Old style hose clamps......removal?

Sams '66 · 03-23-04, 09:18 AM

I have the old style tower hose clamps.....I am replacing my upper radiator hose and would like to know if there is a trick to removing the clamp without damaging the clamp.......When I remove the bolt, the clamp doesent budge?

anyone?
Thanks

03-23-04, 10:09 AM

kind of had the same problem, just carefully twisted them till they broke loose, used a screwdriver once and it did deform it a little, but was pretty much unable to tell it once it was put back on and tightened back up. Good luck........

Ron Miller · 03-23-04, 10:11 AM

Put the bolt back in as it was, and loosen it four or five rounds. With a socket on the bolt, twist it from side to side (around the hose, not along the length of the hose) using your socket and a short extension as a lever arm. This usually will open up enough play in the clamp that you can grab the hose and twist it in order to break it loose. A lot of cars used the old tower clamps in the 50's & 60's, that's the way we always broke them loose back then. May be other methods that will work as well, it so, I'm sure someone will chime in.

rlm

richscorvettes · 03-23-04, 01:02 PM

Ron's suggestion will usually work. If not, try pushing down on the "tower" itself and this will open up the clamp enough to remove it.

Rich Lagasse

Sams '66 · 03-23-04, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Miller

Put the bolt back in as it was, and loosen it four or five rounds. With a socket on the bolt, twist it from side to side (around the hose, not along the length of the hose) using your socket and a short extension as a lever arm. This usually will open up enough play in the clamp that you can grab the hose and twist it in order to break it loose. A lot of cars used the old tower clamps in the 50's & 60's, that's the way we always broke them loose back then. May be other methods that will work as well, it so, I'm sure someone will chime in.

rlm

Do you guys use the tower type? are they reliable?.......the look chessy.....like they would break easily.....

JohnZ · 03-23-04, 07:59 PM

Sam, use a 3/8" deep socket, loosen (not remove) the screw a few turns, then remove the ratchet and tap on the bottom of the socket lightly with a hammer; the business end of the socket will force the "tower" down and loosen the clamp. Repeat several times until the clamp loosens up enough to remove it from the hose.

I've found the reproduction Wittek tower clamps to be junk; Wittek made top-quality clamps, but went out of business many years ago. The currently-available reproductions are made from inferior materials and are unreliable. I only use original NOS Wittek clamps; the last set of the dated reproductions I used, three of the four clamps failed within three days.

Ron Miller · 03-23-04, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sams '66

Do you guys use the tower type? are they reliable?.......the look chessy.....like they would break easily.....

Nope, haven't used them since the worm-drive type became widely available over 20 years ago. The worm drive type in my opinion is a superior clamp to the "spring-ring" or the "tower" type used as original equipment on a lot of earlier cars, but they're not "factory correct". However, in this area, I'm more into convenience and functionality than being factory correct. Not for everyone, but it works for me.

rlm

IH2LOSE · 03-23-04, 10:32 PM

So tell me where these style clamps designed as a 1 time use clamp?

Sams '66 · 03-24-04, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH2LOSE

So tell me where these style clamps designed as a 1 time use clamp?

The date coded ones that I just installed are like JohnZ says "junk" the distort as soon as they are tightened......Is anyone making a reliable tower clamp? I am more interested in the look than being the correct date......otherwise I am just gonna use the new type clamp just so I do not have to worry about them failing.

Ron Miller · 03-24-04, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH2LOSE

So tell me where these style clamps designed as a 1 time use clamp?

Don't believe they were necessarily designed as a 1 time useage clamp, just that it's much easier to use and re-use the newer style worm-drive clamp. They are easier to loosen and re-tighten, don't protrude from the hose in tight places as far as the older tower style. Just my opinion . . .

rlm

Sams '66 · 03-24-04, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Miller

Don't believe they were necessarily designed as a 1 time useage clamp, just that it's much easier to use and re-use the newer style worm-drive clamp. They are easier to loosen and re-tighten, don't protrude from the hose in tight places as far as the older tower style. Just my opinion . . .

rlm

I am going with the new style clamps.......just for piece of mind.