How to tighten loose plier pivot on a Leatherman

[SteveC]

 I have more than a few old Leatherman's that have a loose plier pivot. After seeing what Leatherman warranty did for my CC ST300 that had a loose pivot  I decided to give it a try myself. It looked to me like they used a press to divot the pivot on my ST300. I don't have a hydraulic press so I made do with a sledge hammer and the round end of a cold chisel.

I supported the handles on some paint stir sticks to hold it level and and old pair of fencing pliers as a make shift anvil on my concrete garage floor. Make sure you have the side of the pliers that rotates on the pivot facing up. This tis the side you want to divot. Holding the cold chisel on the pivot and choking up on the sledge handle just behind the head give it a good smack. Check for tightness and repeat if necessary.

I've done this on four tools so far with great results. They went from sloppy loose to tight enough to cut paper again with the wire cutters



DSC08431_zps0bjoklke by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC08435_zps27uxzwj7 by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC08441_zpsh4qrlzyo by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC08444_zpsxiqma1v7 by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC08445_zpsqurs6rxh by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC08447_zpssq2jbn0i by SteveC, on Flickr

[Poncho65]

Good info there Steve The pics sure help alot as well Not sure if I have any at the moment that are bad but good to know that it can be helped without having to be sent in for warranty work

[SteveC]

Thanks Poncho   

I was surprised how easy it was to do. You don't have to hit it that hard either, I had to try a couple of different sized chisels to get the right contact on the pivot. The one with the Yellow handle worked better on the Pulse. The smaller one did the trick on a Supertool I did a couple of weeks ago.

[Gohard]

Thanks Steve
Out to go and get some paint stir sticks!


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[SteveC]

Thanks Steve
Out to go and get some paint stir sticks!


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You can use anything handy.

[Gohard]

Haha.


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[SteveC]

Let us know how it works out Gohard   

[Gohard]

Was on my way to get the stir sticks but had to go past the liquor shop. Well.... Not getting done today


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[Poncho65]

Was on my way to get the stir sticks but had to go past the liquor shop. Well.... Not getting done today


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Don't be using heavy machinery either

[Syncop8r]

So as long as it is something of slightly less diameter than the pivot? I don't have a cold chisel so I might try a bolt.

[ddogu]

Thank you for sharing! 

[clown]

So as long as it is something of slightly less diameter than the pivot? I don't have a cold chisel so I might try a bolt.

Going to need to try this myself.  Is this right?  Need to go smaller than thre pivot?  Thinking the goal is to try to "mushroom" the pivot just a hair to snug it up?

[SteveC]

So as long as it is something of slightly less diameter than the pivot? I don't have a cold chisel so I might try a bolt.

Going to need to try this myself.  Is this right?  Need to go smaller than thre pivot?  Thinking the goal is to try to "mushroom" the pivot just a hair to snug it up?

Correct 

[chrono]

Just a thought: what about using a vise instead of a hammer? This will require a second pair of hands to crank the vise or to hold the pliers and the punch in the vise jaws. But you can have a fairly precise control how much force you want to apply on the pivot.

[clown]

Thanks Steve.

Chrono, I may try a vise if I can find a small section of appropriate rod to act as the 'punch'. 

[SteveC]

Just a thought: what about using a vise instead of a hammer? This will require a second pair of hands to crank the vise or to hold the pliers and the punch in the vise jaws. But you can have a fairly precise control how much force you want to apply on the pivot.

Unless its a big vise you won't be able to apply enough force.

[chrono]

Just a thought: what about using a vise instead of a hammer? This will require a second pair of hands to crank the vise or to hold the pliers and the punch in the vise jaws. But you can have a fairly precise control how much force you want to apply on the pivot.

Unless its a big vise you won't be able to apply enough force.

My bad! Was thinking of one like a Wilton bullet vise 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Be on the lookout at railroads, especially when the lay new track or repair some. They occasionally plasma cut chucks of extra rail off. Those make for excellent anvils! 

[Don Pablo]

  Be on the lookout at railroads, especially when the lay new track or repair some. They occasionally plasma cut chucks of extra rail off. Those make for excellent anvils! 

Over here, said railroads are behind fences, and it's illegal to trespass.

[JustinCase]

Actually, I like them loose, but that's only because of my job. I have a 2005 Wave and have no complain about the loose pliers pivot, it's very useful to me because I can flip open the tool with one hand like a Balisong knife while holding electrical wire with the other.

[SteveC]

I don't mind if they are loose without wobble but if there is enough play that it affects the wire cutters then I tighten them up 

[JustinCase]

I don't mind if they are loose without wobble but if there is enough play that it affects the wire cutters then I tighten them up 

Agreed! So far mine are loose but without wobbling so the wire cutters work just fine, but at least now I know to fix them once they get to that point. Thanks for the tip!