hose clamps

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-05 09:48

Has anyone found a better solution for hose clamps than the standard worm gear clamps? I've been looking all over for the oem style spring clamps with no luck so far in the larger sizes. 2" is the biggest problem finding, I've rounded up a few old 1 1/2"s.
I have annoying consistent leaks because the darn things won't stay tight, and some of them are in very difficult places to reach. All my clamps are stainless, and probably made in China. I'm thinking I need to make a trip to a salvage yard and see what I can find there for oem's.

djfordmanjack · 2019-05-05 10:59

Rich, you might want to try heavy machinery equipment stuff, from CAT stuff to big rigs or even petrol industry std and the like. Might even get lucky with agricultural surplus. most all of the food industry has ss plumbing and clamps as well. For HD applications or even exhaust joints I use ss steam and acid machinery clamps. they are like a ss band with 2 loops on each end and dowels with a hex head machine thread bolt. Of course I am talking about Euro specs metric stuff, but I am sure these are used and available in different sizes and all around the world.

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-05 14:24

Nope, I didn't edit your post above. I've got too many buttons to play with now, and I just hit the 'modify' button instead of reply.
Good ideas for possible sources. In fact, right across the highway from me is a farm/ranch supply store. They always seem to have better stuff than the regular hardware stores. Also, down about a mile is a commercial industrial hose distributor/fabricator. They can make any type of hose, and I'll bet if anybody has them around here, it'll be them.
Has anyone used the T-bolt type clamps? The Chevy guys have repros available as oem replacements. I'm talking about the ones that have the screw perpendicular to the hose. Not even sure how that works, never having had one in my hand.

rmk57 · 2019-05-05 15:01

Do you mean the style on the bottom ? Iv'e only ever seen this type on the short bypass hose and heater hoses, on Fords anyway.

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-05 16:10

Yes, the type at the bottom. Not sure how they'd work anyway.......still have a screw that could loosen. I'm gonna hold out for some spring type clamps. They are not too pretty, but they are self tightening even if the hose shrinks a little with drying out. Gates makes a heat shrink type rubber clamp that I found interesting, but they are a one time usage. If you have to remove them, they need to be cut off, and they are expensive. Not good if you are on the road and blow a hole in a radiator hose. Of course, if your looking for a parts store to pick up a radiator hose............

I have no idea why the word "remove" is in blue, but it's tied to an link with a download. Hope I didn't pick up a virus somewhere. There is now one word in each of the above posts that have one word in blue and underlined tied to a weight loss download. Anybody else seeing this?
Fixed it........it was on our computer. Firefox picked up an unwanted extension. I saw an icon for it on our tool line, so just clicked "remove extension", and it went away.

djfordmanjack · 2019-05-05 16:58

everything appears normal to me.
I was talking about this type of 'Gelenkbolzenschelle' DIN 3017-3 1.4301 AISI 304

I have no idea what that is called in English. But I do know that they are German made, and they are 'tough' !

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-05 17:21

I had similar to that type on my air intake, by Spectre. Made in China crap. Threads stripped off the t-bolt. If I could find some German made ones here, I'd go with them.
Yeah, 'Gelenkbolzenschelle'..........that's what we call them here.

gasman826 · 2019-05-05 18:02

Ford used the T band clamps. I never used them twice.

John Palmer · 2019-05-05 18:42

Quote from: gasman826 on 2019-05-05 18:02
Ford used the T band clamps. I never used them twice.

Agree!

When I worked at the Ford dealership, we always replaced them with the stainless screw band clamps.

Using these screw band clamps allowed us to replace the FE "by pass" hoses, without pulling the water pumps.

thomasso · 2019-05-05 23:42

Original Ford tower clamps as on 57 Fords don't loosen but mostly a one use item. Has anyone actually gotten a stainless worm type clamp that had a stainless screw. Lots of failures over the years on snow melting/ removal equipment. Cant even seem to be able to find any made in USA anymore.

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-06 08:18

I bought the stainless ones I use at Lowe's. Not sure if they are USA made, don't think so, but none of the screws on the ones that have been on the car for 3 or 4 years show any signs of the screw rusting, so I have to think the screws are stainless as well. I just went out and checked mine. As I said, no signs of rust at all. They are magnetic, so that test is indecisive.
The worst ones I had were the ones that come with the flexible stainless hose kits. Couldn't even tighten those without the worm gear jumping the band. I could really tighten up on the ones I use from Lowe's, they just won't stay tight.

djfordmanjack · 2019-05-06 08:30

Rich, do you have a shop around your town that specializes in vintage Volkswagen ? Either VW buses, beetles or even Rabbits and Vanagons ? ( The squarish looking 1980s/1990s VW camper vans). I am sure that if you had a pro shop or speed eqpt dealer for these, that they might offer the HD clamps ( probably rather named exhaust pipe or muffler clamps).

djfordmanjack · 2019-05-06 08:37

Rich, these appear of the HD ss T bolt type I meant. good list with all applications. metric + inch dimensions, reasonably priced.

QuoteT-Bolt has a heavy duty, high strength all stainless steel design with a 1 inch stainless steel band with shoe and floating bridge, a 1/4 inch T-bolt and hardware. Designed for a wide variety of automotive, industrial and marine applications.

here is the link to the ebay shop
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-44-47-MM-1-73-1-85-IN-HD-304-STAINLESS-STEEL-T-BOLT-HOSE-CLAMP/253172574466?hash=item3af242e902:g:A~gAAOSw1VJZyAZB

RICH MUISE · 2019-05-06 14:45

I saved the link. Very little clamping range on those, so have to take some close measurements after I get my new hoses/adapters. Then I can see if he has them in the range I need. Haven't noticed a good view of the bolt. It appears to be a bolt into a barrel nut, which would be preferred over a t-bolt as the bolt/screw could be replaced.
Thank you sir!

djfordmanjack · 2019-05-06 15:27

Rich, that is exactly what I was trying to tell you all the time but was lacking the right words for. sorry.
it is not a T bolt but barrels ( what I referred to incorrectly as 'dowels') and yes you can replace the bolt of course or use a higher grade if needed. I believe you would crunch the hose together with the radiatorwater neck before the bolt, barrel nut or twin ss loops would give in.
I use these kind of clamps for mufflers to quench slotted (exhaust) tubing ends.
of course they are pretty wide and somewhat clumsy to use in tight areas.

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