Community Forums

Civdiv99 · 05-18-2019, 06:07 PM

I like spring clamps, and I have proper tool designed to squeeze the tangs and hold in compressed status in order to work with the clamps.

What I also had was an orientation that pretty much prevented both the tool or pliers from accessing the tangs.

I also noticed the upper hose had spring clamps, and the lower hose old style worm screw clamps. I am the original owner of this coach, selected while still on National’s facility at manufacture. No idea why different clamps.

bruceh · 05-19-2019, 12:38 PM

I got this special tool to remove hose clamps. On my Jeep the lower hose was basically impossible until I got this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I haven't tried it on my motor home yet.

I agree the these clamps are better even though they can be difficult to remove.

The price has gone up since I ordered mine, tariffs maybe?

Kraft Crew · 07-05-2019, 08:53 PM

These Knipex hose clamp pliers are a quality tool to remove those spring clamps:
https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-Tools-...93BXKN6HCCSCQD

vettenuts · 07-06-2019, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roblectric

One broken bolt can turn a 20 minute job into a 3 day ordeal.

Or dropping a part and then spending a half hour looking for it.

OP, did you change the bypass hose? I thought that one was the most fun [emoji16]

akpd · 07-06-2019, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Or dropping a part and then spending a half hour looking for it.

OP, did you change the bypass hose? I thought that one was the most fun [emoji16]

Civdiv99 · 07-06-2019, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Or dropping a part and then spending a half hour looking for it.

OP, did you change the bypass hose? I thought that one was the most fun [emoji16]

I did not...

richard5933 · 07-07-2019, 05:31 AM

I'm guessing that many of those problematic clamps were installed during assembly of the engine before other components were installed. Probably were very convenient for the robot or worker putting things together. Unfortunately, the engineer that designed the assembly line didn't give enough thought to planning for future service work.

AKIQPilot · 07-07-2019, 11:47 AM

I inspect all the hoses on my two Workhorse chassis coaches at least twice per year. I carry all the hoses (OEM AC Delco) along with spring clamp pliers with me everywhere we go. The hoses on both coaches are still perfect, no bulging, no softening, no corrosion of the fittings, no leakage, no sign of failure.

The hoses on my 1984 Crew Cab Dually (454) are all original and the truck has 230,000 miles on it.

Antifreeze, brake fluid, idler pulley, serpentine belt, belt tensioner, etc. are all maintenance items that need periodic replacement. I don't see a need to replace hoses that aren't almost ready to fail.

Civdiv99 · 07-07-2019, 03:41 PM

My upper rad hose felt kinda spongy to me when I did some ac work documented in a different post.

Now I get to hope not doing the bypass hose wasn’t a mistake.

bucks2 · 07-07-2019, 08:39 PM

A dremel tool is my tool of choice for hose clamp removal. It takes just seconds to cut thru and if the old ones have been on there for 20 years..... they need replaced anyway. I keep one on the boat, one in the motorhome and one at the stick and brick. Don't buy the Harbor Freight ones, buy a real genuine Dremel. And while you're buying get that assortment of all the grinding, buffing and cutting wheels. You'd be amazed at what you can do once you have the thing.