Channel Locks

[manlystanley]

The more I work on cars, the more I think that channel locks are a really cool tools. Two uses that recently used them for on my 1995 Grand Voyager.

1.) To take off the clamp form the lower radiator hoses. I adjusted the locks to fit the two grips then I squeezed and locked the tool. The hose slide off really easily then.

2.) On my ABS modulator, the brake line screws are aluminum AND the part itself is aluminum. So while trying to take the brake lines out I stripped two nuts. I used a little channel lock to grasp the nut and turned it like this. (I know....not pretty but it worked).


Thought I pass off these two tips, for what there worth.


Best Regards,
Stan

[wafrederick]

There is a special pair of pliers for the hose clamps called hose clamp pliers and are not cheap.They are a lot better than Channellock pliers.Mayheiw,SK and Astro Peunamic make them.The channelocks cannot get into the tight spots and the hoseclamp pliers can.There is also a pair of vice grips out there to go around a rounded off fastener.

[wafrederick]

Here is one example of the hose clamp pliers: http://www.skhandtool.com/productcatalog.cfm?tok=1

[wafrederick]

The catalog numbers are 90247 and 90246.