Molex 11-03-0044 K Connector Accessories, Mini-Fit Jr Extraction Tool

If use use Molex mini-fit connectors you'll eventually need one of these. Works fine to extract a pin or socket from the connector housing. Makeshift solution (tweezers etc.) will likely fail and just damage the connector. This is the right tool for the job.

I had a little computer build that required reworking the fixed cables on a basic power supply. I wanted to salvage some wires from old parts and decided to buy this "official" Molex tool since the pins are tiny and have limited clearance to the retaining tabs. The tool worked fine for emptying a 24 pin motherboard block and some others. Other reviewers reported problems with this tool, I think my success is based on a couple of subtle points:a) make sure the prongs go into the little slots alongside the female socketb) the prongs have to go in until the hilt of the tool touches the plastic connector blockc) wiggling the tool slightly as you push it it and when it seats helps work the prongs to release. Note I wrote, "slightly".d) the connector (and I suspect this may be where others were disappointed) should also be pushed forward/in to help release the retaining prongs. (As the tool goes in, it pushed the connector back, jamming the retainer tabs against the end wall of the slots. Working the pin forward frees the tabs to flex.)e) If you do all the above to free the connector, it may simply take a little more pull to get it out. For me, some came out freely and some required a tug. But beware to wiggle the tool a little between test-tugs and make sure the tool is fully inserted.After reworking these cables, I found a single prong of this tool was right for releasing the single-side retainers on the small 3/4 pin connectors used for PC cooling fans. A handy bonus use!After this, my tool is in fine shape for future projects.

The first time I used the tool, I was able to successfully remove all 30 pins from three Molex connectors in a modded ATX cable harness without damaging any pins or the tool. I started with a connector which had a translucent body, and removed one of the corner pins; that way I could see when the tool was properly inserted from the pin side of the connector. After some practice, I moved on to opaque connectors.I suggest holding the connector so the rows are horizontal, then inserting the tool from the contact side and making sure the prongs are between the pin and the connector body on the left and right sides. It is very easy for one of the prongs to enter the contact space, in which case the pin will not release. There is no need to bend the prongs, just pull out the tool and re-insert, observing that each prong is located properly.Next, push the tool as far as it will go into the connector; it can help to push back on the wire rather than the connector body (small pliers could be used from the wire side if necessary). You will probably feel the pin release in about the last millimeter of travel, then the pin and wire should pull away from the connector with light to moderate force. If it doesn't, then place one of the long edges of the connector body against the edge of a bench, check to make sure the tool is fully inserted, and try pulling the wire slightly toward the top and bottom of the connector. This will usually free the pin if it is caught on a metal edge other than the retaining clips.In some case it will be necessary to remove the tool and start over, but there is no need to use any great amount of force. Doing so may break the tool or jam the pins in the connector.

If you manage to get it from Amazon warehouse like I did for $4 it is a solid tool for a reasonable price. However, its original price is absurd and I don't recommend paying over $10 for this

I have been using a wide variety of terminal extraction tools, including the original Molex tool, on a more or less daily basis, for decades. Because of a mislaid tool, I ordered this item to utilize on a current project, and I have to say that, even at the $18.31 I spent on it, it was money wasted.After decades of knowing how to hold the wires to permit proper insertion for the business end of the tool into the connector, for rapid disengagement of the terminal barbs to permit terminal extraction, this tool follows none of the rules that applied to the earlier generation tools.What's the problemThe tool is made out of thinner gauge metal which is not thick enough to displace the terminal retention barbs far enough to permit a clean terminal ejection. The thinner metal also wanders in ways that are completely unpredictable upon tool insertion, which means that about 50% of the time you will end up with one side or the other of the tool into the interior of the terminal, instead of between the outside of the terminal and the connector housing, where it's supposed to be.This results in damaged terminals, as well as damaged connector housings, which is completely counter productive to the repair effort, as it causes later issues with connection reliability and terminal retention.Fortunately I found my original tool, which allowed me to learn my lesson and toss this version in the trash with a loud, "Good riddance!"Even more fortuitously, I found a listing on AliExpress which offers a tool, made of machined tool steel, which works the first time, every time--which makes it even better than the original Molex tool, which only wasted about 10% of my time.Do a search for "5557 Extractor" and you'll find it for sale for $$2.27 (US), with $1.92 for shipping. For me, that's less than $5.00, including tax, per tool, if you order them one at a time--at least $13.31 than I wasted on this thing.The wise don't have to be told what to do. The fools will just argue with you about it.

When my buddy at work pulled this out at work, after I had been fighting a JLG plug for an hour, I almost lost it.It is very easy to use, great quality and durability. It doesn't look like much but once you learn how to use it, you will be the the next to get a raise as performer of the year!