bolt cutters

I've got a 18 in bolt cutter that has a head that opens and closes on one side ot another and cant find anything online that shows how to adjust it (see photo attached) how do I adjust?

It's been a while but,...  I thing the 4 bolts, 2 at top and 2 at bottom adjust it.  They are eccentric inside the shoulder.  try turning them and see what you get.

The bolt sticking out in free space in the picture is where I would start.  The jaws when open should be parallel do it should like screw out.  And in the closed position they should be tight together.  The other adjustment I think is an eccentric that moves the position in and out  to adjust that.  There should be jam nuts to lock those I think.

That said I have never seen a bolt cutter that opened to that position so I would be looking for something broken first.  But I don't see it from this picture.

You might try showing a picture of it in the closed position in case something shows that way and a picture looking at the adjusting screws at an angle.

I tried adjusting the 4 bolt but to no avail. here's the cutters opened, closed and side view.

I would try undoing the bolt below the one sticking out. It looks like the bolt is clamping the little red lever to the main arm.

You probably need to play with both that and the one above, that C mentioned, to get the jaws parallel in both the open and closed position.

craziest thing I've seen. did what you suggested, losened the littler bolt and the small arm moves. However, it still opens and closes on one side or another.

I'm going to take a guess. The handle/jaw pivot joint on the "simple" handle (with the 18/450 marks) seems like it might not be free? I say this since none of your photos show the jaws opening "the other way" (this jaw hinged outward)...
I'd loosen it up or take it all apart and oil it, to make sure everything that is supposed to move does.

I tried oiling everything, the little arm moves freely but it still is going to one side. When I close it. it will go to a normal closing position. I've been trying to adjust this for years and it kills me that I'm going to have to buy another but I'll most like keep torture myself to find a fix. Thanks for your help.

So, one jaw opens too wide, and the other jaw doesn't open enough. I think that the "not opening enough jaw" isn't moving much if at all.
I still think that the not moving jaw needs loosening and/or oiling, and in addition, the loose/wider-opening jaw maybe could be tightened to create a balanced situation.

Here's an edited version of your photo to show what I suggest you do. I think Kenneth Elwell has it right, and that it has little to do with the adjusting arm.

There might be a lot of gunk preventing the free movement of the opposite cutting blade. If you remove that blade, clean and lube its bolt-hole, and then reassemble you may likely have more success.

took it apart and cleaned, lube as suggested. I think it all comes down to tightening the bolts just enough for fine tuning. these r the pics of it opened and closed and its the best I could get it. Its still off alittle but it cuts. If y'all got any other ideas, I'd appreciate it. Thanks alot. I know I'll have other things to ask about sometime or another. Jim

I know exactly what the issue is, you have dislodged a small "bearing", check around where you were previously adjusting the cutters (or was it missing on delivery - doubtful).

Remove two nuts on one of the flat plate near the cutting edges. Watch you don't lose the small washers. Look between the revealed section of the blades and there in a notch in both, there should be a small, solid, flat pivot bearing in this gap. Clean, re-grease and replace the 'bearing' in position. Replace flat plate, washers and nuts and tighten after re-aligning the cutting edges of the blades. Job done.