Vise-Grip Plier Repair

[Vise-Roy]

I found an old pair of Vise-Grip brand locking pliers in an old tool box. They lock, but then they spring apart again when you let the handles go.

The spring is intact. There appears to have never been the movable handle which you disengage the pliers as found on other locking pliers. There appears to be no place to attach one. No missing rivets, no empty holes, nothing broken, etc. Looks like this model wasn't made with this movable handle.

Everything appears to be in line. It doesn't look like they have been twisted or sprung. The jaws meet perfectly, the adjusting bolt works perfectly. It just won't stay locked.

Any idea how to get them working properly again?

 

[Outlawmws]

It sounds like they are very slightly sprung, or there might be some debris keeping them from closing properly.

for the debris, look where the release tab seats in the handle, (where the lock stop "lump" on the link bar between the top and bottom handles seats on it during lock)

If that is clean, you can file the bump on the link bar down a bit until they "lock and stop".

Don't over do it or they are a ***** to get unlocked...

 

[Outlawmws]

Ah... just noticed the comment on the release lever being missing. Skip that step above, or at least look for debris where the bump does seat.

 

[ihredo4]

Do you have any pressure on the jaws when you closed them? Seems to me I had a pair in my hands like that and I had to run the screw in to apply pressure and then they worked. I am probably wrong as that's how everything goes in my life but what have you got to lose.

 

[The Copilot]

Sounds like this is a model made before the mid 1950s when the release lever was patented and added to Vise Grips.

Never seen a pair that wouldn't lock - even the ones without a release lever. As was mentioned below, try tightening up the adjusting screw a bit until you begin to feel some resistance as you squeeze the pliers closed. They should sort of "pop" and lock as you squeeze the handle the rest of the way. If that fails, then the only thing I can think of is that the linkage that connects the movable handle with the fixed handle may have gotten damaged in some way.

Any chance of you being able to post a couple of pictures of the pliers in the "open" position? That might really help us.

 

[Vise-Roy]

Yep, I have tightened up the bolt enough so that you have to use pressure to close the handles as you're supposed to do. They pop and lock, but spring open when I remove my hand.
Here ya go.... 6" ruler in one for scale

One side of the handle: VISE GRIP
On the jaw: No10W

other side of the handle: PETERSON MFG CO
DEWITT NEBR USA

bottom of handle: PATENTED APRIL 14 1942

Interesting.....I have a pair of Craftsman locking pliers probably made in the 1960s and all parts of that pair match exactly with this Vise Grip pair. Same shape, same thickness, same relationship to each other. Looks like Craftsman simply bought a pair of Vise Grips and put their logo on them.

Thinking that there might be dirt in them as suggested, I detached the one spring, blew them out with an air compressor at every angle I could insert the air nozzle, no help.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, before doing anything else, I see the "bump had "peened over" in the long years of use. take the peening off the bump and see if it seats that tiny bit further into the bottom grip.

 

[Vise-Roy]

OUTLAW, you nailed it. I spent no more than one minute with a flat file on the "bump" on the center linkage, filing it down just a hair. Pure luck that I stopped at the right point. It now works like it was brand new. Tried it on several different sized objects. Has that crisp "snap" when it locks, holds even if knocked around, releases easily. Good for another 75 years. Many thanks!

COPILOT thanks for the info on the re-branding contracts. Makes sense.

 

[DenisG]

OUTLAW, you nailed it. I spent no more than one minute with a flat file on the "bump" on the center linkage, filing it down just a hair. Pure luck that I stopped at the right point. It now works like it was brand new. Tried it on several different sized objects. Has that crisp "snap" when it locks, holds even if knocked around, releases easily. Good for another 75 years. Many thanks!

COPILOT thanks for the info on the re-branding contracts. Makes sense.

I've tried the fix that you described, but for me it only fixed my old Vise Grips temporarily. I ended up grinding off and removing the rivet that holds the "center linkage." When you remove and look at the hole for that piece, you'll find that either the hole is elongated and/or the rivet shank is badly worn. Once you eliminate the slop (new rivet or bushing for the hole (or weld and re-drill the hole, and replace the rivet), then you'll have really fixed the problem.

 

[Vise-Roy]

Thanks DenisG.
I was actually wondering originally if that was the problem, but I didn't want to tackle that before getting other ideas. I'll see how it goes.