I finally ditched the safety wire pliers for hand twisting on smaller jobs

Been seeing too many new guys using the tool for every little 3-inch lockwire run on light aircraft. Sure you get a perfect twist but it takes twice as long as just using your hands and a pair of dikes on a Cessna oil filter.

2 comments

2 Comments

linda62620d agoMost Upvoted

Wait isn't a Cessna oil filter the one with the safety wire holes already in the flange? I've done hundreds of those and hand twisting works great but you gotta make sure you're not pulling too tight or you'll crack the filter can. They're thin aluminum, you know. I actually saw a guy at my last shop squeeze one too hard with the dikes and it split right at the crimp seam. Had to do an oil change all over again.

kellygarcia20d ago

Huh, that's a good point about the safety wire holes, @linda626, but I think there's something else people miss. Idk if this is common knowledge, but those filters actually have a different thread pitch than the automotive ones that fit the same engine, so if you're not paying attention you can cross-thread it and strip the adapter. I always tell guys to do the first few turns by hand until it seats right, then finish with a wrench if you need to. And yeah, the cracking thing is real, I've seen it happen with a strap wrench too if you're not careful with the angle.