Could someone help me with my CV Boot Clamp Tool.

[jweaver]

I know this isn't related to Welding but I am sure someone here will be able to help.

I am about to change my partners CV joints and have bought a CV Boot Clamp tool to finish the job.

When it arrived I looked at it and couldn't really understand what they did differently than normal pliers.. I assumed that the part marked with an arrow in the attached photo was key, and would keep the top of the crimp flat, but in truth couldn't actually work out how or why.

Anyway.. I got my new welder last week, and with it came two hose clips which need the Boot Clamp tool..

I used it and frankly it made a right mess of the crimp.. I expect it to have a flat top.. But it just crimped flat (See photo)...

Is my tool faulty? Am I using it wrong.. I just can't understand how it crimps and keeps the top flat.. I can see what its trying to do, but the part which should keep it flat, just moves out the way.. I would expect some mechanism to kick in and push it forwards, to that it flattens the top.

Can anyone help?

Jon

 

[Jiffers]

Great tools I use very often the part arrowed just stops the force of crimping going up away from the main part being crimped

 

[jweaver]

Great tools I use very often the part arrowed just stops the force of crimping going up away from the main part being crimped

Thats what i thought.. But look at my photo.. I could have done that with normal pliers.

The bit i have arrowed seems to do nothing.. I expected it to ove forwards as you make the crimp to keep the top flat.. But its just floating and moves away...

Cant help thinkng that either mine are faulty, or they are rubish and i should have bought a better tool

 

[pedrobedro]

I use a pair of Knipex end cutters to clip those fasteners. It doesn't matter what they look like as long as the nib on the bottom one clicks into the top one. Google clic-r clips, there are better quality pliers but if you are only doing a few not worth the bother. I use tie wraps on CV boots. It works with O-clips as well if you have them.

 

[Shox Dr]

clic-r clips, there are better quality pliers but if you are only doing a few not worth the bother.

I've a pair of those pliers, waited until some came up on ... cost about 20quid ISTR. A must for removing and refitting clic-r clips without destroying them.

 

[drivewasher]

Those pliers shown are not for the removable c clips. They should form a flat on top of the permenant cv boot clips or hose clips like he's demonstrating on the hose.
It looks like the pliers in the pic are crappy ones, I have a set of good ones that have square holes in the handles to fit either a torque wrench for specified torque fitments or a square drive just for brute force if req. Mine form a nice compact flat on all the clips they fit.

 

[jweaver]

Those pliers shown are not for the removable c clips. They should form a flat on top of the permenant cv boot clips or hose clips like he's demonstrating on the hose.
It looks like the pliers in the pic are crappy ones, I have a set of good ones that have square holes in the handles to fit either a torque wrench for specified torque fitments or a square drive just for brute force if req. Mine form a nice compact flat on all the clips they fit.

Exactly.. I am still at a loss why they don't work.. When you open the up fully, there is a machanism which pulls the flat face back.. Like a reset.. But there is nothing which pushes it forwards when you do the actual crimp to create the flat top..

They are either rubbish.. Or fault... I am airing towards them being rubbish.. But it just doesn't' make any sense why they just don't seem to work.

 

[Wallace]

The right hand arm on the tool in your photo looks like it has a cam shape with a hooked end to contact the pin and pull the sliding part back when you open the tool fully. If both arms have the same cam shape they force the pin forward a set amount when you close the handles. The hose clip you have used them on is too small for those pliers, if your CV joint kits have OE type clips they should look something like the photo below with a much larger crimpable area.

 

[philpullan]

why must it have a flat top? ive seen alot of them crimped like in your picture

 

[normspanners]

Because of limited space on some cv's, also it helps stop stray plastic bags etc wrapping round them, the tall crimp grabs them and wraps them round if they are virt flat there is less chance.
I think its your pliers that are crap it takes a LOT of force to flatten the clip even with the proper ones, I usually crimp it lightly then tap the clip flatish with a hammer then recrimp the flattener then works better.

 

[jweaver]

Because of limited space on some cv's, also it helps stop stray plastic bags etc wrapping round them, the tall crimp grabs them and wraps them round if they are virt flat there is less chance.
I think its your pliers that are crap it takes a LOT of force to flatten the clip even with the proper ones, I usually crimp it lightly then tap the clip flatish with a hammer then recrimp the flattener then works better.

I always thought it had to be flat to give it strength. its its just squashed, then it could open up. The "ear" shape that it makes means that its very difficult to open up.

I have taken the pliers appear today and can see how it works and think I cna see the problem.. When you close the jaws, a pin which goes through the central part rides along the top of the handles and pushes forwards.. But it doesn't go far enough and it doesn't create the flat.

I have an idea that adding some kind of 'collar' to the pin, might make it push a little further forwards.. If I could find something which would fit, I am going to give it a go to see if I can improve it.

Jon

 

[Wallace]

I always thought it had to be flat to give it strength. its its just squashed, then it could open up. The "ear" shape that it makes means that its very difficult to open up.

I have taken the pliers appear today and can see how it works and think I cna see the problem.. When you close the jaws, a pin which goes through the central part rides along the top of the handles and pushes forwards.. But it doesn't go far enough and it doesn't create the flat.

I have an idea that adding some kind of 'collar' to the pin, might make it push a little further forwards.. If I could find something which would fit, I am going to give it a go to see if I can improve it.

Jon

Have you tried this tool on a CV boot gaitor clamp?

 

[jweaver]

Have you tried this tool on a CV boot gaitor clamp?

Nope.. And its crossed my mind that perhaps the clamp that I used was too small.

But I do have the claps, and I have tried a dry fit and am still convinced that the distance from the flat face to the clamps is too big to make a square crimp.

So I am going to put it back together and do a few tests before I use it in anger (or modify it further)

Jon