Used to hate using pin insertion tools, now I get it

I always just used tweezers for pulling pins out of D-sub connectors. Figured it was fine. Then last month I had to re-pin 3 connectors on a 737 nav antenna and my hand cramped up bad. Borrowed a proper Daniels insert tool from a co-worker and finished the job in half the time. Has anyone else had a tool they ignored for years turn out to be a lifesaver?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliverhernandez5d ago

I read somewhere that a lot of old school avionics guys swear by those Daniels tools for D-subs, and now I see why. It's one of those things where you think you're fine but then you realize you've been making the job way harder on yourself. I had a similar moment when I finally tried a proper Molex extractor tool instead of bending up a paperclip.

mason_lopez5d ago

Close but not entirely on the Daniels stuff. They're great for military spec crimpers and the old school AMP pins, but for standard D-subs you see in general aviation, a good pair of generic ratcheting crimpers from Molex or TE will get you just as clean of a connection for a fraction of the price. Unless you're doing mil-spec work where you gotta pass inspection with a micrometer, the cheapo ones will work fine if you actually follow the instructions and don't try to crimp with a pair of pliers like a caveman. The real game changer is having the right frame and positioner for your specific contact, not the brand name on the handle.

wren6385d ago

@mason_lopez makes a fair point about generic crimpers, but there's something to be said for the feel of a Daniels tool in your hand. The cheap ones do work fine, until they don't and you're redoing a connector on the ramp. Guess it depends on how often you're doing this stuff.