I would do it. I don't know how strong zuper8 is, but me being a pretty strong guy, I was getting a bit worn out trying to hold the pliers to the clamp and put the hose back on at the same time; especially when you're tired from all you've done to get to that point. If you lock it, it will easily slide up the hose, push the hose on, slide the clamp down and spring it shut. Very easy.

Sorry to disappoint you with a less than timely response Saggy Butt...

Rach.. Try channel lock pliers... Otherwise..use a screw type clamp. The whole reasoning behind those are two fold. First off it'* much cheaper, secondly when tightening the screw type, torque and pressure varies. Wtih our plastic radiators and other parts..it'* easier to break them and cut into the hose with the screw type clamps. The clamp in your picture is actually engineered to keep a constant pressure and seems to have a half life about the same as nuclear waste. They never seem to lose pressure.

I would definitely try to borrow a hose clamp tool. I got fed up with trying to replace the lower hose with a clamp on it with a plier, I spent i think $50 on the tool. It saves me time, my hands, and all the aggrevation involved. The tool has a squeeze type handle, connected to the handle is a cable aound 1-2ft. long, and at the end of the cable is the clamp. The handle has a lock on it so once the hose clamp is expanded, you can lock it in the open position until you place in on the hose where u want it, then simply release and ur done.

BTW..

The clamp tool I purchased at Sears and wouldn't leave home w/o it if I think a hose clamp is possibly getting moved. It is one of those tools that save time, effort, aggrevation and skin.

Sheesh! I can't believe that youse guys didn't post a pic for her...

Here you go:



I admit that I haven't added one to my tool kit yet, but will someday.

Once again, I must agree with Boosty Boy (dammit). Channel Locks will work like a charm on those SOB'* if you don't have the real tool.

But I didn't know they lock open until reading this. The skin that is still on my kncukles thanks you all for this little tidbit of information.

I can't wait until John thinks it'* locked ..let'* go and loses more skin because he locked it.

Skinny it this..you'll kill yourself trying to lock the darn things..then want to commit suicide because it won't unlock when you have it in position.

Worse than a mousey trap I tell you.

I've swapped all mine over to the standard thread style, not necessarily easier by any means, but its an option

Mine locked easy. I just had to keep the tabs closer to the nose of the pliers to get it together enough to lock. Then I just popped it with a skinny screwdriver to clamp it. Of course I figured this all out after 15 minutes of swearing at the car while I was trying to hold the clamp open as I put the lower radiator hose back on with the two inches of room in there.

Rachel should have brought a large bag of cuss words. A small bag gets used up pretty quickly on those hose clamps.