no no no... I've done that on location at some installs before, getting the serial connectors on some networking equipment working so I could diagnose some of the phone company's problems ( and we all know they have them.... )

I'll wait, go buy the damn adapter, and then work on it before trying to match pinouts using bare wire again. I ain't that coordinated.

I'm thinking it's probably a problem in the sled at this point... those wires aren't the most secure I've ever seen.