Loosening hose clamp

[Axell]

Hi there.

The lower radiator tube is leaking from one of the ends. Looks like it has been there for many many years. I have soaked the clamp screw in wd40 but it will not budge no matter how much I try. Unfortunately it isn't hexagonal only slotted. So can't get a good ferm grip on it.
I want to break it loose and then tighten it again to see if that might help. If not a new hose would be fitted.
Any tricks to loosen hose clamps without damaging anything?
They don't look rusty.

This post was edited by Axell on 03/03/2023 at 01:36 pm.

 

[rustred]

cut it off and replace with new.

 

[marloweg]

drain it and replace hose and clamps hose look like it is rotten

 

[DaveBN]

You can open a new clamp all the way until it comes apart. Cut the old ones off and put the new
ones on, it's that simple.
Dave

 

[Stephen Newell]

I would take a sawzall and cut it off. Easier to replace the hose with new clamps.

 

[rustred]

geez i thought u said they wont budge,.. they dont look all that bad to me. i could loosen them with a big screwdriver. and yes replace the
hose also it rotten. see a picture tell the whole story.

 

[DoubleO7]

Looks like the left end is the leaker?
My bet is no amount of tightening that clamp will stop the leak.
I bet the pot metal it is on is corroded so bad it has pits and flakey oxidation on the casting and the hose is so old it won't be able to
seal.
I would cut both clamps and take the hose off and get all new parts.
Clean up the metal inlet and outlet as well as possible.
You might have to do something on the pot metal part to smooth it out.
Maybe some JB Weld buttered on nice and smooth.

 

[Eagle Beagle]

Vice-Grips?

Beagle

 

[Steve@Advance]

Can you get in with a die grinder or Dremel tool and carefully cut them?

That would be the safest way, trying to cut them with a chisel or driving a
screwdriver under could damage the neck.

And I would go ahead and replace the hose, clean the corrosion under it.

 

[Goose]

Cut them with a cutoff wheel and replace them.

 

[T.R.K.]

As bad as that hose looks, I suggest replace the hose. Just cut the clamp off.
You could try to twist the cover off the screw, It is just crimped on and it holds the screw in place, but it might damage the nipple and
then where would you be?

 

[charlie n]

Use a square shank screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. More trouble than replacing it all, but if you what
to try, why not.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

Tr another hose clamp right up close behind that one. Personally I would replace the whole thing.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Fine flat bladed screwdriver forced between the worm drive and the band should loosen things up . If you can force it in enough to disengage the threads from the grooves the entire band should be able to be punched in and loosened enough to remove .

 

[560Dennis]

Not sure what tools you have , try an impact driver .

If you got safety glasses use a dremel type cut off wheel like other suggestions .

Replace everything

Another thought was if left side is leaking cut 2 inches out of the center it might side off the hose easier.

Anyway good luck

 

[Geo-TH,In]

X2

 

[Axell]

Thanks for all your good suggestions. I did what one mentioned and used a screwdriver with square shank and a vice grip on it. That did it
Was able to tighten it slightly more. But as someone else mentioned it doesn't stop the leaking much more. I'm afraid it will strip if tightened further.

Could still continue further down the lazy path and loosen it and try squeezing some sort of rubber sealant in there. But maybe not worth the effort. I'll better buy a new hose. They are after all not expensive. This one is stiff rotten and brittle.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I kind of think you need a new hose. It's obviously old and if there has been leakage there might be corrosion damage to the neck. The neck itself may need some cleaning and or repair.

 

[Caryc]

Glad you got it fixed but here's a piece of good advice. I have two Milwaukee cordless impact drivers. One is a small 1/4" one for driving construction screws and the other one is a 3/8" one for use on larger nuts like lug nuts.

Anyway I was replacing the key switch on my 8N and I got the switch out of the dash but one screw on the back was very rusted looking and I couldn't get it out with a screw driver so I thought I'd better try something else before I messed up that screw driver slot too bad. I put a screw driver tip on that smaller impact driver and with just a touch of the trigger, that screw popped loose like magic. Normally one wouldn't think of using an impact driver on something as small as that but it sure worked. Impact drivers are a good thing. :mrgreen:

This post was edited by Caryc on 03/04/2023 at 09:07 am.

 

[M-MAN]

Looks to me like it's time for a
new hose, clamps, and probably a
new radiator. That's some serious
long term corrosion there!