What are these KD pliers for?

[Mister Moose]

Engraved with

No 428
KD Mfg Co
Lancaster PA

Very odd tips. The dies on the tips both rotate freely. Some kind of hose clamp pliers apparently, but on what?

 

[fr0mastaj]

Exactly what you said... hose clamp pliers. For automotive hose clamps, like on radiator hoses, etc.

 

[Guns R Tools]

Newer designs lock in position. But those are great for spring type hose clamp.
That groove holds flat portion of spring clamp.

 

[Mister Moose]

So are you guys saying these are for the wire formed spring tension style? that still doesn't explain the pockets in the dies. It would have to be made for wires that come up 90° from the hose, and then turn another 90° in 1/4". I've never seen hose clamps like that.

 

[metaleltr]

It is for limited access applications.

 

[vssjim]

Yes they are for round wire type hose clamps, they were called Corbin style clamps and Chrysler was big on them back in the day. Other companies used slip joint pliers with two sets of grooves in the teeth. I still have them in a draw.

 

[bob15]

Does this help?

 

[HandyManny]

Of course when you consider that most pros generally use either a pair of large slip-joint pliers or a pair of tongue and groove pliers to accomplish the same task, that's what I always did. I've always regarded hose-clamp pliers as an answer to a question that nobody was really asking. Sort of one of those mostly useless tools, considering you can accomplish the same task just as well with basic pliers.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Of course when you consider that most pros generally use either a pair of large slip-joint pliers or a pair of tongue and groove pliers to accomplish the same task, that's what I always did. I've always regarded hose-clamp pliers as an answer to a question that nobody was really asking. Sort of one of those mostly useless tools, considering you can accomplish the same task just as well with basic pliers.

Well,

This old fart used a pair when he was turning wrenches for a living back in the 70's after he got tired of those clamps slipping out of the jaws of those slip joint pliers. Never thought they were "useless" at all and were well worth saving my knuckles for the $2 or so they cost back then. Hoses didn't last 100,000 miles and neither did water pumps back then so those old useless pliers were used daily and replaced after the first set was worn out.

 

[Brad54]

Does this help?

I just used mine a couple weeks ago on our Dodge Dakota... they have a flat spring-style hose clamp on the power steering hoses. Just like the round wire kind, only flat strap.
Mine are locking, which was a HUGE help in getting the thing off.

-Brad

 

[HandyManny]

Well,

This old fart used a pair when he was turning wrenches for a living back in the 70's after he got tired of those clamps slipping out of the jaws of those slip joint pliers. Never thought they were "useless" at all and were well worth saving my knuckles for the $2 or so they cost back then. Hoses didn't last 100,000 miles and neither did water pumps back then so those old useless pliers were used daily and replaced after the first set was worn out.

Well,
This old fart used basic pliers back in the 1950's and various times throughout the 60's and 70's, and never lost a knuckle on hose clamps using a pair of 8" slip-joint pliers or a pair of larger tongue and groove pliers. The flat band clamps used today are far more tense than those older round spring hose clamps. But you are correct, radiators and water pumps last many more miles today than they did then.

 

[crewchief888]

Yes they are for round wire type hose clamps, they were called Corbin style clamps and Chrysler was big on them back in the day. Other companies used slip joint pliers with two sets of grooves in the teeth. I still have them in a draw.

i remember my dad buying a pair of thos pliers back in the 70's when changing the WP on a '72 plymouth fury.

i still have them laying around somewhere

 

[onlyone]

Have a pair of those in my garage as well.
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[ajchien]

Is the OP missing the little ratcheting/locking mechanism in his pliers?

 

[Alchymist]

Also have a pair - the cat's meow when doing appliance repair work - (think washing machine) - and are real handy for some of the hard to reach clamps. You know, the ones where conventional pliers keep slipping.... The rotating tips make for tight clearance access - like along the sidewall where there is only one opening to reach through or past a pump, etc. Other nice thing - put the clamp in one and squeeze it open - no danger of it taking off across the room.

 

[bluebolt]

Is the OP missing the little ratcheting/locking mechanism in his pliers?

I don't think the OP's ever had the locking latch, no hole for it.

 

[jannejan]

Fun to see that I'm not the only one having a pair of those hanging around!

 

[Lotek]

I use those on new cars they work well for the flat spring type clamps. Used them on a Chevy Volt last week. Far better than monkeying around with regular pliers.

What is old is new again.

 

[bsorcs]

Revival! The pair I have are model no. 429. Just used 'em to remove a garbage-disposal plug that someone dropped into the drain upside down. Stuck the clamp into the cavity made by the moulded-in handle on the convex side of the plug, applied pressure and slipped the plug out. This is the only time I have used this since finding it in a trash heap (about 20 years back), cleaning it up, and sticking it into the tool cabinet. Think it will work for dryer-duct clamps as well!