Shoutout to the guy who showed me the zip tie trick on fuel lines

I used to think safety wire was the only way to secure those pesky lines on older Cessnas. Then a veteran mechanic at my shop in Tucson showed me how a single zip tie looped right can hold just as well and save 10 minutes per line. Has anyone else switched to zip ties for non-critical stuff like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

sagejackson10d ago

Wait, you're saying a zip tie can actually replace safety wire on fuel lines? I've been doing this for over 20 years and I always figured that was asking for trouble. I've seen too many zip ties get brittle in the Arizona sun and snap clean off. But I guess if it's just a backup on a non-critical line and you're checking them regularly, it could save a bunch of time. I still think I'll stick with the wire on anything that's actually pressurized though.

jennybailey10d ago

Just wait till you see me using duct tape as a permanent fix on my lawnmower. Suddenly zip ties look like aerospace engineering.

kimblack10d ago

Nodding along with you on pressurized lines, that's a hard no from me too. I've pulled enough melted zip ties off engine blocks to never trust them on anything that actually needs to hold. On a vent line or a coolant overflow hose though, I've used them for years and never had one fail. Just replace them every season and you're golden.