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Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:17 pm

I can't believe I didn't notice this, but my hose rubbed on the axle and scarred it pretty good......

This is the hose shown in the Bentley....

another shot of the hose....

It's not leaking but doesn't look like I want to ignore it for long. It's a hose that comes from the front heat exchanger (Heater, I guess). I have a heater shut-off valve installed on the other hose that goes to the heat exchanger that I got from Terry Kay. It is 5/8" heater hose.
My question; is there a way to fix this hose without draining the whole system, replacing it and re-filling the system.
Thanks in advance for any comments!

Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:50 pm

OH Hey! It just occurred to me that I should be able to just pinch the hose on either sides and install a splice/coupler.??

Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:12 pm

Vanagator wrote: OH Hey! It just occurred to me that I should be able to just pinch the hose on either sides and install a splice/coupler.??

Depending on where the shut off valve is installed, maybe only pinch one hose?
If hose is in good shape, why not?

I had the same thing happen with a fairly new heater hose.
I was lazy and shunted in a piece of 1/2" copper
pipe. (double clamped). Would suggest you buy a proper plastic part.
Your FLAPS should have a "Help" type part or similar.

Neil.

Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:52 pm

Don't ignore it. I've gone through 2 coolant hoses that way. Both left me on the side of the road.

Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:41 pm

So how many are looking under their vans now. 😀
To the OP a slice as suggested should do the trick. It's done all the time.

Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:03 am

Well the hose is 5 years old now and looks to be still in good shape.
I will go ahead and put in a coupler where it rubbed raw.
Hey everybody make sure you look under you van and make sure your not rubbing!
Thanks....

Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:51 am

Happened to me twice. Each hose. Plastic splice and a few minutes crawling around under the van. The second time a tried the rescue tape to see how it worked. Took a few tries to get enough on there, then it held well. Lasted for an oil change, taking the guys at SAH by surprise. Everyone impressed by the self sealing tape, so good to have some when on the road.

Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:25 am

Call me paranoid, but I generally use brass fittings for such applications:

Especially considering the heat/cold cycles of these hoses & fittings, and the impact of a failure, I prefer the brass over a cheap plastic part of unknown quality ...

Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:42 am

wouldn't be easier to replace it with a longer hose, run it on top of the larger hose and tie it there?

Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:25 am

Jeffrey Lee wrote: Call me paranoid, but I generally use brass fittings for such applications:

Especially considering the heat/cold cycles of these hoses & fittings, and the impact of a failure, I prefer the brass over a cheap plastic part of unknown quality ...

I had the exact same rubbing on NEW heater hose that I installed :oops:

I repaired it with a brass fitting rather than plastic. Pinched off both side, cut and inserted the coupler and clamped. Then I repositioned the hose so that won't happen again!

Dave

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:08 pm

hey... does anyone have any practical ideas of how to pinch the hose on either side of the coupler, if you don't have proper hose clamps??
I would rather not lose a bunch of fluid.....

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:14 pm

^^^ Couple of vice grips will work...(needle nose is your best bet).

- Dave

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:20 pm

Right on, I have one, I could probably scrounge up a second.....

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:26 pm

Harbor freight sell cheap but effective hose pinchers. Yes Vicegrips will work, but I like to use something to protect the hose from the teeth on the jaws.

It is really not a big deal to drain the system into a clean bucket and then reuse the coolant.

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:50 pm

Vice grips and two pieces of wood squeezing the hose.

A assortment of hose barb splices for each size hose in the system and the hose clamps should be part of your onboard kit.

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:25 pm

Quote: Vice grips and two pieces of wood squeezing the hose.

A assortment of hose barb splices for each size hose in the system and the hose clamps should be part of your onboard kit.

yep that's what I was thinking good idea...

Quote: Harbor freight sell cheap but effective hose pinchers. Yes Vicegrips will work, but I like to use something to protect the hose from the teeth on the jaws.

It is really not a big deal to drain the system into a clean bucket and then reuse the coolant.

no Harbor Freight down here in Mexico! I did see a Mexican set but cheaped out....I'll have that clean bucket ready though. Also, I thought about slipping a used piece of hose over the vice grips for protection...

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:53 pm

Steve M. wrote: Vice grips and two pieces of wood squeezing the hose.

A assortment of hose barb splices for each size hose in the system and the hose clamps should be part of your onboard kit.

^^ This ^^

If using a ViseGrips, I suggest protecting the rubber hose from the jaws by using a short section of 1/2-inch-diameter wooden dowel, split lengthwise to form two half-round sections.

Here are a few more tools to carry onboard, including a few home made custom ones:

http://campwestfalia.com/emergency-board-vanagon-tool-kit/

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:59 pm

Quote: If using a ViseGrips, I suggest protecting the rubber hose from the jaws by using a short section of 1/2-inch-diameter wooden dowel, split lengthwise to form two half-round sections.
Excellent idea, thanks!