Radiator hose clamps

joe.manfre@me.com

joe.manfre@me.com

Junior Member
I changed all my hoses and ordered the era specific old style clamps from Snyders.
The clamp has a screw and square nut to tighten.

Has anyone had any trouble getting these clamps to tighten before reaching a point of stripping them?

I have two clamps that are close to becoming over tightened and still have a small leak.

The clamps are on straight and not on an angle. Hose pipe connections are clean and smooth. I just think the clamp is not doing the job.

Should I toss them and put regular modern clamps on?
 
If you are saying that the clamp has "bottomed out" and its still not tight on the hose, then yes had the same issue. Just barely tight enough to keep from leaking. Those clamps are just a tiny bit too large for the hose.
Joe B
 
Hi thanks for your response. The claim is not bottomed out. The screw is getting so tight that it is stripping. While typing this I am thinking I should change the screw and nut.
 
I have used a small amount of grease on the inside of the hose will help stop a small leak, this worked for me. I also heard, but haven't tried it, using a modern clamp first, then once it seats well, remove it and reinstall the original clamp with a little grease on the hose.
Rusty Nelson
 
I find that it's best to tighten the clamp just to what would seem to be as far as you should go. Water still leaking sightly???? If you've also replaced the hoses, this is common. It usually is rectified by running the car for 5-10 minutes. As soon as the engine is warm, you'll find you can get another turn on those clamp screws to stop the leak. (a little grease rubbed around the inside edges of the hose helps as well). If your hoses are old and you can't get enough on the clamp screws without stripping them, it's probably time for new hoses.
 
I've had a couple of sets of those supposed "original" style clamps to be, as Joe has found, less than stellar. I've stripped them too. Perhaps made of a slightly thinner material or less precise fit screw/nut combo than the real original clamps. If you don't mind the look, a good high quality stainless steel worm screw clamp, such as you'd get from an auto parts store (not the crap you get from from the DIY store), will serve you best. Or you could try replacing the screws and square nuts, keeping in mind that you may be trying to put good SAE fasteners into a clamp intended for slightly smaller metric-sized fasteners.

When I install hoses, especially new ones, I put a thin layer of Armor-All both inside and outside. Seems to help things slide and install better. I'd beware of grease, typically petroleum products and rubber hoses don't play together well.
 
Ive had the same issue. the product is a bit flimsy. Prob made overseas.


Here is a business opportunity for someone to make quality clamps.


any takers? The new clamps just look all wrong..........
 
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If you go the grease route, use rubber grease which is formulated for use with rubber. An internet search will find the rubber grease.
 
Permatex #2 non-hardening, are your clamps square, are you over tightening the clamps. In a non pressurized system you would think not much of a chance for leaks. I had been driving my A for weeks after installing new hoses while under adjusting the steering box drip drip what the heck, snugged one clamp a turn or two stop that crap. The new hoses need to fit tight on fittings like pushing your guts to get them over the bumps on your fittings, new rubber can be made more pliable by soaking them in hot water.
 
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