What Is This?

[NCL4701]

Going through more of my father’s stuff I ran across this thing. Seems like I should know what it is, but if I ever did, it’s escaping me right now.

The jaw part has a rubberized coating similar to what’s on the handles. Despite the jaws looking sort of like they might be used for spreading something, squeezing the handles closes the jaws same as normal pliers.

Their location provided no context. They were on this table that held everything from grinding wheels to a plastic label maker to a soil test kit to a little can of military issue rifle bore cleaner made Dec 1958 (with some sort of liquid in it).

Being my father’s doesn’t provide much context either. Could be related to beekeeping, mechanicing, gardening, hunting, fishing, canning, animal husbandry.

Anybody know what it is???

 

[GreensvilleJay]

big retaining ring expander ?
Made in Taiwan, so 20-40 years old ??
Hot vinyl dipped
Any other markings ? Maybe under the handle grips ??

 

[ken erickson]

They look more like spark plug wire/cap puller pliers

 

[Toyboy]

Yep, plug wire pullers

 

[Tarmy]

They look more like spark plug wire/cap puller pliers

Yeppers…got a set myself….

 

[fried1765]

Going through more of my father’s stuff I ran across this thing. Seems like I should know what it is, but if I ever did, it’s escaping me right now.

The jaw part has a rubberized coating similar to what’s on the handles. Despite the jaws looking sort of like they might be used for spreading something, squeezing the handles closes the jaws same as normal pliers. View attachment 92824 View attachment 92825
Their location provided no context. They were on this table that held everything from grinding wheels to a plastic label maker to a soil test kit to a little can of military issue rifle bore cleaner made Dec 1958 (with some sort of liquid in it).
View attachment 92826 Being my father’s doesn’t provide much context either. Could be related to beekeeping, mechanicing, gardening, hunting, fishing, canning, animal husbandry.

Anybody know what it is???

My guess is canning!
Used to pick up empty steralized jars from boiling water.

 

[Sparky Prep]

My guess is canning!
Used to pick up empty steralized jars from boiling water.

Nope. I've got one of those, and it don't look like that. I'm going with spark plug puller.

 

[NCL4701]

big retaining ring expander ?
Made in Taiwan, so 20-40 years old ??
Hot vinyl dipped
Any other markings ? Maybe under the handle grips ??

No other markings. Tried sliding the grips off but no go and preferred to not damage them.

 

[NCL4701]

After looking up spark plug boot pliers, I’m going with that. Also explains why the jaws are angled a bit. I’ve pulled many spark plug boots but didn’t know there was a tool other than my hand for that job.

Thanks, all!

 

[007kubotaguy]

Spark plug wire puller. Years ago everyone had these in their tool box.

 

[GeoHorn]

…(decided I was undecided)…

 

[ayak]

All I know is when I read “animal husbandry”, my mind went places my eyes didn’t want to follow (with respect to the mystery tool).

 

[NCL4701]

All I know is when I read “animal husbandry”, my mind went places my eyes didn’t want to follow (with respect to the mystery tool).

Mine, too.

 

[Botamon]

I have a pair of those hanging on the tool wall in my garage. Spark plug boot pullers...from back when vehicles had spark plug wires with boots, and not "coil on plug" ignitions....so I have no vehicles I could use with those today!

 

[mcmxi]

After looking up spark plug boot pliers, I’m going with that.

That's the proper name for them. They're designed to pull on the boot end of the wire either at the spark plug or at the distributor cap. I've had a set for years and have used them to good effect. Often the boots are hard to get to if they're in a recessed hole, and pulling on the wire directly is a good way to ruin the wire.

 

[mcmxi]

I have a pair of those hanging on the tool wall in my garage. Spark plug boot pullers...from back when vehicles had spark plug wires with boots, and not "coil on plug" ignitions....so I have no vehicles I could use with those today!

I've owned my '98 Jeep TJ for 22 years (almost 23 now) and it still has plug wires and a distributor with a cap. I have the inline 6-cylinder 4.0 engine that's famously bullet proof but a thirsty little bugger! I upgraded the fuel tank to an aluminum 24.5 gallon version quite a few years ago so that I can get 330 miles on a tank. I used to have to fill up around 220 miles with the factory tank.

I also have two Stihl chainsaws, a Stihl weed eater, as well as Honda powered concrete mixer, log splitter, pressure washer and lawn mower, so plug wires with boots are still a thing for me.

 

[Henro]

I have a pair of those hanging on the tool wall in my garage. Spark plug boot pullers...from back when vehicles had spark plug wires with boots, and not "coil on plug" ignitions....so I have no vehicles I could use with those today!

I kept wondering how those things could cause a spark plug boot to come off...since they seem to close like a set of pliers.

Then I had a brain storm! They are probably used to grip the boot and the force applied to pull it off is supplied by the operator, not the tool itself!

Did I get it right?

edit: I needed two of those things shown in my current avatar in order to come to this realization. LOL

 

[Flintknapper]

I kept wondering how those things could cause a spark plug boot to come off...since they seem to close like a set of pliers.

Then I had a brain storm! They are probably used to grip the boot and the force applied to pull it off is supplied by the operator, not the tool itself!

Did I get it right?

edit: I needed two of those things shown in my current avatar in order to come to this realization. LOL

Yes. It's a spark plug boot puller. It doesn't actually 'pull' the boot....it just provides a good grip on the boot. They come in various shapes, angles and lengths.

Often times the boot is recessed or so far behind an exhaust manifold that you can't really reach in there well with your hand. The tool squeezes the boot tightly and allows you to pull on the tool handle to dislodge the boot from the spark plug.

IF silicone grease was not used when installing the boot then it can be quite difficult to remove them by hand.

 

[Flintknapper]

I've owned my '98 Jeep TJ for 22 years (almost 23 now) and it still has plug wires and a distributor with a cap. I have the inline 6-cylinder 4.0 engine that's famously bullet proof but a thirsty little bugger!

Hear ya!

I have a '97 Land Cruiser that I've had for 23 years. Inline 6 cylinder. Plug wires, distributor with a cap.

340,000 miles on it currently and still going strong.

 

[Henro]

Hear ya!

I have a '97 Land Cruiser that I've had for 23 years. Inline 6 cylinder. Plug wires, distributor with a cap.

340,000 miles on it currently and still going strong.

View attachment 92848
View attachment 92849

Original engine? Synthetic motor oil? That's a lot of miles!