I hose clamp= $150.00

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: rriddle3
This thread is the first time I've ever heard anybody sing the praise of OEM spring clamps. Before, I've only seen them cussed and discussed.


I have slowly come around to believing in them over the decades.

You do need to be a bit more careful about how you install the hose and clamp with them, you can't brute force them into working. OTOH, you won't damage a hose by over tightening them either.

 

[PT1]

Yeah...press 1 for English.......

 

[Drew99GT]

I'll never use anything but the factory spring clamps. Vice grips in various sizes are your friend when working with them.

 

[rshaw125]

I had a problem with the %#@*&% from Walmart. Made in China and they were absolutely useless. I threw them all away.
I went to Lowes and bought stainless steel ones made in USA for under a $ each. Ace hardware sells good ones. More expensive tho.

 

[onion]

Quote:
This thread is the first time I've ever heard anybody sing the praise of OEM spring clamps. Before, I've only seen them cussed and discussed.


I've cussed them many a time... and replaced them on my own vehicles purely out of spite.

But after many years, I've come around, too. They're ARE kindof a pain to work with... but they work so much better. They last longer, and don't tear up the hose.

There is, however, one type of spring clamp that I will not re-use- the type that's made out of thick round wire. They're an even bigger pain to work with than the aforementioned flat spring clamps. They work ok when installed onto a new hose... but if you're re-using an old hose, you'd might as well forget about trying to get a wire clamp to seal. I throw them away and go get a worm-gear clamp.

 

[andyd]

another reluctant vote for spring clamps. Are they available aftermkt? Just messing around the other day, I repaired a stripped hose clamp screw by giving its housing a gentle squeeze.

 

[alreadygone]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
I'll never use anything but the factory spring clamps. Vice grips in various sizes are your friend when working with them.


As a professional, I'd quit if I couldn't spring for correct plier. Especially handy is the tool with 18 inches of cable between handles and actual clamp compressor. They'll function in any restricted location. Haven't used them yet, but screw down tools that compess clamp as built in screw is tightened and hold it compressed untill you release look interesting.

Bob

 

[NYEngineer]

I agree with alreadygone. I have that tool with the cable and it makes working with the spring clamps downright pleasurable.

 

[AcuraTech]

Spring clamps! Never leak, never break. Worm gear clamps are just a pain, always end up over or under tightening. Honda cars come with spring clamps OEM, and I always re-use them, even when they're 10 years old. Never had a problem with an old one.

 

[Kestas]

Spring clamps place constant pressure on the joint. This is beneficial during the winter when aluminum or plastic outlets shrink. Spring clamps can take up this slack. I've seen many posts where people complain about coolant leaks in the wintertime.

 

[03cvpi]

I'll take a spring clamp anyday. With the right pliers, they a re eay to work with. I have had a lot of trouble with flat clamps, mainly age and rust. For a screw clamp ideal is the one I have had the best luck with.

 

[NYEngineer]

Are spring clamps available in the aftermarket? I would have loved them when I was repairing standby generators. When the block heaters used to fail in the winter, all the hose joints would leak.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: rriddle3
This thread is the first time I've ever heard anybody sing the praise of OEM spring clamps. Before, I've only seen them cussed and discussed.


For a while I hid my shame of reusing stuff. Back in the 1950s or whenever I could understand if rubber hose and rust-prone clamps needed replacement every two years. The "old school" would frown upon me for "cheapening out". "It's cheap insurance" (like changing oil every 3000 miles) could also often be said.

I've never had an aftermarket hose blow on me but they seem a little thinner than OEM. Can't guess quality based on that alone but I'll keep inspecting and reusing.

That auto advice also resembles a mob mentality, like ragging on donut spare tires, which I also like the idea of and embrace.

 

[andyd]

Kestas, after dealing with cold shrinkage leaks and eroded aluminum nipples on the cooling systems of my BMWs, I started using Permatex gasket sealer, the brush on, non hardening goop. So far so good. The stuff acts as a lube too.

 

[swalve]

And how! Those spring clamps are great once you use the right tool. It's too bad there's no place in the aftermarket to get parts of OEM quality at a decent price.

 

[Alfonzy]

Thanks for all the comments gang...YES the $150 includes towing [$80] anti-freeze/flush/ additives/ NAPA clamps/$60.00 and $10 for diner at 10pm in the eve.

 

[Papa Bear]

No one has mentioned duct tape yet....