Do they make a tool for these?

[freudianfloyd]

Working on a Honda motorcycle, I fought with these hose clamps the entire time. There either has to be a trick or a tool for getting these on and off. Normal pliers don't seem to work very well, the clamps just twist, and trying to work with them in a recessed area in the engine was a pain to say the least.

 

[vwpieces]

Amazon.com

Might be too big though but its kinda the idea of what you need

 

[Meursault74]

I'm not sure if these will work for that clamp.

8" Wilde #260 Hose Clamp Pliers (Chromed)

8" Wilde #260 Hose Clamp Pliers (Chromed)

www.harryepstein.com

They have grooves for certain clamps. I bought one a little while ago. Couldn't resist it to have just in case for $5, it's a solid quality tool, the price isn't indicative of that. Be careful if this is your first time to that site. You'll lighten your wallet for sure.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Thanks guys. I knew there had to be a tool out there somewhere.

 

[no704]

Maybe some of the cable pliers will work?

 

[engineer2]

They sell kits for all kinds of hose clamps. I bought one and it is quite handy.
Google hose clamp plier kit

 

[JradM]

What about the new Knipex twin grips?

Not designed for that per se, but the multi function jaws aren't that dissimilar from pliers that are.

 

[Sumboodie]

I usually use my fingers, at least on the small ones.

 

[lardy1]

The thin Engineer Pliers may be your solution.

 

[rd65]

I have always used duck bill pliers, I like my snap-on better than my channel lock ones. I grab them, pinch, then twist 90* to open them a bit more.

 

[tre873]

What about just regular needle nose pliers. A side through each hole and squeeze.

 

[Super Mech]

I have always used duck bill pliers, I like my snap-on better than my channel lock ones. I grab them, pinch, then twist 90* to open them a bit more.

Same here. I find them on some Honda cars also.

 

[JradM]

What about just regular needle nose pliers. A side through each hole and squeeze.

The problem with this style of clamp is that to get it to open far enough, the holes have to almost move a little past center. I've worked with them numerous times - I don't like 'em! That means just bringing the inside edges of the rings together (like you would be doing with needle nose or snap ring pliers), doesn't open the clamp far enough - hence the "twist" rd65 mentions.

I usually just end up using combination pliers, but I think the round tip opening on the Twin Grips might be useful. I'm going to try that myself next time.

 

[CJM8515]

technically those are not reusable, they are designed to hold by spring tension and are made of such thin and cheap metal that if you open them up they may not hold as well as before.

 

[Rc_Guy]

technically those are not reusable, they are designed to hold by spring tension and are made of such thin and cheap metal that if you open them up they may not hold as well as before.

how do you open them up to put them on then?

 

[CJM8515]

how do you open them up to put them on then?

barely pinch them if anything. most of the time i lube up the hose with wd40 or pblaster and just slide them on. no pliers really needed. but once you squeeze them a few times it becomes pretty obvious the spring tension isnt as good as when new

 

[ChevyEFI]

barely pinch them if anything. most of the time i lube up the hose with wd40 or pblaster and just slide them on. no pliers really needed. but once you squeeze them a few times it becomes pretty obvious the spring tension isnt as good as when new

They bave only one wire diameter. I am in disbelief Honda would use material inacapable of being snugged back up, in what appears to be a constant-tension clamp application, in which repeated expansion and contraction with variations in temp. are the norm. I like your advice on taking it gentle, but am struggling with them being non-reusable.

 

[engineer2]

technically those are not reusable,

If they are rusted, toss them. If you are careful, you can reuse them. The key is not to distort them. They are usually for low pressure stuff like vacuum and evap.

 

[CJM8515]

They bave only one wire diameter. I am in disbelief Honda would use material inacapable of being snugged back up, in what appears to be a constant-tension clamp application, in which repeated expansion and contraction with variations in temp. are the norm. I like your advice on taking it gentle, but am struggling with them being non-reusable.

They are all over every honda powersports toy and motorcycle. I actually dont remove them really-I slip the fuel or vac hose off the barb its on-they dont hold it on really all that well. worst case lube up the hose. but literally after you puinch them (which isnt easy in the least) like 2-3x they distort or the tension becomes looser than tolerance. I can go outside right now and yank off about 10 different vac or fuel hoses they are on-on just my two atvs

Like I said-trick is to either replace them as they are cheap or slip them off not using pliers if you can.

any of these clamps are much better replacements https://www.vintagecb750.com/products/6/fuel-system/111/hose-clamps

 

[freudianfloyd]

Thank you all for the information. I had no idea they were only meant for one time use. So far, all the lines on mine are staying on. I guess time will tell.

 

[seber]

For fuel lines, I use the spring type sheet metal only. John Deere uses the wire type on their lawnmowers. You can find a lot of threads talking about how their tractors leaked fuel onto the muffler and burned down the machine. I have no doubt the clamps were reused before that happened.