Hose Pinch Pliers

[gsea]

After replacing a radiator and heater core over the holidays, I wished I'd had a set and went into sears to buy a set of the plastic ones like these:

http://www.sears.com/tool-aid-ta19780-hose-clamp-pinching-pliers-set/p-SPM1085915101?prdNo=33&blockNo=33&blockType=G33

Then I figured the metal types with pivoting clamp faces were probably a better design. Is this the best deal out there or does anyone have any other (USA made) suggestions?

http://www.sears.com/hose-pinch-pliers-set-of-3/p-00947218000P

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I have that style, they work very well. I have used the plastic ones in the past and the results weren't that great.

Price seems right, you may also find you want two sets in some conditions.

 

[gsea]

Good point on the two sets, I was thinking that I could use 2 of the 3 in most cases, but I may run into needing two of the larges and I'd be SOL.

 

[Ign]

I've had decent results w the plastic ones.

I bought these upon a reco here, but haven't used them yet
http://m.harborfreight.com/radiator-hose-pinch-off-pliers-99704.html

 

[caswell239]

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mtzjaaJ8MLxw1h3VyhUjkrg.jpg

Blue point php1. I have two of them. Couldn't be a better set

 

[theoldwizard1]

I just use a pair of ViceGrip needle nose with some rubber hose over the grip faces. Works great on brake hose and small engine fuel hose. It should work okay on heater hoses but probably not on radiator hoses.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Those Imperial made Craftsman pliers are the same as SK, Blue Point and Matco sells. The Craftsman set is easily the best deal.
Craftsman numbers:

47050* Mini Hose Pinch Pliers - Imperial HP54, KD 3791, SK 7601, Blue Point PHP3, Matco HP54
47051* 9" Hose Pinch off Pliers - Imperial HP55, KD 3792, SK 7602, Blue Point PHP1, Matco HP55
47060* Heavy Duty Pinch Pliers- Imperial HP56, KD 3793, SK 7603, Blue Point PHP2, Matco HP56
*All 3 in Craftsman set 74Z706

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249851

 

[michael murder]

I just use a pair of ViceGrip needle nose with some rubber hose over the grip faces. Works great on brake hose and small engine fuel hose. It should work okay on heater hoses but probably not on radiator hoses.

I do something similar. I put a deep socket on each jaw of a set of vise grips and pinch hoses that way.

 

[tube_guy]

The plastic ones that are made in Australia are actually pretty nice and have always worked pretty well for me.

 

[Jd34]

No special tool needed.. I use a set of long needle nosed vice grips and slip two pieces of 3/8 fuel hose over the ends so not to damage any hose that I am needing to crimp. I've been doing this for years on radiators, heater cores and such... It works flawlessly and the power of the vice grips will crimp any rubber hose.

 

[signcrafter]

If you're changing the heater core and/or radiator are you using these just to save fluid when you pull the hoses? Why not just drain the radiator to get most of the coolant out? If I'm changing out a radiator or heater core I want to change as much of the coolant as possible with fresh and try to drain as much as possible. Or am I missing why you would want to use these while changing a radiator.

 

[Ign]

No special tool needed.. I use a set of long needle nosed vice grips and slip two pieces of 3/8 fuel hose over the ends so not to damage any hose that I am needing to crimp. I've been doing this for years on radiators, heater cores and such... It works flawlessly and the power of the vice grips will crimp any rubber hose.

Excuse me? Stop speaking practically with reasons to NOT buy specialty tools. You should be banned for such blasphemy. I JEST!!!

If you're changing the heater core and/or radiator are you using these just to save fluid when you pull the hoses? Why not just drain the radiator to get most of the coolant out? If I'm changing out a radiator or heater core I want to change as much of the coolant as possible with fresh and try to drain as much as possible. Or am I missing why you would want to use these while changing a radiator.

Nah, super handy if you're swapping the oddball heater hose or bypass hose and don't want lose all the coolant. My Ford 2.3 had a random hose that started leaking (might be bypass, don't recall), kinda low so you'd lose a good amount of coolant but all I wanted to do was replace a leaking hose.

These can help even if you're pinching the hose you're replacing because they buy you time, eg you can pinch the "low" end of the offending hose and not lose much coolant while monkeying with the high end. Then through just a bit of careful planning you can quickly pull the high end and slide on the replacement hose, also pinched near the low end.

My description's lacking but if we put you in a room w the tools and a "mission" it would be obvious

 

[Jd34]

Excuse me? Stop speaking practically with reasons to NOT buy specialty tools. You should be banned for such blasphemy. I JEST!!!



Nah, super handy if you're swapping the oddball heater hose or bypass hose and don't want lose all the coolant. My Ford 2.3 had a random hose that started leaking (might be bypass, don't recall), kinda low so you'd lose a good amount of coolant but all I wanted to do was replace a leaking hose.

These can help even if you're pinching the hose you're replacing because they buy you time, eg you can pinch the "low" end of the offending hose and not lose much coolant while monkeying with the high end. Then through just a bit of careful planning you can quickly pull the high end and slide on the replacement hose, also pinched near the low end.

My description's lacking but if we put you in a room w the tools and a "mission" it would be obvious

Also a big plus for only a thermostat change...or to splice into the hose for a temperature gauge... The last time I crimped off any radiator hoses was to install a heater core on my off road buggy....

Lots of applications to crimp off the hoses, even with a new radiator and coolant changes I crimp off any way because there always seem to be coolant in the bends of radiator hoses and when they are stuck on the radiator and your pulling hard on it and it comes off, usually coolant goes everywhere. So by crimping, you don't have to worry about that if your not graceful at pulling off hoses such as myself.

 

[gsea]

If you're changing the heater core and/or radiator are you using these just to save fluid when you pull the hoses? Why not just drain the radiator to get most of the coolant out? If I'm changing out a radiator or heater core I want to change as much of the coolant as possible with fresh and try to drain as much as possible. Or am I missing why you would want to use these while changing a radiator.

A few good examples above as well.

In my case, the radiator was so completely and utterly plugged with orange brown mud know as Dex-Cool, that when I removed the drain plug absolutely nothing came out. All the coolant was in the hose so keeping the high side from spilling on disconnect would have been nice while attaching an extension hose leading to a bucket before sending it through.

I also had to remove the hose again after filling to install a bracket that was missed, so it would have been nice to retain the coolant in the hose.

Another reason was for flushing out the coolant passages in the engine. I closed off the other hoses near the inlets to force water out of the one I was targeting since it was so plugged up.

I also needed to clamp off the transmission cooler lines so I could run the motor for a second as part of the flushing procedure without pumping ****** fluid all over the place.

Removing the fuel lines as well while taking off the intake manifolds was another reason I'd have liked them.

And really it is just nice to pinch of hoses when removing them to cut down on spillage. I am known to make a royal mess sometimes otherwise...

 

[Ign]

Also a big plus for only a thermostat change...or to splice into the hose for a temperature gauge... The last time I crimped off any radiator hoses was to install a heater core on my off road buggy....

Lots of applications to crimp off the hoses, even with a new radiator and coolant changes I crimp off any way because there always seem to be coolant in the bends of radiator hoses and when they are stuck on the radiator and your pulling hard on it and it comes off, usually coolant goes everywhere. So by crimping, you don't have to worry about that if your not graceful at pulling off hoses such as myself.

That's a helluva an idea. I always pull a textbook Homer and spill whatever coolant is still living in the hose all over myself!! It's a wonder I can tie my shoes I do so much stupid sh** like this.

 

[Jd34]

That's a helluva an idea. I always pull a textbook Homer and spill whatever coolant is still living in the hose all over myself!! It's a wonder I can tie my shoes I do so much stupid sh** like this.

lol! I am glad that I am not the only one.

 

[Farmall450]

lol! I am glad that I am not the only one.

You just taught me a new one!

" "

 

[K-Dog]

I have the plastic set. They do the job just fine.

 

[justme-]

I have both metal Imperial made ones and plastic Sears sets. I'm the only mechanic using the metal at work, the others use the plastic. The plastic seems to seal small fuel lines better IME where my imperial has to be put on extra tight sometimes.

I have 2 SK, 1KD, and a gearwrench metal - SK and gearwrench are definately Imperial.

 

[jeremy v]

I seem to prefer the metal ones the best when working on cars (larger hoses) and the plastic ones when working on small engines(smaller hoses). I have some tubing that I slit lengthwise and slip over the pinchers of the small plastic clamps so they work beautifully for pinching off small engine fuel lines without damage, even the small Tygon tubing type lines. I find the metal clamps to all be too heavy for small engine work. Once clamped in place the weight of a metal clamp wants to pull fuel tubing lines right off of a carb. The plastic ones just clamp the line without issue or drama.

If I had to be very selective I would buy only the steel version of the large radiator hose sized clamps, both types of middle size clamps, and only the plastic version of the smallest clamps. I think that would be the most versatile setup.

As a side note the metal clamps also make great one-handed temporary work holding clamps for small pieces of wood etc. They can do everything a standard spring clamp can do, only better.

 

[RivennHewn]

http://www.harborfreight.com/radiator-hose-pinch-off-pliers-99704.html
$13 less coupons.

They actually make pretty good welding clamps too.

 

[Dust Devil]

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mtzjaaJ8MLxw1h3VyhUjkrg.jpg

Blue point php1. I have two of them. Couldn't be a better set

Yup, these are nice

 

[Monte]

i have these plastic ones and they work flawless:
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