How to Make Your Own Ball Link Pliers

A rotary tool is required to make these pliers.

Ball link pliers are used to install and remove plastic ball links in swashplates and other items. These pliers look similar to other pliers; however, they have forked ends. Ball link pliers are known for bending and becoming damaged over time. Making your own ball link pliers will save you money and reduce trips to the hardware store.

Things You'll Need

• Four-pronged metal fork
• 1/16 inch bolt
• 1/16 inch nut
• Old needle nose pliers
• File
• Metal adhesive or epoxy
• C-clamps
• Rotary tool with metal cutting blade

Instructions

1. Cut a line down the middle of the fork between the two middle prongs. Do not cut all the way through the fork. Leave 1/4 inch between the bottom of the cut and the start of the handle. Cut the tip of the prongs off so that the prongs are still connected to the fork but 1/4-inch long.

2. Remove the handle from the fork and separate the two sections completely. You now have two sections with two prongs on each section.

3. Drill a 1/16-inch hole between the prongs on one section. On the other, hollow out a 2/16-inch wide hole. File the ends of the prongs until they come to a point, removing any coarse edges or metal shards.

4. Place the bolt into the 1/16-inch hole and slide the nut over the bolt to hold it in place. Glue the nut, bolt and prong together with the adhesive or epoxy. Allow the glue to dry before continuing. (Note: All glue is different and requires different drying times. Read the label on the package for exact times.)

5. Open the pliers and attach the sections of fork to the pliers, one on each side, with the bolt end pointing inward toward the other section (the bolt will fit through the 2/16-inch hole when the pliers are closed). Apply epoxy to the back of each section hold in place with C-clamps until the epoxy dries.

References

• HeliGuy: Make your own ball link pliers Post new topic

Resources

• RC Helicopter Set up: What on earth does that mean?