Cat electric connectors?

I encountered a wierd problem today on my 931B. All of a sudden it wouldn't turn over. I've had a problem with the neutral start switch wires in the past and checked that first. I used a small piece of wire to bypass the switch and it started. I thought I found the problem. Wrong. I got really lucky that it started. The ends on the wires fit pretty loose so I cut them off and just to see if I found the problem, wired the bare ends together. Won't turn over. Now I'm think the starter switch is gone or something with the starter. My neighbor went and got a test light. Power at the wires I connected when the starter button is pressed. I managed to get the side cover off with the loader boom down. I shorted out a couple connections and it started right up. Then quite by fluke, I found that the smaller wire from the solonoid to the wiring harness was broken inside the insulation. I went to some useless parts places to see if the plug in connector was a standard size. Neither place had seperate connectors or would bother to open a package to see. I discovered the bullit connectors they had are too small. Are these special Cat connectors? They're used all over the machine. Would a dealer have these or do I need to order a new wire and put all new male and female connectors on. I told the one parts moron that they might be special Cat parts. First he told me that they look like standard connectors, then he said that Cat does have some special parts and told me I could check if JD might have something! If they aren't standard and he's too lazy to open a package to see, why would I go across town to a JD dealer, when I could across town, right to the Cat dealer. This was at Parts source (close by). Then I went to Canadian tire that was also close and the service manager told me I should just use a crimp on butt connector and use the same wire! A crimp on connector wont fit through the rubber boot over the wires and more connections means more problems down the road. I don't want to have to take the side cover off all the time because of a 4 inch wire with 4 crimp on connectors on it getting corroded and causing problems. I like to try and fix things properly if I can. I've seen a lot of DIY wiring on equipment and I'd be leary of any other work the owner did on it. All I wanted to know is if it was a standard connector or not. Dave

I don't know exactly what date CAT started using Duetsch connectors but I do know they've been in use for at least 10-15 years. So, that may be what your machine has on the wiring harness. If so you can get anything you need for a any type Deutsch connector from Ladd Inc. They are the only true Deutsch distributor in the US, anybody else that has Deutsch stuff is buying from them. I'vd bought a good bit of stuff from them in the past few years and they are really good to deal with. They also have an excellent web site showing all the tools needed, if any, as well as how all the different connectors are put together and taken apart.

If your connectors aren't Deutsch give Waytek a try. Their website is http://www.waytekwire.com/ They carry a pretty good selection of various other style connectors and the crimp terminals to go with them. Hope this helps.
Good luck.
Ladd Inc

these conections on your tractor have been preseedes two times The only way to keep it oem is to buy a harness.