Hose Clamp Pliers

[kythri]

Changed a radiator hose for a buddy of mine this past week, and ran into these damn things again:

http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_1.jpg
http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_2.jpg

Ended up muscling them out with a pair of hose pliers, but there has GOT to be a better way.

Is something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1G0XM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

that better way?

That's the Astro Pneumatic 9406 hose clamp plier set. I'd imagine one or two of them should be able to make short work of these various style clamps.

Other recommendations?

 

[Jarhead0408]

I can't speak for the actual pliers in that set, but the one with the cable works pretty well.
It may still be a little difficult to take off if the clamp has imbedded itself in the hose, but its not too bad.

 

[outdoorsman310]

the blue point ones with swively circles on the end with 2 slots cut in each side **** but are useful sometimes. my regular channellock pliers work well on certain ones. the cable ones are very useful too. prybars, picks, screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, regular, angled, straight, long, whatever kind are all needed at some point or another. the worst that I have run into as far as clamps were on a f-150. they would snap and were a pain to remove after that. the hose that took me the most time was on a nissan xterra or something. under the intake pile of **** hose, that was not my best day haha. I will be purchasing cable ones soon. just don't leave tension on the cable during storage or for hours as the cable can stretch.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Light duty ones (like on small engine fuel lines) come off very easily with "bent" needle nose pliers.

Heavier clamps need something like what you linked OR OTC 4525 Cable-Type Flexible Hose Clamp Pliers OR the Lisle Hose Clamp Vise (small 44500 or large 44480)

View media item 37167

 

[the.wong.kid]

Changed a radiator hose for a buddy of mine this past week, and ran into these damn things again:

http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_1.jpg
http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_2.jpg

Ended up muscling them out with a pair of hose pliers, but there has GOT to be a better way.

Is something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1G0XM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

that better way?

That's the Astro Pneumatic 9406 hose clamp plier set. I'd imagine one or two of them should be able to make short work of these various style clamps.

Other recommendations?

I hate those double band hose clamps big pita. But those otc locking hose clamps in your link works wonders

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[ken w.]

Craftsman makes a hose clamp cable pliers for these clamps as well as Snap On and every other tool company. They work good as long as you can get them on the clamp.I have the Lisle tool too.It works good too.

 

[zarbat007]

I use Snap-on 47CF pliers. Works great! Unless the clamps are positioned downwards, then I'd use the cable tool.

 

[shampoop]

I wouldn't bother with that huge expensive set. The cable style tool and a standard plier style should do fine.

I've done great with a craftsman cable style plier and one of these with the grips though
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WildeChrome/260.html

Can't see from the picture but it's basically just a slip joint plier with special grooves in it that are made to work for hose clamps.

Bought my cable ones after spending 30+ minutes trying to remove the clamp on my brothers contour's upper rad hose with regular pliers which looks a lot like the pictures you posted.

 

[Chris_L]

I just use a big pair of channel locks or vice grips. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

I used Channellocks for the longest then bought the Craftsman cable pair. They've saved me a lot of grief for sure.

 

[RM209]

GearWrench (former KD) makes a special set of pliers for those clamps.

http://www.gearwrench.com/gearwrench-3976d-straight-hose-clamp-pliers.html

I've got a pair of the K-D version; very handy and affordable.

RM209

 

[robpow13]

This is what I use and they work great. High quality too.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...cpncode=33-251693403-2&sid=IDx20121113x00001b

 

[srmofo]

LOCKING vise grip style pliers from mac are pretty much the only ones I use anymore.

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-329633-4-pc-hose-clamp-pliers-set.aspx

The 2 in the center. You can attack the clamps from just about any angle.

 

[Strouty]

I have just the cable tool and it works well on the harder to reach hoses. I couldn't imagine trying to undo a some lower radiator hoses with a pair of pliers. There just isn't any room and a few times the clamp was rotated so poorly, it was hard to get off even with the special tool. My guess is they were put on prior to installing the radiator.

 

[cburnscrx]

LOCKING vise grip style pliers from mac are pretty much the only ones I use anymore.

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-329633-4-pc-hose-clamp-pliers-set.aspx

The 2 in the center. You can attack the clamps from just about any angle.

And that is the perfect example of when to buy MAC tools...I might look into those

 

[signcrafter]

Get a pair of cable pliers. I have the 40 dollar craftsman version and I haven't used anything else since I got them. They are really nice reaching the hard to get to clamps. I haven't struggled with a clamp since I got the cable pliers. Well worth the money and not sure how I used to do it without them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

LOCKING vise grip style pliers from mac are pretty much the only ones I use anymore.

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-329633-4-pc-hose-clamp-pliers-set.aspx

The 2 in the center. You can attack the clamps from just about any angle.

Those are special for hose clamps.

The problem with standard vice grips is the jaws are not wide enough, nor are the grooved deeply enough to hold the tabs like these; MAC HCP900

Hmmm I wonder if HF has a knock off yet !

 

[Jacobson]

Craftsman cable for $40 beats pliers when they are positioned oddly.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-cable-operated-hose-clamp-pliers/p-00947390000P

But, the OTC referenced above is the best priced at $34
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F5JM0O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Monte]

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[4xdog]

LOCKING vise grip style pliers from mac are pretty much the only ones I use anymore.

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-329633-4-pc-hose-clamp-pliers-set.aspx

The 2 in the center. You can attack the clamps from just about any angle.

Those are interesting -- first I've seen that style.

 

[bmwpower]

What does the inside of those locking pliers look like? Grooves, etc?

 

[bmwpower]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8k43XNIP61k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That is sweet! You can change the orientation while it's being gripped. Might get those...

[edit] Europe only? Can't seem to find them anywhere online...

 

[4xdog]

Monte, those Knipex hose clamp pliers are neat. I like that they will let one snake the clamp along the length of the hose and move the pliers all over the place.

http://www.knipex-tools.us/index.php?id=1023&page=art_detail&parentID=1369&groupID=2178&artID=34163

 

[Monte]

here they are if it´s urgent :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KNIPEX-8551..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ecd9b31b7

can´t find them from us-dealers either, maybe contact knipex.com

 

[shamrock12]

I ran into a similar problem during fuel injector's replacement on a Duramax LB7 which required the removal of valve covers. Each of then have a vent hose going on the top of each head, and was secured with what appear to be a locking hose clamp. It is something I've never seen before and man, they were a complete PITA to remove. It's hard to describe them but it appeared each of them have a hose clamp with another clamp that snap over it and on the sides, I presume, to act as a lock or something. They are two-piece clamp. I had to use a couple screwdrivers to pry off those damn thing (and ended up destroying them). Do anyone know what this type of clamp is called and if there is a special tool for this type? I tried searching on the internet for a photo of similar clamp but couldn't find one to attach.

 

[4xdog]

here they are if it´s urgent :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KNIPEX-8551..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ecd9b31b7

can´t find them from us-dealers either, maybe contact knipex.com

$99 for those shipping included. A bit pricey. Here's an Austrian dealer with the Knipex 85 51 250A for $62, but it's not clear how much for shipping.

Looks like I have a souvenir to pick up on my next trip to Europe...

 

[Krokodil]

Sweet pliers!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Monte, those Knipex hose clamp pliers are neat. I like that they will let one snake the clamp along the length of the hose and move the pliers all over the place.

A long, loooong time ago, the only spring hose clamps were made out of round wire. Back then you could get regular pliers that had a notch cut into tips to hold the wire.

They worked well and I bought a pair over 35 years ago. Probably used them twice !

Back then, they also made, and still do make, a pair of pliers that locked and had rotating tips (Knipex copied this).

View media item 37186
Neither worked well on double wire hose clamps and flat band hose clamps had not been invented


The modern version from KD/Gearwrench 3976D (Amazon $20) have slot cut all the way across so the should work on flat band clamps.

 

[rmsg0040]

I may have to look into the knipex ones myself as I sometimes use my craftsman (knipex) cobras on clamps

Which would be a better plier the cable type or knipex as pictured above?, I already have the SO one pictured 1 page back.

Thanks

 

[kythri]

Wow, a _LOT_ of options here...

Thanks for the feedback, folks! Keep it coming!

 

[rmsg0040]

I just emailed Ash from german-hand-tools and he said that he will be getting a few directly from Germany for $85 plus shipping

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Changed a radiator hose for a buddy of mine this past week, and ran into these damn things again:

http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_1.jpg
http://www.kythri.net/tools/*****-clamps_2.jpg

Ended up muscling them out with a pair of hose pliers, but there has GOT to be a better way.

Is something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1G0XM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

that better way?

That's the Astro Pneumatic 9406 hose clamp plier set. I'd imagine one or two of them should be able to make short work of these various style clamps.

Other recommendations?

We also have the 9409A.

 

[skruft]

I think these tools are all good ideas, but that one can get along without them. The older clamps made of round wire were harder to get off. As a non-pro, I think I will not buy the special tools unless I see them at the flea market.

Also an old-time pincers sometimes works well.

 

[92integra]

i like the cable style snap on for me but those knipex look sweet might have to look into some of those

 

[T_Roze]

That gear wrench pivoting tip set up looks well thought out. I use snap on's cable style, and well as a big old pair of water pump pliers. 90% of the clamps I come across don't require the cable, but when you need it, it saves a lot of grief. Only thing I don't like is the cable eliminates the leverage you have with pliers to pry the clamp out of the groove it has settled into. Lube will sometimes be enough to get it loose, other times a long handled screwdriver.

 

[Delray]

The cable type are nice and if I used them daily or even weekly I would buy them.

What I have are an OTC4502 Stinger package which is one pliers for flat band clamps and one for heavy spring wire clamps.

I think I paid around $20 a couple years back.

 

[Fastbird]

Get a pair of cable pliers. I have the 40 dollar craftsman version and I haven't used anything else since I got them. They are really nice reaching the hard to get to clamps. I haven't struggled with a clamp since I got the cable pliers. Well worth the money and not sure how I used to do it without them.

I use these exact same ones myself. The cable type make them SO easy to use. Just have to watch out for cable stretch after a while, and if it's a tight fitting clamp on a swollen hose, you may not get enough pull from the clamp to successfully get the clamp itself out of the way.

 

[_vin_]

Those are special for hose clamps.

Hmmm I wonder if HF has a knock off yet !

A little cheaper here http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-82060.aspx

 

[regguy1]

I think these tools are all good ideas, but that one can get along without them. The older clamps made of round wire were harder to get off. As a non-pro, I think I will not buy the special tools unless I see them at the flea market.

Also an old-time pincers sometimes works well.

I use these for wire ring clamps, easy to get in tight spaces

 

[wafrederick]

I have the Astro pair and they have been replaced twice.Then there are the spring clamps with a locking tab,I take them to the bench grinder and grind the locking tabs off.Next pair will be a pair of Mayhews.