Spring Style Hose Clamps

[djkeev]

I have heard for years that the spring style hose clamps are superior to the screw clamp style clamps because the exert a constant force through various heat/cool cycles and thus are less prone to loosening seeping.

I have stated here through the years that while I understand the science of the clamp I fail to trust them.

I have through a half Century of twisting wrenches found broken spring style clamps ...

AND

I like the feeling of gratification that comes from physically making sure they are tight.

I was working on a project over the weekend and went to remove a seeping hose and guess what?

Broken Spring clamp

Dave
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[leecat]

Yup, totally agree - everyone on here passionately hates screw clamps, but to me screw clamps = good and tight. I figure there are literally 500 things that are going to go wrong on my van before a brand-new screw clamp on a brand-new hose fails, so I use 'em everywhere.

[kamzcab86]

My cars reside in the dry southwest... spring clamps are far less apt to suffer from corrosion down here. If any clamp is difficult to "unspring" with the special tool or pliers (i.e., it's become stiff), it gets replaced to prevent complete failure while in use.

I'm the opposite: I dislike screw clamps, but use them where/when necessary, and I absolutely abhor pinch clamps.

To each their own.🍻
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[vwhammer]

I think I am going to give some of these a try that McMaster-Carr, and I am sure other places, sells.
https://www.mcmaster.com/5462k51

They have several sizes and they are stainless steel.

[joetiger]

I recently had the motor out of the syncro and replaced a few hoses and cleaned up/replaced a few pipes in the cooling system. I re-used a bunch of the spring clamps, and two of them let go as soon as the system pressurized. They appeared to have lost their tension after so many years of service. I replaced them with regular screw clamps.

Important to note that a good set of spring clamp pliers is a godsend when dealing with those buggers.
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[Jeffrey Lee]

These clamps are little more spendy, but provide the constant-tension necessary for some applications, and unlike the OE spring clamps, will accommodate a range of diameters and can be re-tightened. They're also completely sleeved, so they won't chew up your hoses like a conventional worm-gear clamp. Available in stainless steel for longer life, too.
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[11BC2]

Depends on the style of screw clamp. Most folks go for the cheapest type that chew up the rubber hose.
From what I’ve seen, the hose will fail/need replacing before a constant tension clamp fails. And why reuse a hose clamp??

[IdahoDoug]

Spring clamps are the spawn of the devil. If the hose swells slightly at the end (like, oh 99.999999% do), then even fully opening it may not get it off. Naturally it will be the one buried up high where you cant get any options. A quality screw clamp is the cure for these evil contrivances.
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[DanHoug]

personally, i like the "constant tension, constant compression" spring clamps. but when i redid my 2.1, i used Wurth Zebras throughout because i couldn't source high quality spring clamps quickly. they have a raised flange outer edge and smooth gear band that doesn't cut rubber.

a story... i toured a major AM transmitter manufacturer's plant years ago and they were showing off a 1 million kilowatt water cooled transmitter destined for the United Arab Emirates. they had intalled hardware store variety 'cheese cutter' clamps on their silicone coolant hoses and i mentioned to the engineer giving the tour they may want to replace those. he looked at me with one of those "Who the F@ck are you?" looks and i could tell nothing registered. to this day, i envision this very expensive transmitter installed in the hot UAE with a million kW of power going thru it and a conductive coolant leak.... i have a hunch they've put in a service call on this.
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[syncrodoka]

So you are saying that a rusty, decades old rotten part shouldn't be trusted?

[alaskadan]

I have both on my van. I used good condition spring clamps I got from a couple of parts vans if I had them. The other camps are decent marine grade screw clamps like the aforementioned McMaster clamps. The only ones that never seeped a little during the heat cycles and winter freezing were the spring clamps. Some of the screw ones did, nothing major. But, after a couple years of service on our roads, half highway half dirt, I mangled a couple of those screw clamps getting them off.

[markswagen]

I prefer the spring type clamps over hose clams.
On fuel lines I use stainless single ear oetiker clamps.
If you have the correct tool the spring clamps are fine, and not the death clamps some make them out to be.
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[syncrodoka]

Silicone spray makes sliding spring clamps out of place on the hose easy. If the hose is swollen and won't let go of the clamp then the hose probably needs replacement.
Old seized worm clamps are much worse to remove than neglected spring clamps.

[Busfixer]

I like spring clamps too.

Here’s a spring clamp tip for installation/removal: put the spring clamp on the fitting before installing the hose. Once you wiggle and twist the hose to reach the spring clamp (which is already past the sealing ridge), squeeze and open the spring clamp with vice grips while wiggling the hose through it. Then properly position the clamp as needed.

A very backwards way to install and remove a hose but seems to work! I’m sure I didn’t invent this method but haven’t heard it mentioned. Hope this helps! Cheers, Busfixer

[dart330]

Do any of the vendors sell a full replacement spring clamp kit? I have been searching but haven't found one.

I need to replace a coolant pipe and would like to update the clamps while I have the system open. Tired of chasing coolant leaks when it gets cold and the screw clamps need re-tightening.

I did find this document on the Old Blues Blog that lists the sizes.
http://oldbluesblog.com/files/VanagonSpringClamps.pdf
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[dobryan]

[riceye]

[DanHoug]

i just purchased a Blue Point HCP-20 spring clamp pliers off eBay to deal with these. they lock down, the jaw tips pivot so the clamp can be grabbed from any angle, and they fit the VW clamps well.

we've all been ting'd by the ear slipping off of the channel lock and whacking a finger at the speed of sound. i've gotten too old to accept the pain.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[dart330]

Thanks for pointing me to Belmetric, I had never seen these pliers before they have listed. Had been using the cable type for all of these clamps.

https://asttool.com/detail_page.php?tool_number=SCP2014

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Driving a 90 Carat since 2014

Previous Buses: 59 Westy, 60 Westy, 74 Bus, 82 Westy, 85 Westy, 87 Syncro
Checkout my Syncro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JSWhLS7jLY

[riceye]