I’ve been teaching guys to use Gator Crimps for the last 7-8 years. They are all I use for the high heat 1/4″ hose and i crimp thousands of feet of hose every month.
Anyone can install Gators using common tools you probably already have in your garage like wrenches and a vice.
Gators eliminate the expense of Hydraulic crimpers.
Gators put you in control of your hose. No longer dependent on any shop, you can reuse these crimps and extend the life of your hose.
Most guys just throw away their hose the first time it fails. Learn to use Gators and your hose will last longer. Guys typically get another 6 months out of each hose. Add that up over the course of your career.
There’s two videos on my store, in shop installation and in field installation.
http://www.wandersproducts.com/instructional-videos/
Tips not mentioned so much in the Installing Gators videos.
I’ve been teaching guys to use Gator Crimps for the last 7-8 years. They are all I use for the high heat 1/4″ hose and i crimp thousands of feet of hose every month.
Anyone can install Gators using common tools you probably already have in your garage like wrenches and a vice.
Gators eliminate the expense of Hydraulic crimpers.
Gators put you in control of your hose. No longer dependent on any shop, you can reuse these crimps and extend the life of your hose.
Most guys just throw away their hose the first time it fails. Learn to use Gators and your hose will last longer. Guys typical get another 6 months out of each hose. Add that up over the course of your career.
There’s two videos on my store, in shop installation and in field installation.
http://www.wandersproducts.com/instructional-videos/
Sam – I’ve actually had success with the gator crimps, stainless last forever, the steel not so much. It took me 4-5 tries to figure them out after watching the videos.
Joe – It does take time and practice.
I’ve made every mistake there is a thousand times.
The top mistakes and the ones I don’t mention much or at all in the video…
– put a few drops of Cool Cuff Lube on the threads of the Insert and the inner walls of the outer sleeve before you start. An absolute must for the stainless Gators but also useful for the steel/zinc Gators.
– mark the 7/8″ point as discussed so you know where to stop screwing on the outer jacket. Then poke inside the hose with a Phillips screwdriver to ream out the opening so it’s easier to get the Insert started. You should be able to start the Insert by hand. If you need the drill, you’ve probably gone past the 7/8″ point.
– For fat hose (>0.53″ OD) like any of the Goodyears and any of the thermalplastic hoses like Parker Parflex and OEM, screw on the outer jacket once to the 7/8″ point then remove it and clear out any loose material from the outer jacket. This is hugely important to getting a good grab with the plastic hoses.
– Screw in the Insert until it is completely tightened down but not so tight that you strip the machine threads. Then as you use the hose, remember to check the tightness here again because if it is loose here at all, it will drip and it will also invite air and/or water to get inside, in between the layers of the hose. If you see bubbles this is usually what happened. No biggie. Just remove the Gator, cut the hose back a foot and recrimp it and learn to make sure the Insert is completely tight. If you have to, use a dot of JB Weld on the threads or even a smear of silicone E6000.
– For old aged steelbraid, the wires often fray out badly once you cut it. Try going back further to cut, like 3-4 feet back. If you still get fraying, order up one of my fluted Gators. I purposefully flare the end of the outer jacket to make it easier to get it started.
– Have Faith in yourself. Sam’s got over 40 years in the trade and Gators were new to him but he’s got it. Yes FORTY. So he’s an old dog learning new tricks just like me. But we are doing it successfully. So any of you should be ok too with a little practice. Especially you new guys. Over the course of 25 years, just think… each hose lasting an average of 25% longer will add up to over $5,000 in savings; money in your pocket; not to mention the fact that you are more in control, not some ripoff suppler way across town. You can do this.
I’m always here for anybody needing help.
