece is identified as 009-545-30-28 and the larger as 006-545-80-28, so I guess that makes these the "6 pin free socket – Receptacle contacts" that are listed in our Tech Manual