Hose Clamp Pliers

[bas157]

Anyone use the Gear Plier 7 Piece Set 3835 ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/230734362174?lpid=82
(others on ebay have them for the same price that is just he first one I found). Seem like cable operated ones that you can put different ends on other than the hose clamp end

 

[bimmerTEK]

http://www.tooltopia.com/mayhew-tools-28655.aspx Is what I have w/o the SA price. I have try all the pliers mention here but nothing comes close to these special tools

 

[nicksnothereman]

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_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?

Since you said "buddy" meaning they shouldn't care if you boff them. Any old pliers you got. It will bend the tab but you can bend it back. Oh GM...

They sell hose clamp pliers at sears (craftsman) look like they would work pretty well in theory.

Don't ask me about the other one...you don't want to know.

 

[kythri]

It's a Chrysler Sebring. I ended up using hose pliers for this job (these kind of things: http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll300/A0A5_1_20120717_11516096.jpg), but it was still a pain.

I've ordered the OTC cable pliers, we'll see how they work out.

 

[rkpatt]

I ran into a situation where I needed a set of cable clamp pliers last weekend on aHonda radiator replacement project. They were not in stock at any of on there nearby chain auto parts stores (including NAPA) . Not sold by HF either. I wasted a lot of time getting the calmps with some of the other methods describe here. I am ordering the Crafstman or OTC brand soon. Evern , If I only use them on one project time (unlikely), it will be worth it to me.

 

[matt01073]

The cable ones are great when you need them i use mine several times a week . I had a snap on pair maybe bluepoint for years and they were wonderful about a month ago they broke and snap on replaced them with a new red handle pair that is a different design, so far they fell apart twice at the metal part that grips the clamp they pop back together ok but they feel cheap for what snappy charges im going to remember to ask my dealer if they are having trouble with the new and improved model or i just got a crappy set

 

[kythri]

My OTC order back in January got cancelled (Amazon reseller) so I bought the Astro Pneumatic set of 7 (model 9406) and have to say, they're absolutely amazing.

The cable pliers have performed phenomenally, and the other stuff in the set is coming in handy on the other projects I have.

 

[Farmall450]

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.

Might have to invest, I just use duck billed Channellock pliers or even normal slip joints, the only issue is if it's on the opposite side from you, and you can't get at it from above/below the vehicle.

 

[Monte]

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

My OTC order back in January got cancelled (Amazon reseller) so I bought the Astro Pneumatic set of 7 (model 9406) and have to say, they're absolutely amazing.

The cable pliers have performed phenomenally, and the other stuff in the set is coming in handy on the other projects I have.

 

[maxreco]

The cable ones are great when you need them i use mine several times a week . I had a snap on pair maybe bluepoint for years and they were wonderful about a month ago they broke and snap on replaced them with a new red handle pair that is a different design, so far they fell apart twice at the metal part that grips the clamp they pop back together ok but they feel cheap for what snappy charges im going to remember to ask my dealer if they are having trouble with the new and improved model or i just got a crappy set

Check with your dealer, there's a newer design cable assembly (SHCP1A-2) that you should get at no charge. It's a simple replacement, 2 minutes max.

 

[kythri]

IMAGE REMOVED

I've got two problems there - first is, on the radiator hoses I just did on my '99 Explorer (two upper, one lower - 6 clamps total), I might have had the clearance to get to two of them like that.

Other problem is, and maybe I should play with my Knipex a bit more, but when I've tried to use pliers in the past like that, clamps would twist off and go flying.

The cable pliers in my Astro kit ratchet down and lock, so I can free my hands to adjust/remove/attach the clamps and hose.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

I've got two problems there - first is, on the radiator hoses I just did on my '99 Explorer (two upper, one lower - 6 clamps total), I might have had the clearance to get to two of them like that.

Other problem is, and maybe I should play with my Knipex a bit more, but when I've tried to use pliers in the past like that, clamps would twist off and go flying.

The cable pliers in my Astro kit ratchet down and lock, so I can free my hands to adjust/remove/attach the clamps and hose.

 

[bulletpruf]

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.

Yep. Spent 2 hours this weekend f*cking with the lower radiator hose on my 99 Yukon OBS 4x4. Hands are pretty mangled up. Got done with slip joint and Knipex Cobra pliers, but wasn't easy; just no room to maneuver on either clamp. Ordered some cable hose clamp pliers from Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductD...ble-operated-hose-clamp-pliers/p-00947390000P

 

[wafrederick]

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

I have a pair of these myself and well worth the money

 

[Holzarbeiter]

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

What he said

 

[hangfirew8]

I have been researching cable tools and just ordered a set for myself, the NOS KD Tools 3836 from Amazon for only $99, haven't received them yet. Can't wait!

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.

A correct observation, but as an old Bicyclist I am baffled by those who just give up on the tool at this point (not saying Fastbird did, but others have). Simply put some kind of bushing between the cable and and the back jaw of the plier! The proper fix is a Cable Sleeve, any aircraft cable or bike shop should have plenty, but in a pinch you can just drop a Roll Pin in there to take up the slack.

The other tactic is just order an adjustable tool like the Astro Pneumatic, but if the adjustment runs out, it's still not done yet.

 

[hackwelder]

If the access to the clamps is poor the cable type is well worth the $40 or so they cost, recently changed the radiator hoses on my GF's Focus and the worst of the clamps would have required SERIOUS disassembly to get to with pliers and the tool was a big help even on the easier ones. Sears/Craftsman carries a decent one and it is made in France FWIW...
Before I had the tool I resorted to compressing the clamp in my vice and then holding it that way with a zip tie, that did make installation easier...I cut the zip tie once the clamp was in place.

 

[chrisexv6]

Honda seems to use clamps like this that have a detent/notch that allows you to open them fully and they will lock themselves open (I stumbled on this feature by accident when replacing the hoses and coolant in our Acura). I think that type is shown in the pic above for the cable pliers, the center clamp in the set of 3

One could probably order the equivalent Honda clamp size for whatever vehicle you are working on to have better clamps for next time....no wire ties required

 

[K-Dog]

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

These are pretty neat.
Handy if you are in a tight space.
I just put them on my Amazon wish list.

( along with those cool Knipex )

 

[gsea]

+1 on the cable tools, they're sweet when you've got an awkward angle. If you can get straight to it, slip joints work great. I like the snap-on talon grips as posted by others. They seem to hold the band clips more securely when you're jockeying them around.

The lisle vises look like they could be super handy on occasion. If anyone is interested, rockauto.com seems to have the best price on them... about $5.00 cheaper than amazon.