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Adjusting Crimping Tools

By Capt. Vincent Daniello

Updated: May 14, 2012

Crimping tools aren’t necessarily adjusted properly from the factory, and even if they are, some leader and crimp combinations might be crimped too tightly if made with the factory setting. Adjust large crimping tools and test those connections. Small hand-crimping tools for 300-pound mono and smaller aren’t adjustable, but test those connections.

These Billfisher HC-18 heavy-duty crimpers adjust with one bolt and lock tight with another.

Loosen the locking bolt — closest to handle — with a 14mm or 9/16 wrench, then turn the smaller adjusting bolt to move the pivot-point of one jaw.

Tightening the adjusting bolt — closest to the jaws — (turning it clockwise) pushes the jaw pivot point farther from the tool handle, making the tool crimp more tightly.

Once adjusted, tighten the locking bolt.

Popular Soft-Touch Ultra-Light crimping tools pivot one jaw on an eccentric cam — much like a camshaft in a car. Turning that cam changes the pivot point of one side of the jaw, adjusting how tightly the jaws close.

Remove the setscrew that locks the tool-adjustment cam.

Lift the cam slightly and turning it counterclockwise to make the tool crimp more tightly or clockwise to make the tool crimp more loosely.

Replace the setscrew to lock the adjustment.

A few old tools still around but no longer produces have one locking bolt (middle cap screw) and two adjustment screws (top and bottom setscrews) to tighten or loosen the jaws.

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