Abstract: There is disclosed a fire hydrant setting tool useful in engaging the top of a fire hydrant in a manner to maintain it in a vertical position while being lowered and installed for connection to a water main. The tool includes a collar formed of a pair of flat steel plates pivotally connected together to permit relative rotational movement while maintaining the plates in generally coplanar relation, the plates having arcuate openings with one being slightly larger than the other and positioned so that when the plates are closed together an opening in the form of a circle only slightly larger than the cross section of the body of a conventional fire hydrant and smaller than the enlarged cap of such fire hydrant is formed. A bail in the shape of an inverted V formed of steel rod or the like rigidly attaches to the plate having the larger opening so that the apex of the V is directly above the center of the circular opening with the attachment points of the bail being on an extended diameter of the circle.