As I've said before, I'm an AEG noob, so be gentle... 
I've snipped the old (small) connector off my Thompson, and stripped the wire back about 8mm for each side. I've got the little metal connector bits off the sprue, the open ended ones for the female side. Am I supposed to crimp the metal flaps over the wire and then push the metal prongs into the plastic bit? Should the frayed ends of the wire be pushed all the way into the closed parts of the prongs?
Want to get it right, or I'll cry.
Yes... all correct.
If you can its worth soldering the wire into the metal bits before putting them into the shroud. For strength.
Once the metal bits are in the shroud I can guarantee you won't get them out without cutting the shroud (or being very very lucky!)
sounds about right! make sure you twist the bundle of wires tight so they don't fray. Also, if you've any experience of soldering, it helps to solder the wires to the metal pins, to minimise the chance of them pulling out/ getting loose connections.
other than that, just make sure the pins are connected solidly to the wires before you push them into the plastic housing, they're a pain to take out again!
I thought that, I couldn't get the prongs out of the redundant small one when I took it off.
Before I go ahead and try then, which colour goes into which 'shape' (U or square) for UK batteries? The small connector had red-circle/black-square.
Much obliged, Rich and DM. 
That sounds about right, but to double check it have a look at the plug on the gun/battery, as long as red goes to red etc. you won`t go wrong. As for getting the metal terminals out of the plastic plug it can be done with a darning needle, the terminals are only held in by two 'ears', you`ll notice them if you still have the terminals out of the plug, these have to be pushed in towards the terminal and the whole caboodle pulls out of the plastic 
as slick says it can be done. easy once you get the hang. I use a small jewellers flat head screw driver or a small pair of needle nose pliers. just push in the little ears and it slots out.
as for putting them on as you say put the wire some way into the metal connectors(not all the way or the battery connector wont go in right) then crimp them around the wire. a little solder if you want to be safe but not essential.
Its easier to just put a large connector lead in, the cyma wire is quite thin, bung one of these in, its only £3 odd with the postage, 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Guarder-Enhanced-Ai ... dZViewItem
Thanks again all, this is the kind of thing I really should know, so it's a learning experience!
Final question...
Does anyone have a large UK battery handy they could describe to me so I can put the red and black wires into the correct shaped slots?
Thanks again all, this is the kind of thing I really should know, so it's a learning experience!
Final question...
Does anyone have a large UK battery handy they could describe to me so I can put the red and black wires into the correct shaped slots?
yup, the red cable goes into the square shaped hole. good luck!
Done and done. The prongs are a bit wobbly in the plastic thing, but I guess that's down to the wire diameter.
Thanks DM.
Aint they the other way round though on the cyma?
Steve.D
Aint they the other way round though on the cyma?
Steve.D
if he's rewiring the thompson, he may as well do it right according to std battery wiring, as opposed to cyma's arse-about-face way of doing it.
I've used a UK battery (well, two) in it and it didn't short or break. I think it's a question of luck whether or not you get the Irish-wired ones.
P.S. I'm Irish so I'm allowed to say that...
A bump and a quick addendum to this...
It's 0421 in the A.M., and not being able to sleep, I've got up to get my shit wired (pardon the pre-pun) for today's open day. Whilst looking my stuff out, I've found the battery which came with the CYMA M1A1 and thought; 'well, as I bought both male and female connectors to convert the thing to large batt, I may as well put 'tother one onto the Chinese battery and bring it as a spare.
To my shock and horror, and after I've fitted the spare connector to the battery (took me 2 mins, I'm experienced now you know), I realise as I try to charge it that I've muddled the male and female connectors! I've managed to get the battery connector sleeve off, now I have to do the Tommy's... 
Should the male connector be on the Tommy end, and the female on the batt? The male is on the charger I have (from Z1, so I assume it's right). If anyone can answer me this before 0630 I'd be everso grateful (and surprised!) 
Thanks again all, this is the kind of thing I really should know, so it's a learning experience!
Final question...
Does anyone have a large UK battery handy they could describe to me so I can put the red and black wires into the correct shaped slots?
yup, the red cable goes into the square shaped hole. good luck!
I've done the above now, and my battery's charged as I type this. Thing is, the red wire had to go in the round hole. I don't know why (I'm very tired). Anyway, the battery seems to be fine so far and it hasn't caught fire.
Actually, you know I can't remember why I put the red wire in the round connector, and now I'm a bit shit up I've bollocksed it up. Need sleep... 
Right, swapped them again, that's the third time now. Battery back on charge. By the way, if anyone needs their prongs removed from the plastic connector sheath, just so happens I'm a bit of an expert now... Incidentally (or perhaps not), the wee red light on the charger is much brighter that it was with the connectors on the other way round - and by that I mean red/round, black/square. Hopefully that's it now. Still very tired.
I realise that one day this thread will be used as an example for psychology students. I'm off for a tab outside... 