Method for applying a retention sleeve to a coaxial cable connector

A method for defining a forward stop surface for a crimping ferrule placed over a shielding braid of a coaxial cable overlying a reduced diameter section of an outer conductive shell extending to a rearward end rearwardly from a transition location adjoining a central section of the outer conductive shell defining a rearwardly facing surface, the central and reduced diameter sections having known respective outer diameters, the method comprising:

• providing a retention sleeve having a forward section adjoining a forward end thereof and a rearward section adjoining a rearward end thereof with an inner diameter of said forward section being slightly larger than said known outer diameter of said central section of said outer conductive shell, and an inner diameter of said rearward section being incrementally smaller than said known outer diameter of said central section thereof;
• placing said forward end of said retention sleeve onto said rearward end of said outer conductive shell with said forward section surrounding said reduced diameter section;
• positioning an annular work end of tooling against said rearward end of said retention sleeve, said annular work end having an inner diameter larger than said known outer diameter of said reduced diameter section of said outer conductive shell and smaller than said known outer diameter of said central section thereof;
• and
• urging said retention sleeve onto said rearward end of said outer conductive shell by pushing said retention sleeve forwardly with said annular work end of tooling until said annular work end abuts said rearwardly facing surface at said transition location along said outer conductive shell, said rearward end of said retention sleeve thereby being positioned at said transition location thereby assuring that a crimping ferrule later placed over and around said reduced diameter section with the shielding braid of the coaxial cable disposed therebetween when abutted against said rearward end of said retention sleeve is positioned rearwardly of said transition location and overlying only said reduced diameter section of said outer conductive shell.