Safety Wire... where do I get it?

[dstates]

I've got my belt pulley drive all back together after replacing the seal and it's almost ready to go back in the tractor. The only thing I need is some wire to safety the two bolts so they don't come loose. Does it need to be a special kind of wire? Any suggestions? Will Farm and Fleet have it?

By the way, I'll probably do it the aviation way by doing it as shown in the first picture of the diagram below.

Thanks!



 

[DeltaRed]

When I worked at a'diesel shop',we used to use
"mechanics tie wire".Local NAPA store carried
it.Came in a one pound roll.
 

[sd pete]

Electric fence wire works too. Airplane way is
the best way. Just make sure the wire is pulling
the heads tight.
 

[rustred]

there is stainless steel wire in rolls for that use also.
 

[wisbaker]

Electric fence wire, mechanic's wire from an Auto
Parts or industrial supply house, Stainless Steel
MIG wire or the appropriate aircraft wire from
someone like Aircraft Spruce
 

[rhtx55]

any aviation parts supply house or hangar has it.
 

[johnpop1]

McMaster Carr or MSC will both have.
 

[cjd12000]

Avial will have it you want .032 stainless they have models
but there pricey safety wired a lot when I worked on helos
also snap on can get it
 

[dstates]

Thanks, guys! Napa was out, but Carquest had some. I worked in the aviation industry for a while and we always called it safety wire, but the guys at the automotive stores knew it as 'mechanic's wire" like you said. Thanks for the tip.


 

[El Toro]

The Air Force has a tool for twisting that wire
Makes a nice neat job. We always did it by hand. Hal
 

[Janicholson]

Mechanics wire is definitely not safety wire. Safety wire is not iron, mechanics wire is.
Safety wire is anealed stainless, or nickle alloy. it does not rust, and is soft but with a good tensile strength. I would not use mechanics wire. Jim
 

[mkirsch]

FWIW, Harbor Freight sells spools of safety wire along with the twister tool. Gotta be better than a sharp stick in the eye.
 

[Genos]

They taught us how to safety wire in B-47 school 55 years ago, i still have a roll somewhere? it's very stiff stainless wire, not fun to do by hand. Not the same as Mechanics wire.
 

[dstates]

So I know some stainless steels are magnetic, but I did a quick magnet check and you guys are probably right that I bought a steel wire. I'm not really worried about corrosion since this is in an oil soaked area, though. I'll put some stainless safety wire on my list and replace it when I get some.
 

[sflem849]

Really, you are going to beat him up because it is not stainless? There was a freaking coat hanger in there for YEARS!!! Why don't you beat up the electric fence wire guys. That stuff is junk, bend it three or four times and it breaks.