Switched from a standard crimper to a ratcheting one for a big job

David Henderson · 2026-03-28T13:15:06.495602+00:00

I had to re-pin a whole harness on a Citation CJ3 last month, about 200 contacts. My old manual crimper was fine for small stuff, but my hand was cramping after 50 pins. A guy at the hangar next door let me try his ratcheting crimper, a Klein Tools one. I bought my own the next day and finished the job in half the time with zero bad crimps. Has anyone else made a tool switch that saved a big project?

lilychen5mo ago

Totally get it, my hands hurt just reading that.

3

the_julia5mo ago

A Citation CJ3 is a serious piece of kit, so I get the upgrade. But 200 contacts? That's a Tuesday for some avionics guys. My old man did whole panels with a pair of pliers and a prayer.

2

finley5245mo ago

Watched my buddy try to strip a whole bundle of armored cable with a basic knife for a security system install. Took him forever and he nicked a couple wires. I lent him my automatic wire stripper the next day and he said it felt like cheating, finished the run in an hour.

1