The specification discloses a die element change tool for use with a crimp press having a plurality of die shoes positioned about a crimping work space, the die shoes being movable from a radial outer position to a radial inner position during a crimping process, the change tool being effective to remove a die element set or introduce a new die element set while the die shoes are in the radial outer position, the change tool having a main body part and a movable body part, the main body part having a number of circumferentially spaced operational positions each capable of retaining an individual die element held at one axial end by the movable body part and at the other axial end by the main body part, the change tool being bodily movable into the crimping work space to position each said die element carried thereby adjacent to a respective die shoe to be secured thereto, said movable body part being movable to disengage from said die elements such that the change tool can be withdrawn from the crimping work space with at least a portion of the change tool being moved between adjacent die elements held by said die shoes.