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Swapped from safety wire to locking clips on engine cowlings. Regret it sometimes.
Used to safety wire every cowling fastener by hand. Took forever but I trusted it. New shop switched us to those locking pin clips. Faster. Less finger cuts. But I've had two pop loose during vibration checks. Old timers swear by wire. New guys love the clips. Which side you on and why?
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anthony12921d ago
Never seen vibration checks pop a locking clip unless it was installed wrong.
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young.nora20d ago
Has anyone actually tested that theory in a real-world scenario though? I mean, I get where you're coming from @anthony129, but locking clips were never really designed to withstand that constant vibration anyway. It's more of a safety backup than a primary retention method, you know? @christopher943 mentioned it being a nonissue, but I've seen clips crack after a few months on heavy equipment just from the heat and flex cycle. The manufacturer's own docs usually say to replace them after removal, so relying on them long term is kinda asking for trouble. Vibration might not pop it right away, but it definitely speeds up the fatigue. Honestly, if I'm trusting a connector in a harsh environment, I want a proper latch or screw lock, not a piece of plastic that can break.
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jenny_hall20d ago
Used to think @anthony129 was right about clips being fine under vibration, but reading about the heat and flex cycle cracking them after months makes a lot of sense... never considered how plastic fatigue adds up over time. That manufacturer rule about replacing them after removal pretty much proves they're not meant for long term use anyway. Felt like a solid backup until you see how quickly they fail in real heavy equipment conditions.
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