Radiator Vent Hose

[jaydv]

Small leak just under the clamp in my reservoir to radiator vent hose. Probably need to replace the whole thing.

Anyone know about these hose clamps? How to remove them? Can they be reused? How to reattach them? Special tool needed or just crimp them?

Thanks!

[Opie55]

You can undo them with a screwdriver and lift the band up off the little tabs. They are not reusable. You need a special tool to crimp them. Most people just use the old-fashioned kind of clamp to replace them. If you like the cleaner look of those they are readily available. I have not had to replace any yet, but I'm OCD enough that I'd probably get the tool.

[Luftpost]

I bought one of these kits a while back.

L

[TGrits10]

Originally Posted by Opie55

They are not reusable. You need a special tool to crimp them. Most people just use the old-fashioned kind of clamp to replace them.

One reason I went with traditional worm-gear clamps when replacing a bunch of leaky connections was the access. Some places there's no way you'd ever get the crimping tool in there, but you can line up the screw and snake a screwdriver in.


...that and I had whole bin of the clamps on the shelf already

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by TGrits10

One reason I went with traditional worm-gear clamps when replacing a bunch of leaky connections was the access. Some places there's no way you'd ever get the crimping tool in there, but you can line up the screw and snake a screwdriver in.


...that and I had whole bin of the clamps on the shelf already

Yeah, I ran into that issue recently on tie rid boot clamps on a E 5-series wagon. I figured they must make side clamping hose pliers, but I didn't find one online.

[SWFLf10]

Originally Posted by Opie55

Yeah, I ran into that issue recently on tie rid boot clamps on a E 5-series wagon. I figured they must make side clamping hose pliers, but I didn't find one online.

I ran into that on my f gen 5-series as well. Because it’s not used to contain pressure like a coolant line, I opted to just buy end nipper pliers and file the sharp edge off. Worked wonderfully for me for the clamps on the tie rods.

I wouldn’t suggest using anything other than the actual tool for an application such as a coolant or oil line though.

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

I ran into that on my f gen 5-series as well. Because it’s not used to contain pressure like a coolant line, I opted to just buy end nipper pliers and file the sharp edge off. Worked wonderfully for me for the clamps on the tie rods.

I wouldn’t suggest using anything other than the actual tool for an application such as a coolant or oil line though.

Exactly what I did!