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©2012 Tyco Electronics Corporation, a TE Connectivity Ltd. company
All Rights Reserved
*Trademark  

TE Connectivity, TE connectivity (logo), and TE (logo) are trademarks.  Other logos, product and/or company names may be trademarks of their respective owners. 

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Instruction Sheet

TOOLING ASSISTANCE CENTER 1-800-722-1111
PRODUCT INFORMATION 1-800-522-6752

This controlled document is subject to change.
For latest revision and Regional Customer Service, 
visit our website at www.te.com

408-2681

ROTA-CRIMP*
Crimping Tool
68321-1

13 APR 12  Rev C

Figure 1

1. INTRODUCTION

ROTA-CRIMP Crimping Tool 68321-1 (shown in 
Figure 1) is used to crimp Series 75 Power Lock 
Contact 53880-4 onto solid or stranded wire sizes 10, 
8, or 6 AWG. Read these instructions thoroughly 
before using the tool.

Dimensions in this instruction sheet are in 

millimeters [with inches in brackets]. Figures and 

illustrations are for reference only and are not 

drawn to scale.

Reasons for reissue of this instruction sheet are 
provided in Section 7, REVISION SUMMARY.

2. DESCRIPTION 

The FRONT of the tool, into which the contact is 
inserted, can be identified by the tool part number on 
the link. The tool features a stationary die (6.35 mm 
[.250 in.] wide F crimp nest), rotatable anvil die with 
three settings, hold-down device, and contact locator. 
The anvil must be set to the wire size being used. The 
applicable wire size is stamped on the base of the 
anvil die. When closed, the dies form one crimping 
chamber. 

The hold-down device and contact locator are 
mounted on a metal strip. The metal strip must be 
adjusted to accommodate the contact position during 
the crimping process.

3. CRIMPING PROCEDURE

Refer to Figure 2, and strip the wire to within the 
dimensions shown.

DO NOT use wires with missing or nicked 

conductor strands.

Figure 2

Proceed as follows:

1. Open the tool head. Make sure that the anvil die 
is locked in position and that the locator pin is visible 
as shown in Figure 1. It is not necessary at this time 
to set the anvil die to a specific wire size.

2. Place a sample contact in the nest of the 
stationary die as shown in Figure 3. The open end 
of the wire barrel must be aligned in the nest.

3. Loosen the two screws securing the hold-down 
device and contact locator, and position the contact 
locator over the contact tongue as shown in
Figure 3. Do not re-tighten the screws at this time.

The hold-down device and contact locator must be 

properly adjusted so that the contact will remain 

aligned during the crimping process.

4. Slowly close the tool head, making sure the 
contact remains properly positioned in the nest. If 
the contact is cocked or otherwise out of line, re-
align it before proceeding. The contact should 
remain in the nest as shown in Figure 3. DO NOT 
deform the wire barrel.

Locator Pin

Indexing Pin

Wire Size 

Marking

Stationary 

Die (Nest)

Anvil Die

Hold-Down 

Device and 

Contact Locator

Front of 

Tool

NOTE

i

CONTACT

WIRE SIZE (AWG)

WIRE STRIP 

LENGTH

53880-4

10, 8, 6

7.95-9.53

[.313-.375]

!

CAUTION

Strip Length

Wire Barrel

Transition 

Area

Series 75 Power Lock Contact

NOTE

i

O

R

IG

INAL  

INST

RUCTIONS

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