What size Safety wire.

[Ed Schenck]

I could not find my stainless locking wire while on the boat yesterday. Now I see on Jamestown there are three sizes: .020, .032, and .041 (http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...do?pid=3857&familyName=Stainless+Locking+Wire ). Is size important for the set screws on my one-inch shaft coupler behind 30 horespower?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Size always matters ;-D

The hole in the setscrews will care if the wire is too boocoo. I don't think strength is much of an issue. course of you want the setscrews to "love you long time" you should get the correct diameter wire

 

[Ed Schenck]

Good point about the holes Bill. Especially while I am laying with my face squashed, my right arm under my body, and working with left hand only. In the Navy we had those locking pliers that twisted the wire. Need some of those. I can't picture the difference between .020 and .032. Maybe I can find something online.

 

[derfus]

I am a airplane mechanic and most anything that moves and shakes like a drive shaft I would use the .032 if the holes in the bolts will accept it.

 

[derfus]

P.S. Safety Wire

This site is for small aircraft but it does show the best way to do it


http://www.ultralightnews.com/pilotslounge/-http://www.ultralightnews.com/pilotslounge/safetywire.htm

 

[SamLust]

I found a safety wire tool at Harbor freight. It is cheap wnd doesn't work too badly at all. I bought two to suppliment the "real" tool I got as a birthday gift from a girlfriend back in the early 1970's. Probably the most usefull and appreciated gift I ever got.

 

[Ron20324]

I could not find my stainless locking wire while on the boat yesterday. Now I see on Jamestown there are three sizes: .020, .032, and .041?

Looking at my wire guage, .041 is #59 drill size, 19 ga wire.
...020, if you can pass a 1/64 drill through the holes but not 1/32, use 020.
...032, if you can pass a 1/32 drill snugly but not 3/64, use 032
...041, if you can pass a 3/64 use 041

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks Bob, just confirmed from your link that .032 will be the one. The site states what I thought, .020 is really light. And Jamestown only sells it in long rolls. I can get .032 at just ten feet for $4.00. Then I will find my other roll. Was at our lake just yesterday.

 

[PeterSchenck]

Ed Schenck from Pete Schenck been in those left arm tight spots on the F.S. Key for the USN. Nice to see the name in the Navy ranks.