OT: Corrosion in trailer-truck elec plug

Kent in KC · Oct 15, 2008

Hi guys. My tractor hauling trailer lights are giving me fits. The plug under my truck bumper has a little corrosion in the bullet connectors. I"m trying to figure a way to clean them good, then put some electrical vaseline goop in there to stop further problems. Anyone have any ideas on how to clean out those little connectors? Its so small its hard to get anything in there. Maybe some chemical?

Thanks!

IH2444 · Oct 15, 2008

Come kind of polishing compound on a Q-tip. spray clean with contact cleaner and then electrical grease on a q-tip to prevent future corrosion.

Do the other half of the connectors as well.

Kent in KC · Oct 15, 2008

Thanks, but its too small for a q-tip. Its about a 1/8" cylinder.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 15, 2008

I've used some CLR in a Spray Bottle several times to clean trailer Plug Receptacles and Plugs.Then spray with an Electrical Contact Chemical. I never use Grease as we do a lot of Desert Dirt Road hauling and the Grease attracts Road Dirt and makes a mess.

rustyfarmall · Oct 15, 2008

It might be time to replace both the male and female connectors. Any good auto parts store will have those as a pair.

ScottyHOMeY · Oct 15, 2008

Sounds like a plug with six round pins???

There's small brushes available that you can get in there, but if you can't find any readily, (this is gonna take some fiddlin' on your part) try rolling up some 120 grit sandpaper with the grit to the inside and get over the pins. Don't work on it any harder than necessary to knock off the heaviest of the corrosion. Blow out anything you knocked loose and look it over. You could swab a little vinegar (it doesn't get sticky like Coke) in there after that and then hit it once more with a finer grit like 220, swab it out good with a little water and let it dry. From there, I'd put a little di-electic grease for each pin on the trailer end (male connector, female pins) of the plug, hook her up and check it out. I expect you'll see some improvement.

I use mine enough (7-flat and 6-round, lightly greased from time to time) that I don't have much problem with corrosion. My problem is usually the mud daubers makin' themselves at home in the six-pin on the trailer end. Must be somethin' about a round hole that draws them, they don't seem to bother the trailers with the flat-blade connectors.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 15, 2008

I assume your talking about the socket end. I've wrapped a bit of fine sand paper around a drill bit to clean them. Use a bit of tape to start it.

rhouston · Oct 15, 2008

pack it full of ketchup leave it for 15 minutes or so them rinse it out good with water.

Dick L · Oct 15, 2008

If it is like mine the prongs are split. I take a small screwdriver and spread the prongs when it starts to lose its connection. I have never tried to clean them or put anything on them.
This Type

Leland · Oct 15, 2008

I spray brake cleaner to clean it then spray WD40 to prevent more .

Michael Soldan · Oct 15, 2008

Scratch the surface with the tip of a small knife until you see clean metal..spray the plug with spray grease..don't use WD40, it is neither a lubricant or a cleaner...it is a water displacer with little lubrication characteristics. I had to wire a new connection on my truck, took about half an hour and the connector was$12 at Carquest. I keep it sprayed with grease now.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 15, 2008

Have been in trucking over 20 years[mostly logging]fought a lot of elect. problems What I did is spray with aluminum brightner full strength let set a minute or 2 and presure wash out repeat if needed let dry. Now to keep it working good,get a can of T-9 spray, any place that works or sell truck scales will have it. Be carefull with the aluminum brightner it is an acid.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 15, 2008

If its the small, round, 6 prong connector in a metal case, it'll be a constant source of corrosion, your best bet is to replace with the 7 prong flat blade connector RV style connector, in a plastic connector, I have never had a corrosion problem since I switched.

jose bagge · Oct 15, 2008

i fight this all the time with the plug on the back on my truck and the horse trailers. I shoot some PB Blaster in there, which helps melt away the corrosion, and I have an adapter (7 way to flat) that I cram in and out of there a few times, then I plug in the trailer- usually cleans up and it works works.

I have seen some damn strange stuff happen electrically when corrossion sets in- brakes come on when turn signals applied, etc.

watch scraping at it with a knife blade- one of those wires may be hot all the time ( tack room light, etc)

Jim H SW-PA · Oct 15, 2008

I'm asuming this a 4 wire flat connector

Just go into the house and get your squrill gun cleaning kit. Hope it is like mine 22 cal. use the wire brush if real bad, dip in in a cup of baking powder, [1 tbs./ half cup water], or you can put the brush on a battery drill works for me.then put the vasiline on it.another suggestion is if you have a reciever style hitch get a third brake light to take the place of your tow hitch when not in use will keep connection cleaner longer and tape the trailer side when not in use for long periods of time.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 16, 2008

Mud daubers filled the ignition switch on my saw mill engine.I keep a bit of tape over it now.

trucker40 · Oct 16, 2008

If its a regular tractor trailer type plug in they make a brush that goes in one side and around the other side.Costs a lot,but it works.You might find it on a Snap On or Mac truck,place that sells chrome for big trucks.maybe a place that sells truck parts or trucks.If you use that brush and still have problems then its time to replace the ends.Tractor trailer type ends can be bought for reasonable money usually at places like Truck Pro,Precision Built,Kenworth,Freightliner,and others that sell parts.You might even buy both ends for what that brush costs from Snap on.

OT: Corrosion in trailer-truck elec plug

Kent in KC

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IH2444

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Kent in KC

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Anonymous-0

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rustyfarmall

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ScottyHOMeY

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Anonymous-0

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rhouston

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Dick L

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Leland

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Anonymous-0

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jose bagge

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Jim H SW-PA

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