TIL that old timer at the hangar was right about safety wire

Guy named Eddie with 40 years at Delta told me I was twisting my safety wire too tight. Said it needs to be snug but not guitar string tight or it'll break under vibration. Sure enough, three weeks later I had to redo a whole engine cowling because four of my wires snapped during a run-up test at KBHM. Anyone else get schooled by a crusty old mechanic who ended up being spot on?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver24214d ago

You ever try using a little wax on the wire before twisting? Keeps the tension even and stops it from snapping.

-1

blake_martinez13d ago

Wait, you've been waxing wires this whole time and nobody told me? That explains so much. I've snapped like three different strands this month trying to get them to hold tension. Gonna try this out on my next build for sure. Just regular beeswax or is there a special kind you use for this?