Question about Knipex self adjusting Cobras

[Milwookie]

I purchased a pair of the Knipex 85 01 250 self-adjusting cobra pliers today. The description on Amazon says they automatically lock on nuts or pipes, but mine don't seem to do this. Is there a trick or something I'm missing, or are they possibly faulty?

 

[DeliveryGuy]

I don't think it means that they will lock on like a pair of vise grips. If you grip a pipe tightly, the pliers should stay gripped as long as you're pushing on the pliers. You don't have to squeeze as well. As soon as you lift up on the pliers, they will release.

 

[Milwookie]

I played around with it a bit and I think I figured it out. There jaw pivot appears to rotate freely and has some locking teeth. If I push on it just right, it locks into position and I can release entirely. I thought it would be more automatic, but I have to kind of push it just right. Still not sure if it's working how it's supposed to, the videos I watched gave the impression it was just a squeeze and they're locked.

Per the video here, if you squeeze and push down they're supposed to lock:

Mine do, but only about 1 in 10 times.

 

[Milwookie]

Thanks, Jeremy. That puts me somewhat at ease. My lack of familiarity with the Cobras made me unsure how they're supposed to work. I will say, barring the odd behavior of the locking, the pliers are pretty damned cool. The one handed operation is--dare I say it--RoboGrip like in functionality, but with all the sexiness that is Knipex.

 

[Farmall450]

I still squeeze them, not like it makes me weaker in rotating the fastener or pipe.