Tekton Aviation Tool Kit Prototype Release

[KnurledNut]

Quoted from their description:

New Prototype Release: 1/4 Inch Drive 12-Point Aviation Tool Kit
This $90 set will be available in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 21–27.
We designed this set to be portable and compact so it can easily be taken on board an aircraft or added to a mobile tool kit.
It includes:
* 1/4 inch drive standard length 12-point sockets: 5/32–9/16 in.
* Stubby combination wrenches: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 in.
* Phillips bits: P1, P2
* Slotted bits: 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 in.
* Hex bits: 5/64–5/32 in.
* Star bits: T10–T25
* Torq-set bits: TS-6, TS-8, TS-10
* Mini extension
* 3 inch wobble extension
* Hex bit holder
* U-joint
* 3 inch quick-release ratchet
* 6 inch quick-release ratchet
* Spinner handle

 

[Fedwrench]

I saw that on You Tube and Redditt.

That's a nice kit for the aviation crowd but, I feel Tekton is throwing existing products at a zippered case to see what sticks
I don't understand why Tekton doesn't skip the stubby square drive ratchet and substitute one of these:

1/4 Inch Drive x 3 Inch Bit Ratchet | TEKTON

Low-profile bit ratchet has 72-tooth gear and is compatible with a wide range of 1/4 inch hex bits. Provides access in tight spots. SRH71003.

www.tekton.com

I also feel Tekton is missing the target when it comes to their spinner handle. They need to offer one with a female square drive at the top of the handle for use as an extension/enable it to be used with a ratchet for additional torque. For Bonus points, Tekton should make a stubby spinner handle using their hard red screwdriver handle with the female square drive at its top.
Tekton could also change the standard ratchet to a flex head version without much change in overall length.

Tekton should offer a build your own modular compact kit where you can select items from their catalog to fit in a zippered pouch.

Endless possibilities

 

[whateg01]

I saw aviation and thought that read textron!

 

[KnurledNut]

I saw aviation and thought that read textron!

 

[whateg01]

We have beech and Cessna here

 

[merkyworks]

Tekton bit ratchet would be better if it was pass thru for an extension, like the Icon meme bit kit ratchet. Being able to have a ratchet, ratchet with extension and t-handle all in one tiny package is what you want for a small kit in my opinion.

 

[Airframer]

Nice. Needs small pliers with cutter.

 

[liliysdad]

For Bonus points, Tekton should make a stubby spinner handle using their hard red screwdriver handle with the female square drive at its top.

They killed the red hard handles…. Best damned thing they made.

 

[micromind]

Needs a spark plug socket and a spark plug wire wrench.

 

[AEAdam]

Nice. Needs small pliers with cutter.

and a space for a flashlight, & inspection mirror.

I know they found one guy. They should have done more homework. I think stubby wrenches were a mistake as well. I would prefer both ratchets to be flex heads.

The Snap On black oval headed speed wrench is a fixture in most aircraft factories and hangers. They could have made their own version.

I guess this sums up my frustration with these smaller tool companies. They seem willing to kinda half *** stuff. How much work would it have been to do a little more homework? I guess my expectation is, if you manufacture hand tools or procure and sell hand tool, you should have someone on staff (or many people) who are experts hand tool users.

 

[mrjaw14]

I mean it is a prototype…that’s what this stage is for. Hopefully they get some good feedback and make it better for the full market version.

Personally, I’d like a mostly blank case and fill it for my use. Have a core set of tools and then space for customization. Mm vs sae wrenches for example.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I kow nothing about aviation mechanics; is this set well-suited for the small, private plane? It seems like it would be pretty decent for a Cessna or Cub?

 

[AEAdam]

I kow nothing about aviation mechanics; is this set well-suited for the small, private plane? It seems like it would be pretty decent for a Cessna or Cub?

Yeah, I think maybe kinda, but it’s no slam dunk. They half assed it. Why didn’t they just post to a GA A&P forum, or for heavens sake google it?

It’s like my kids who want praise for a mediocre attempt. Try harder Tekton!

 

[rust in the eye]

There is NOTHING in this kit that makes it aviation specific.
Same crock of **** as the "small engine" set discussed recently.

 

[kams1973]

Agreed.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Nice. Needs small pliers with cutter.

Naw all A&Ps carry multi tools already. I carry two different models. The skeleton(my favorite) and OHT. This kit just need an actual dedicated slim bit ratchet.

 

[Andres26tnt]

There is NOTHING in this kit that makes it aviation specific.
Same crock of **** as the "small engine" set discussed recently.

The problem here is we a&p mechanics don't really carry small tool kits. If I'm working on stuff i have a small bag I put stuff in. For even smaller things I use my Leatherman. If you are a traveling A&P you won't be carrying such a small kit anyway. Mostly a pelican case with wheels. That leaves this kit for those pilots or mechanic that travel with the aircraft. Even then I would carry something bigger and more substantial. The kit won't leave the aircraft, unless you delivering aircraft or something.

 

[dnschmidt]

TEKTON is trying too hard to be all things to all people. Nobody is going to be fixing a 737, or for that matter a Cessna 182, with that tool kit.

 

[whateg01]

TEKTON is trying too hard to be all things to all people. Nobody is going to be fixing a 737, or for that matter a Cessna 182, with that tool kit.

Doesn't matter. How many times have you read that something was made from aircraft grade aluminum? People will buy it.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Doesn't matter. How many times have you read that something was made from aircraft grade aluminum? People will buy it.

Or Military grade

 

[rust in the eye]

Doesn't matter. How many times have you read that something was made from aircraft grade aluminum? People will buy it.

At the end of WWII there was so much "aircraft grade aluminum" being recycled from.......aircraft! Some of the most unlikely things were being made from it. Wall tiles comes to mind.
This Texton set is just another lame marketer's(who perhaps knows little about tools and certainly less about aircraft) attempt to reel us in with a gimmick.

 

[merkyworks]

Or Military grade

Which really just means "made by the cheapest bidder".

 

[L.Cheapo]

You can't do any work on your own airplane unless you are an A&P if it involves "complex assembly" or involves any critical systems. This essentially limits you to the most basic of preventive maintenance tasks, which you'd do at home anyway.

If we break down on the road somewhere, I call our full time crew chief and tell him what it's doing and he'll hit the road with whatever tools and parts he needs to fix it. He has a tool bag for this. All the ones I know do. The few times this has happened, this kit wouldn't have helped.

They're going to Oshkosh this week, so they're likely targeting the "more money than sense" crowd, and I do believe they'll sell a bunch of them there to those people. There are also exceptions for homebuilt aircraft, and there will be a lot of those folks there too.

Probably wont sell tons of them, but it doesnt look like it took tons of effort to make it either.

 

[Troyman]

You guys are pretty hard on the Beaver. I am also a A&P with IA. If this is a starter kit, is it for the pilot or mechanic. I know some pilots with some mechanic skills and others that don't know how to use a screwdriver. Y'all are correct about them just putting the kit out there. Maybe some car guys will buy it for the car because its aviation grade. Additional items needed - dikes, safety wire and pliers, Channellock's, hammer, flash light and extra batteries, speed tape, assorted fasteners, ty wraps, larger wrenches. Good start.

 

[Kscardsfan]

We have beech and Cessna here

Don't forget Spirit or whoever builds 737s on contract.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Or Military grade

Lowest bidder.

 

[Nick Rivers]

If they are looking for feedback:

Should have a high viz bottom layer under the tool slots for FOD control/Q.A to quickly identify a missing tool in the pouch.

 

[Dave.R]

Yeah, I think maybe kinda, but it’s no slam dunk. They half assed it. Why didn’t they just post to a GA A&P forum, or for heavens sake google it?

It’s like my kids who want praise for a mediocre attempt. Try harder Tekton!

Hey Adam,

Dave with Tekton here. We're near the airport in Grand Rapids, and we spent a bit of time talking to A&P guys out there. This kit was largely built on their feedback.

With any specialty kit, you're going to let someone down. This is a prototype and a work in progress; we'll be taking feedback at EAA and places like this thread, and hopefully refining it further.

 

[micromind]

For those not familiar with aviation terms;

A&P + Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. It used to be A&E (Airframe and Engine) but it was changed for whatever reason.

IA + Inspectors Authorization. Just about everything that an A&P does to an aircraft need to be inspected by another A&P with IA.

 

[micromind]

This is a prototype and a work in progress; we'll be taking feedback at EAA and places like this thread, and hopefully refining it further.

This^^^^^^

Instead of saying how dumb it is, how about offering helpful suggestions on what it should contain?

 

[whateg01]

Don't forget Spirit or whoever builds 737s on contract.

I was just naming the textron companies

 

[AEAdam]

This^^^^^^

Instead of saying how dumb it is, how about offering helpful suggestions on what it should contain?

There are a lot of suggestions above, not just complaints. I made a few suggestions myself.

 

[AEAdam]

Hey Adam,

Dave with Tekton here. We're near the airport in Grand Rapids, and we spent a bit of time talking to A&P guys out there. This kit was largely built on their feedback.

With any specialty kit, you're going to let someone down. This is a prototype and a work in progress; we'll be taking feedback at EAA and places like this thread, and hopefully refining it further.

Dave, good on you for reading the forums.

A word of advice between friends, you missed key items, key features so obvious, their absence tells me something about your feedback process is broken. Its not a “you can’t please everyone” thing.

A nod to FOD prevention, spaces for inspection tools, wire locking pliers, if you read thru you’ll find things you really should have included…I’m sure you’ll get good feedback in Oshkosh, but you’ll have to ask. A lot of those folks are engineer types like me, so you have to be careful about what question you ask them?

A word of advice to my many friends here: Webforums are one source of information. And we should all consider webforums for details, current items on the market etc. When I consider tools needed for a specific task, I search for trade school programs, who publish tool lists.

Here’s one I found in about 2 minutes:

https://academics.siu.edu/aviation-and-automotive/_common/documents/aviation-technologies/tool-kit.pdf

I get this is bigger than what you were thinking. I’m sure there are others.

Good luck in Oshkosh. I hope you can create some buzz and get your foot in the door with aircraft people. Thought the idea of kits for builders is a cool idea.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Free advice: Cars used to be delivered with toolkits. Some were kinda cool, most were pretty bogus. Now cars ship with no tools. We’ve discussed automotive toolkits many times here. Some members carry significant numbers of tools with them.

A tool manufacturer could do some research and produce a toolkit that all cars SHOULD ship with. In my mind, that kit might be significantly different from anything that’s come before it (because cars have changed).

I would start by gathering statistics regarding how cars break down, how or if they can be roadside repairable. We have members here who do road side repairs professionally.

For example, my essential vehicle toolkit might contain diagnostic tools; a code reader, fuse tester, or test light, and very few mechanical tools beyond the most basic needs (Changing a tire with decent tools).

I think it would be interesting to determine emergency repair type items, tapes, fuses, hammer, jump pack? Jumper wires? Tow strap?

And what about non-car emergency items like First aid kit? iPhone charger? Water, non-perishable food? Shovel? There have been enough disasters recently, we should be able to get data.

My thought is that tool manufacturers make sockets and want to sell sockets. My idea is that tool manufacturers should offer solutions that their sockets are part of. It’s an aviation kit, not a socket set (hope that makes sense).

 

[rust in the eye]

This^^^^^^

Instead of saying how dumb it is, how about offering helpful suggestions on what it should contain?

Well, to start how about at least ONE item that makes it aviation specific. I've not done any aircraft work but don't imagine many are put together using slot head screws which this general purpose by any other name kit includes 3 bits for.
Dzus tool perhaps???
Good that every tool has a home(inventory) so no need to look for lost tools amongst the wreckeage.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Well, to start how about at least ONE item that makes it aviation specific. I've not done any aircraft work but don't imagine many are put together using slot head screws which this general purpose by any other name kit includes 3 bits for.
Dzus tool perhaps???
Good that every tool has a home(inventory) so no need to look for lost tools amongst the wreckeage.

Plenty of slotted screws on aircraft. Avionics are often held in with slotted screws.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Plenty of slotted screws on aircraft. Avionics are often held in with slotted screws.

Yep, slotted, Philips, hex, and the most hated torq-set fasteners.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Perfect for every fastener on your aircraft that doesn't have a torque spec?

 

[seber]

I can't imagine any real world use for that in aircraft. Mechanics will carry a real tool kit and pilots don't work on their own craft. If Tekton wanted to appeal to a group with actual use, they should address the boating crowd. Every boater carries a waterproof box with a random assortment of tools. Usually the wrong ones.

 

[cherrybomb]

I'm from the old school and the poor side of town.I like to pre plan and build my own kit for the vehicle .My car is of course,German so it has a few bits and fasteners different maybe of a Japenese car for instance.So I guess I won't be interested.
My old Cub is S.A.E,my new Kubota is Metric,so build your own kit,add or subtract,each of us are different with different requirements. I just don't like putting a specific name on a kit for its use

 

[Bagherra]

Torx bits? What aircraft uses those? Helicopter mech here....