Tip on use of hose clamps

[DaveW]

I posted this on an RX7 forum and thought it might be useful here.
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I have found that using a light coating of silicon grease between the hose and the hose clamp minimizes the uneven tightening issue one often gets and makes getting a leak-free joint MUCH easier. With the silicon grease one also does not have to tighten the clamp nearly as much to get a leak-free joint as w/o it. The silicon lets the clamp slide over the hose while tightening and minimizes the hose getting "bunched up" near the clamp overlap.

Repeated hose R&R with no lube was a recipe for damaged hoses and leaks. Since using the lube, they last essentially for ever.
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[Jnovak]

Thanks Dave! I never knew this!

[EricP]

Yeah, thx. I have been using a bit on the inside so the hose will release easier but hadn’t considered outside.

[DaveW]

Yeah, thx. I have been using a bit on the inside so the hose will release easier but hadn’t considered outside.

I always use some light-weight rubber lube (eventually absorbs and dries) on the inside to slide the hoses on easier. I don't use silicon lube on the inside because that might want to make the hose slide on the tube after installation.

[Rick Kirchner]

That's a great tip. I've also found for hose clamps that are in really hard to get at locations, the best items to use are the OEM spring clamps we all love to hate.

I use those on the connections between the pump and pan. 13 years now and not a single drip. It's almost guaranteed that if you have a leak in one of those connections the motor's coming out.....

[BTennessen]

Another tip is go down to your local pull-a-part or equivalent salvage yard and look for old Mercedes, ideally 80's vintage. Each car uses a ton of hose clamps and they're really nice clamps with stamped, instead of cut, teeth so they don't chew up your cables.

Give them a quick clean in boiling water with simple green or purple power added.

[924RACR]

For inside lube on install, I usually give a spritz with a spray bottle I have always handy filled with water with just a tiny bit of dish soap - kept for finding air leaks, nails in tires, etc etc... dries out quickly, hardly after the hose goes on, and won't help the hose come off later (for better and for worse!)...

Interested to try the external lube idea...

[billtebbutt]

Another tip is go down to your local pull-a-part or equivalent salvage yard and look for old Mercedes, ideally 80's vintage. Each car uses a ton of hose clamps and they're really nice clamps with stamped, instead of cut, teeth so they don't chew up your cables.

Give them a quick clean in boiling water with simple green or purple power added.

I'm not sure of the brand you'd find on an old Merc, but I have given up using "banded" clamps. My RF90 came with a German brand of clamp, Norma, and they have the stamped teeth. So, no need for an inner band, no issues getting a tight fit quickly. And they have a thinner than normal band on them, so they fit in tight spots better.... I will be buying more of those in the future!

cheers,
BT

[924RACR]

I'm not sure of the brand you'd find on an old Merc, but I have given up using "banded" clamps. My RF90 came with a German brand of clamp, Norma, and they have the stamped teeth. So, no need for an inner band, no issues getting a tight fit quickly. And they have a thinner than normal band on them, so they fit in tight spots better.... I will be buying more of those in the future!

cheers,
BT

Indeed, and I've always liked Bel-Metric for all the weird metric automotive stuff, including NORMA clamps:
https://www.belmetric.com/norma-torr...amps-c-15_145/

[DaveW]

Another tip is go down to your local pull-a-part or equivalent salvage yard and look for old Mercedes, ideally 80's vintage. Each car uses a ton of hose clamps and they're really nice clamps with stamped, instead of cut, teeth so they don't chew up your cables...

I'm not sure of the brand you'd find on an old Merc, but I have given up using "banded" clamps. My RF90 came with a German brand of clamp, Norma, and they have the stamped teeth. So, no need for an inner band, no issues getting a tight fit quickly. And they have a thinner than normal band on them, so they fit in tight spots better.... I will be buying more of those in the future!...

I use hose clamps with a smooth inner surface (the stamped threads on the band do not go all the way through the band), but I still had issues with the hose bunching up at the overlap. The silicon grease minimized that issue. Link: https://www.mcmaster.com/smooth-band.../hex-size~7mm/

[billtebbutt]

Indeed, and I've always liked Bel-Metric for all the weird metric automotive stuff, including NORMA clamps:
https://www.belmetric.com/norma-torr...amps-c-15_145/

Just put an order in with these guys. Fast. efficient, and a whole lot of metric stuff I never knew i needed! Thanks for the recommendation!

bt