Mr.Miller, I have been a user of this tool for many years. I dont know if this will help but,either make another pair with a larger bite,so that you have one for trunk and one for feeder,or something with a ratchet style bite.But either way make it with a material less likley to get eat up by A/C.
This is CABL.com posting #46541. Tiny Link: cabl.co/mmgP