Got called out for my fuel line crimp method last month

I was working on a Duramax injector line in our shop, using my old hand crimper like always. This old timer from the next bay, Frank, walks over and just watches for a minute. He finally says, 'Kid, you're squeezing it like a lemon. You need three crimps, not two, and you gotta feel the click on the second squeeze, not just crank it.' I was annoyed at first, but he showed me on a scrap line. The difference in the crimp was clear. I tried it his way on the next job, a Powerstroke with a weeping line. No leak, first try. Now I do the three-step crimp every single time. It feels slower, but I haven't had a comeback on a fuel line since. What's one piece of shop advice that sounded picky but actually worked for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

rubyk267d ago

Yeah, that three-step thing is KEY. It's not just about the number of crimps, it's about letting the tool do the work. If you just muscle it, the ferrule can actually distort. The 'click' he mentioned is the tool hitting its proper stop. Once you feel that, the final squeeze is just for security.

wyatt_mitchell267d ago

Totally agree, learning to listen for that click saved me from ruining a bunch of connectors.

lewis.finley7d agoTop Commenter

Honestly I've had the opposite experience lol. I just go by feel and check the pull test. Relying on that click made me under-crimp a whole batch once because the tool was worn out. You gotta watch the crimp itself, not just wait for a sound.