Need Narrow Jaw Pliers

[Wamsutta]

There's a big nut that goes on top of that caster post to bolt it to a shopping cart. Those big nuts come loose from time to time. In oder to tighten the nut, you have to hold the top of the bearing race still; otherwise, the bearing race will turn with the nut. The 5/8'' wide jaws of a Channellock 460 are too wide to fit between the bearing race and the shopping cart frame. The Channellock 420's fit, but the jaws don't open up far enough. If I had the width of the 420 jaws with the length of the 460 jaws, that would work perfect.

 

[sparky 1971]

460's are pretty big. What about 430 or 440's. Or an impact.

 

[garfunkle24]

Sounds like time for a grinder and some custom tool manufacturing to me

 

[larry_g]

The jaws on my narrow jaw pliers show obvious grinding marks. May I suggest that you grind a set to do the job you need to do. The tool as bought is just the starting point from where you make a tool that will do the job at hand. Don't worry what some collector may think 50 years from now.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Fedwrench]

Sounds like the perfect task for a pair of Knipex Cobras.

 

[georgiadave]

I'd try a wedge to hold the race while tightening the nut.

 

[Wamsutta]

Fedwrench has a point. My 12 inch Cobras have jaws that are only 3/8'' wide. I could go up to 1/2'' wide and be fine. I wonder what the jaw width of the 16'' Cobras are.

 

[rlitman]

I'd run the nut on with an impact. The blows from an impact may spin the caster, but the nut will get tight first.

 

[darkzero]

I wonder what the jaw width of the 16'' Cobras are.

Went out & measured, my Cobra 16" is .525", same as my 16" Pliers Wrench. My Cobra 22" is .706". I say "my" cause not sure if there is much variation in thickness in manufacturing.

 

[Wamsutta]

Thanks darkzero!

 

[redwrench60]

Wam, you still on those shopping carts!?

 

[jasonphelps]

Sounds like I need to plan a trip to HD tomorrow to check out the rollability of the carts tuned for an optimal shopping experience.

 

[SeisMec]

Take a look at oil filter pliers like this pair from Harbor Freight. If the diameter of the bearing race is at all greater than 2", they will close far enough for a good grip. The jaw on this set is 3/8" thick.

If you added a flat washer between the bearing race and the bottom of the cart, the bearing race would no longer come loose. Of course you'd need to add a washer to the other front caster to keep the front of the cart leveled. (I'm assuming the rear wheels are fixed.)

 

[gahrajmahal]

I usually jam a chisel between the bearing race and mount surface. Tightening the nut with an impact wrench spins the nut fast enough to keep the bearing race from spinning.

 

[Chucktin]

What you need is a "spanner" ( I know that's the British word for wrench but ...) in the sense of a generic wrench. They, spanners, are usually stamped out of sheet metal and are thin. So get a piece of 1/4" x 4" x 12" and an angle grinder and cut one for your self. It doesn't _have_ to be pretty or flashy, it just has to fit the top but.

 

[RKA]

+2 impact wrench. Try it, you might be surprised how easily it works.

 

[joe_padavano]

It takes longer to read through this thread than it does to grind down a cheap set of pliers to fit. And next time, either use a locking nut or some thread locker.

 

[SeisMec]

And next time, either use a locking nut or some thread locker.

Take another look. A lock nut would be no help at all. Short of spinning the upper race loose enough to expose threads (and loose, uncaged ball bearing), thread locker would be a problematic fix at best.

Add a flat washer to prevent contact between the threaded tube of the bearing race and the securing nut.

 

[joe_padavano]

thread locker would be a problematic fix at best.

The status quo sounds pretty problematic.

 

[RTM]

Can you slot the end of the screw to hold it with a screwdriver while you tighten the nut?

 

[KnurledNut]

I would recommend checking out methods of a seasoned HD cart tech here:

 

[moreover]

Install caster and thread 3 nuts onto the stud. Run the first nut down until it bottoms. Tighten the remaining two nuts against one another "double nut". Now you can hold backup on the bottom nut of the double nutted pair while you tighten the bottom most nut... Remove the top two nuts. This of course will only work if there's enough thread exposed.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

If you already have the pliers, then all you need is a grinder.

 

[jeboyd]

There is a hex on the other end of that threaded stud. Might have to remove the wheel. Normally an end wrench will fit between the wheel and the fork housing.


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[exmaxima1]

I'd run the nut on with an impact. The blows from an impact may spin the caster, but the nut will get tight first.

+1
Certainly worth a try

 

[Aleman25]

Knipex 8751250 10-Inch Cobra Extra Slim Pliers

on Amazon

 

[garfunkle24]

Can you slot the end of the screw to hold it with a screwdriver while you tighten the nut?

Great idea

 

[MJK]

Tappet wrenches are what I use for this.

 

[metaldad]

channelock made a thin jaw adjustable pliers - cant find them.
on fleabay. i think im going to order a couple of each, when the current crisis subsides
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IPS-SUPER-...491343?hash=item3fbaa7afcf:g:-kUAAOSwjedcbNea
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IPS-THIN-J...848564?hash=item287a0521f4:g:wXYAAOSwTbNbzA66

 

[superautobacs]

channelock made a thin jaw adjustable pliers - cant find them.
on fleabay. i think im going to order a couple of each, when the current crisis subsides
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IPS-SUPER-...491343?hash=item3fbaa7afcf:g:-kUAAOSwjedcbNea
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IPS-THIN-J...848564?hash=item287a0521f4:g:wXYAAOSwTbNbzA66

The IPS slip-joint was exactly what I was going to suggest.

 

[johninct]

I'd run the nut on with an impact. The blows from an impact may spin the caster, but the nut will get tight first.

Do this.