Lisle Electrical Disconnect Pliers?
- Thread starter impactims
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olsenmotorsports
Well-known member
Have both styles. They are fantastic to use! Buy them!
Wrench97
Well-known member
They work but use them gently, you can destroy some and rip wires out if used like a gorilla.
fatfillup
Well-known member
Had no idea they existed. I assume they are for pulling electrical plugs apart. I have always struggled with that. Will gave to get a pair
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Qualitytools
Well-known member
I have the straight one, works well. Definitely recommend getting one. As mentioned earlier take it easy as some plastic gets brittle and will break if pressed too hard. It doesn’t take too much of a squeeze to release the plug.
Skywalker.LJT
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2025
- Messages
- 6
Great for automotive plugs like headlights, tailgate wire harnesses. They sell some on Amazon for cheap.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I have the blue Merry ones shown in this video and they work good enough for me.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
I have both styles of Lisle, they’re awesome.
Kaervak
Well-known member
They're a little difficult to get in to some spaces as I work on Ford Econoline and Transit ambulances and things are tightly packed in those engine bays. With that said, they work fantastically well. You can damage the connector if you use too much force, so squeeze lightly. If they made a 90 or even 45 degree left/right bent version those would be absolutely perfect for those engine bays. They're definitely worth picking up and trying out.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm not sure about snap on but, I've seen the Lisle version rebadged as MAC. Cornwell usually just sells Lisle as it is and doesn't bother with repackaging.
The Lisle version is made in the PRC and fit/finish ranges from ok to wow, they could have finished these better making the jaws smoother and less wavy.
Which brings me to my next point, why not just buy the knock offs at Jersey Discount Tools or Amazon? The Lisle connector pliers don't even have Lisle stamped/etched anywhere on them
JDTCO has cool purple grips on their version. I also own the Merry version and they seem to operate with more finesse. Their tips are also much smaller and won't break brittle plastic connectors as easily as the Lisle version. 
bwringer
Well-known member
I have the "Merry" style with two "antennas" that come together. They've done the trick when nothing else would.
Like anything else, you'll need more than one style to cover every situation. I need to get a few other styles.
Why the absolute hell manufacturers work so damn hard to invent wild weird new electrical connectors, I'll never know. (And why they can't ever stick with one consistent brand or system in a vehicle is another mystery.)
Sealed connectors have been a solved technology for a very long time, yet every time you work on something new, there's a new delicate, brittle, unmarked little plastic Rubik's cube mystery to untangle.
Like anything else, you'll need more than one style to cover every situation. I need to get a few other styles.
Why the absolute hell manufacturers work so damn hard to invent wild weird new electrical connectors, I'll never know. (And why they can't ever stick with one consistent brand or system in a vehicle is another mystery.)
Sealed connectors have been a solved technology for a very long time, yet every time you work on something new, there's a new delicate, brittle, unmarked little plastic Rubik's cube mystery to untangle.
PMD1966
Well-known member
I have a copy of the straight one. Bought on Temu for less than $2.00.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I'm up in the air on getting a set of these pliers. Here in AZ the plastic connectors get brittle, so I'm afraid my impatient *** will break more using them.
I don't mean a rebadge, I mean a tool made to do the same job but made differently, designed differently etc.
Go cheap on these. They are all pretty good, and at least my $4 Temu pair were indistinguishable from my Lisle. I only have the Temu version of the bent. I also only have the Temu version of the Merry which I also like. YMMV. It’s not like I need the really strong ones to torque a connector.
four.cycle
Well-known member
The Lisle 37980 I purchased in August 2024 for my buddy, but I do not know if he's had a chance to use them yet - I just gave them to him a couple weeks ago. We thought they might come in handy for replacing that connector on the back of the distributor on my Ranger. Remains to be seen.
The other tool that he asked me to find was the Lisle 56500 wire terminal tool.
As a couple others have mentioned, one tool isn't going to cut it - you've got to own a whole assortment of these gizmos - the connectors are all different. (Think: cheap supermarket "disposable reusable" plastic food containers - no two lids are alike. The same rule applies here - you might find you need two different tools on the same car.)
The other tool that he asked me to find was the Lisle 56500 wire terminal tool.
As a couple others have mentioned, one tool isn't going to cut it - you've got to own a whole assortment of these gizmos - the connectors are all different. (Think: cheap supermarket "disposable reusable" plastic food containers - no two lids are alike. The same rule applies here - you might find you need two different tools on the same car.)
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swsman
Well-known member
I have the straight model. Used them a few times, they do work quite well if there is enough space for them to fit. No regrets getting them.
That 56500 is for pulling the wires out of the socket to replace the socket.
Not at all the same thing as making is easy to unplug something.
And…they just showed up…
This site has cost me…welp…no, no….I will not even hazard a guess.
Den69rs96
Well-known member
I have the straight version. They are awesome. I need to get the angled ones for the harder to reach areas.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sage advice
I also have a knockoff, though it was a staggering $9 Canadian.
I feel like these pliers are in the same category as hose removal pliers - they don't need to be super strong, stiff, grippy, etc., to work properly. If you gorilla-grip electrical clips, they're just going to break.
Sometimes I feel bad if I purchase a clone - but I'm avoiding MiUSA at the moment.
ricleh
Well-known member
They work very well. Just get some cheap ones on Amazon.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Good advice, found the pair for under $15
I didn't realize that. I guess that explains the ubiquitous copycats, all sharing Lisle's "trade dress" with the bit of red protruding from the black-dipped handles.
Those may even come from the same manufacturer - albeit there's no way to know if they were produced to Lisle's spec or are mere budget clones.
scooby074
Well-known member
Lisle is also doing the "Merry " style pliers now as well
david3921
Well-known member
I bought these at HF to add to my panel/push pin pulling tools. I've used them to disconnect connectors with some success.
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Push Pin Pliers
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Ramblin Man
Well-known member
david3921, I have also.
I would not want to add it up. I sure would not want the number in a place that could be found.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Agreed. I don't think Lisle designed these, but just put their name on the package. I see no reason to buy the name brand at all.I'm not sure about snap on but, I've seen the Lisle version rebadged as MAC. Cornwell usually just sells Lisle as it is and doesn't bother with repackaging.
The Lisle version is made in the PRC and fit/finish ranges from ok to wow, they could have finished these better making the jaws smoother and less wavy.
Which brings me to my next point, why not just buy the knock offs at Jersey Discount Tools or Amazon? The Lisle connector pliers don't even have Lisle stamped/etched anywhere on them