A clamp setting tool secures a hose clamp having a pre-clamped state where a catch tab engages a stopper tab, and a clamped state where the catch tab releases from the stopper tab. The clamp setting tool includes first and second head elements having respective first and second notches formed therein, the second notch positionally corresponds to the first notch. The first and second notches receive the catch and stopper tabs. A stop mechanism is connected to one of the first and second head elements. The clamp setting tool moves the first and second head elements between an open position where the hose clamp is maintained in the pre-clamped state and a closed position where the first and second head elements move the hose clamp to the clamped state. The stop mechanism prevents movement of the first and second head elements from the open position toward the closed position.