HOZAN 4th Hand Brake Tool Blue/Silver

After about 45 years I lost my Hozan tool. Bought this one as a quick replacement and hopefully I'll have it for another 45 years. Works perfectly

Great tool for in the shop or around the house. Zip ties and other strings or cables are easy to tension down with this guy. First discovered this tool at a bicycle shop. Amazing it is not in more peoples' tool boxes.

I've been using the Pedro's version for years now and have always disliked it; flimsy, floppy lock that gets in the way, and a wide grip that's hard to use. Since the tool doesn't get used that much I coped. Then I needed to build a wheelset with with some extra light spokes which always have windup issues. I decided to use the tool to hold the spokes and used a zip tie to stop the tensioning lever, just needed the grip. 28 spokes times multiple adjustments was extremely painful for my hands with the thin, wide grip handles. I remembered this version and bought it. The difference was night and day, the grips are wide and flat and close enough to easily grab and hold. There's no lockout but outside of a shop experience where I had to help a customer this was virtually never needed. The metal is thicker making it feel more solid. Really one of the best versions of this tool out there.

Like any good tool, this cable puller does it's job well reliably, without issue. I've used it for both brakes and derailleurs, and have other uses beyond that, like pressing against cable housings to make sure they're all the way seated in the shifters. The price is great considering how well it works and that it's a Japanese made product. It is possible to squeeze the cable too hard and make a section flat, ruining it to me, but I reckon any cable puller could do that.

LOL, it's not a 4th hand at all. Doesn't lock in place. You still have to hold on with your left hand while tightening brakes.

The tool build quality seems adequate. Does not have a ratcheting lock mechanism to hold position which can be useful in some cases. It appears to be a trend today that tool manufacture quality is diminishing and Hozan is not immune to that criticism either. The jury is still out on this tool but I will be putting it through its courses this season on many bicycles and come back with a verdict. As it is, I rate 4 stars as I was hoping for slightly better material and finish from Hozan.I've owned one other 4th hand tool previously by a Chinese brand called BOY and the metal on that one was thinner than the Hozan and the cable clasping mechanism ended up prying away from the body under tension over a few months of use, reducing its reliability.I believe a better 4th hand is possible and if any of the major companies are listening you have now been assigned your homework.

Just as good as the name branded bike store tool.

This "4th Hand" tool is really well made, grips the cable without distorting or fraying it, and can put more than enough tension on the cable for any job I have needed it for.The other day, I had a riveted derailleur that was partially seized up on the bench, so I wanted to work some solvent and lubricant into the joints. I clamped a scrap of cable in the derailleur's pinch bolt and clamped this tool to the "tail" hanging out of the cable stop hole of the derailleur.Using the pliers action, I could "work" the joints of the derailleur in and out repeatedly until the rust ran out and fresh lubricant worked its way in. So, it saved me having to buy a new one. As far as I'm concerned, the tool paid for itself on its first use. By the way, it makes setting up brakes a breeze. Way better than the cheap knock-offs by far!