Special Pliers for Hose Clamps?

[dleonard1122]

Often have to go through great lengths, and a lot of cursing, to get these hose clamps off.

When the clamp is easily accessible, its not so bad, a linesman plier usually does the trick, but sometimes its up underneath every piece of sharp and hot metal imaginable.

Was wondering if anyone has a trick for these, or could recommend a special tool or plier to get them off easier.

http://www.p-wholesale.com/upimg/19/66a1/band-spring-hose-clamp-238.jpg

 

[steveo3002]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flexible-...otive_Tools&hash=item35c53021de#ht_1258wt_771

you can this style on a cable for hard to reach ones

 

[Shadowdog500]

+1 on the flexible hose clamp pliers. I bought mine at autozone.

 

[GTA Matt]

Cable works good, but I find myself using these more then the cable one lately.

 

[CWP1616L]

Mayhew #28650

 

[stonesfan68]

How does that tool work?

Edit: Never-mind.

sears p-00947390000P

 

[Southernbuild]

I bought a pair of Channellock hose clamp pliers last week. I haven't needed them yet, the the design looks good. You can't see it in the picture, but the pliers have a groove in the tip, as well as in the side.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[otis66]

All of the pliers posted are great and I own them myself but this is what I use most of the time.

 

[OctoMan]

I have a lot of those hose clamps on my MGB. Usually I use Channel locks or slip joint pliers.

 

[psychoclaw84]

Otis66, where did you purchase this clamp? Looks like it would fit in tight places.

 

[otis66]

Otis66, where did you purchase this clamp? Looks like it would fit in tight places.

I got mine from my Snap On dealer 7-8 years ago. My Snap On dealer had just got them on his truck. When he showed them to me I bought them on the spot. The do fit in realy tight spaces and I can turn the clamp easy.

 

[ChevyEFI]

All of the pliers posted are great and I own them myself but this is what I use most of the time.

No PN = not snap-on, I guess.

I do want one.

 

[DaleK]

I only ever take them off once. Put appropriate worm-drive clamp back on.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Man, why couldn't someone of posted this before father's day? Would of made an excellent gift...

 

[rmsg0040]

I use these, similar to the channellocks but three postion slip joint:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...675583&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

Heres one similar to the snap on posted above:

http://frankstools.com/ktcaehoclto.html

 

[RCStocker]

I have different types but I like my vice grip hose clamps the best. I paid $2 at a swap meet for them. They are like new.

 

[Agentwho]

My go to for hose clamps tends to be the long handle 90* needle nose pliers like this set http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H6EYSW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[otis66]

No PN = not snap-on, I guess.

I do want one.

It's not made by Snap On. There is no name on it It is only stamped with Pat Pending USA. My Snap On dealer can get any tool made, all I have to do is ask. Also my Snap On dealer will beat any price.

 

[Agentwho]

It's not made by Snap On. There is no name on it It is only stamped with Pat Pending USA. My Snap On dealer can get any tool made, all I have to do is ask. Also my Snap On dealer will beat any price.

Did a quick search and it looks like Lisle makes 2 models of them. Small 44500 and large 44480

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=269

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=269

 

[CWP1616L]

Found a video about the Lisle 44480 and 44500 -

 

[devilsnight]

depends on application. I use these on espar D5 clamps, work perfect.
http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands/crescent/index.cfm?model_list=1&att_id=CRE003&att1=Pliers/Cutters&att2=Box%20Joint%20Dura-Pliers
Thats it though, never use them on anything else

 

[ScorpionKing5.7]

I got the lisle ones from oreillys and I wonder how i lived without them

 

[bimmerZ5]

thanks OP... for asking this question. i never knew there were so many options and now i've gotta get some....

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Mayhew #28650

thats what my boy bought me they work for some hard to get to places.

 

[dleonard1122]

thanks OP... for asking this question. i never knew there were so many options and now i've gotta get some....

Not a problem. Honestly, I feel the same way, I want to try and find one of the lisle ones now!

 

[srmofo]

I Own A Version Of Everything Mentioned Here. I Haven't Touched Any Of Them ExceptFor The Mac Vise Grip Style Pliers Since I Bought Them. The Lisle Ones Work Well, BBut Are Slow To Use. Don't Think For A Second You Will Be Able To Tighten Them Up Without A Ratchet

 

[itwnexus]

srmofo, since you have tried many hose clamp pliers, which one is your favorite?

 

[CWP1616L]

Lisle Ones Work Well, But Are Slow To Use. Don't Think For A Second You Will Be Able To Tighten Them Up Without A Ratchet

Do they take up anymore room than the part on the end of cable actuated type?

 

[Fedwrench]

Do they take up anymore room than the part on the end of cable actuated type?

Yes. if you look at the picture you'll see that the threaded rod has a higher profile than the sliding tabs on the cable pliers.

 

[Swampdog]

I only ever take them off once. Put appropriate worm-drive clamp back on.

You got it, that's my answer too.

 

[wafrederick]

Problem with the worm style clamp is some reef on the clamp tightening it up way too tight.There are the spring clamp with a locking tab,I take these to the bench grinder grinding off the locking tab.Nothing but a pain in the *** with the locking tab.

 

[Carguy99]

There are many types of hose clamps, and picking a replacement isn't always easy. The OE choice today is the "constant tension" spring band clamp, because it provides some remaining tension even if the hose underneath takes some compression set. This minimizes the chance for cold-engine leakage over the life of the hose. However, the precise sizing and engineered-in tension of the spring band means it works best on hose necks that are in like-new condition. If the hose neck isn't perfect, you have several choices. The worm-drive clamp is the long-established aftermarket choice, and a premium clamp ( not the cheap ****) permits you to tighten as necessary, generally without damaging the hose itself. But worm-drives may require periodic retightening due to hose set from thermocycling ( sp).

 

[mrborohachi]

Ever since i got my pair of Crecent version of these http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/pliers/double_x/

I have not met a small hose clamp on my Toyotas that i have not been able to conquer. Toyota likes to use those double eared/tabbed on one side single on the other small hose clamps on breather hoses, intake hoses and IACV coolant lines. If you only get one of the ears on a double eared side you end up bending the clamp and not being able to take off the clamp.

 

[srmofo]

srmofo, since you have tried many hose clamp pliers, which one is your favorite?

I love the MAC vise grip style. Yes they do take up more room than a cable style tool but the only hose Ive run into that they couldnt remove was the lower clamp lower hose on chevy venture (which cables dont work too well on either...depending on which way the installer left the clamp). I have a long pair of needle nose that work perfectly for those. The thing to remember with these is that any angle of attack is possible. I honestly have only used the lisle style a few times because by the time I pull out the ratchet to tighten them down I could have just snuck in there with the Mac style.

I run into more problems trying to put worm drive clamps back on than I do trying to remove the spring clamps these days

 

[Loscaldazar]

What about these guys?

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/pliers/ratcheting_pliers/

Seem nice. 180T ratchet.

 

[dleonard1122]

Ever since i got my pair of Crecent version of these http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/pliers/double_x/

I have not met a small hose clamp on my Toyotas that i have not been able to conquer. Toyota likes to use those double eared/tabbed on one side single on the other small hose clamps on breather hoses, intake hoses and IACV coolant lines. If you only get one of the ears on a double eared side you end up bending the clamp and not being able to take off the clamp.

^this. I have spent some serious time trying to get one of these clamps off after it "slipped." The clamp seems to have two parts, an inner and an outer, and when they slip off eachother they just provide constant tension and no amount of pinching the tabs together seems to open them enough. My go-to clamp of choice if I want to make sure something is done right is the oetiker clamps. They are really expensive but certainly do the trick.