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Adel Clamp Tricks
Hello,
Running wires all over the engine compartment and using lots of adel clamps (or nut catapults...) Right now, I am using some locking fish hook removers and small ty-wraps to hold them while I get the bolts in and it works ok, but I figured others had some good methods too. Bonus points if you state your solution in Limerick form.... :D Happy Friday to you all. |
Adel Clamps
Adel clamps are a pain.
Installing two can drive me insane. I've tried every trick I can find, I've been wracking my mind, Please help me to finish my plane. |
Bonus Points awarded
Well played Mickey!
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Quote:
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Adel Clamp Tricks
Safety wire
will help you fulfill your desire. Bones |
There is actually a tool to hold these during installation. I forget where I saw them, though. Oh, well.
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How about a haiku:
I loathe adel clamps They launch small parts into space When they spring open |
Dave - Very Nice
Some serious culture here. Who says we are all metal bashing neanderthals???
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Idea from Laird Owens, that is in my archive of useful RV-List messages:
Here's a neat tool to hold "adel" or cushion clamps while your trying to thread on a washer and nut. 1. Take an old hacksaw blade and cut it down to about 4" long. 2. Grind off the teeth. 3. Grind a "V" in the end, about 1/4" wide by 1" long. 4. Slightly sharpen the "V" so it will engage a #10 screw's thread. Now you put the clamp around the thing your holding, compress the clamp, insert a screw, then slide the tool up to the thread. The tool will keep the clamp from moving and hold the screw in place while you thread a washer and nut on to the screw. My father developed this technique back when he worked on the Lockheed Electra and passed it on to me where it worked well on my RV-6. Also, the Aeroelectric Connection web site has a page that shows you everything you wanted to know about adel clamps but were afraid to ask. ================= I never used Laird's idea, but I did use a similar idea I stole from another builder. I made a tool from a piece of hacksaw blade. I cut a slot in the side of the blade, about 1/8" wide, and half way through the blade. You hold the Adel clamp together with one hand, then put the slot over the two flat parts of the clamp, right up next to the wire bundle. Let go, and the clamp will be jammed in the slot, holding it together while you fumble around getting the screw, washer and nut on. If you have two clamps to put on one screw, you can sometimes use two hacksaw blade tools, one on each clamp. That may, or may not work, depending on the angle between the two clamps. Then, I stole another idea, and bought two pair of used hemostats at OSH. I put a 3/16 punch through the screw holes in the Adel clamps. Then I use a hemostat to hold the flat parts of the clamp together. Pull out the punch, and insert the screw, washer and nut. Works great. If you have two clamps for one screw, you can use two hemostats. |
Warning: This is awful
Squeese the clamps as hard as you can, don't let up not even a bit.
The holes must line up to get the bolt through it. Now hold the clamps with some pliers with your free hand. Next reach for the wire and make a secure band. Another nut launched into the dark recesses, damnit. |
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