Wenger Minigrip plier question

[magentus]

In the locked closed position my Minigrip pliers aren't quite closed - the jaws are open slightly. See picture;



Is there anything I can do about it? It's not a big deal, but aesthetically it would be nice.

BTW the lock is pushed fully forward in the picture.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

That does not look like the correct bit holder. Do the pliers close properly without the holder?

[Sazabi]

Yeah, that's not the correct bit holder; the correct one is rather streamlined. :/  You might've gotten a bit holder for the SwissGrip, instead of the Mini Grip.

[magentus]

Ha - I knew as soon as I posted that the bit holder would be brought up. SIlly me!

The bit holder is a makeshift one until Wenger send me the proper replacement. The pliers would be the same if it wasn't there if you see what I mean.

There is some give in the locking device - I think that maybe the pliers have been forced open while locked and the keep has been pulled apart slightly, but I'm not sure how to squeeze it back together without breaking something.

[J-sews]

So if you squeeze the handles, do the plier jaws close the rest of the way?

[magentus]

So if you squeeze the handles, do the plier jaws close the rest of the way?

Yes - there's just some play in the actual lock I think.

[J-sews]

So if you squeeze the handles, do the plier jaws close the rest of the way?

Yes - there's just some play in the actual lock I think.

Ah, okay, I get it now.

Okay, next question, which type of plier lock does your MiniGrip have? Wenger made these tools with two entirely different type of plier lock. On one, the switch slides front-to-back, and a little "catch" on the topside captures a pin attached to the plier handle, locking it closed.

On the other type, the locking switch pivots up-and-down, and again, a little catch captures a pin on the plier handle.

So do you have a sliding switch, or a pivoting switch?

[magentus]

Firstly- thanks for your thoroughness and apologies for not being as specific as I should be.

The lock is the old type sliding mechanism.

Cheers, Magentus

[J-sews]

Not a problem Mag Well hmmm, here I was thinking that the sliding-type switch was more likely to result in fully closed pliers. (so I was guessing you had a pivoting switch)

Now I'm not sure what you could do to improve it.

How about:
See on the topside, where the catch in the slider switch captures the little pin on the side of the plier handle? I wonder if a person could place a flat screwdriver against the top of the capture and tap on it with a hammer, bending the capture down a bit? (and therefore causing the pliers to close up a little more)


Kind of hard to describe what i'm talking about....I can take a picture if you are not understanding me..?

[magentus]

Good explaination - no need for pictures. I will try it once I'm back at home again.

What I don't want to do is make it any worse!

Thanks again for your advice - I'll let you know what happens.

[J-sews]

Okay, good luck!

[magentus]

On close inspection, the pin set into the plier handle was askew, making me think that the previous owner had tried to force the pliers open while locked. The pin was bent and snapped while I was trying to fix it so I'm having to keep it locked with a cable tie over the plier head until I can sort something else out.

Oh well - you live and learn.

[J-sews]

Dang.


Suddenly the way it used to be doesn't seem so bad.

[magentus]

Suddenly the way it used to be doesn't seem so bad.

I know! Why didn't I leave well alone?