Hose clamps
 

I recently drained and changed the coolant on my 06 HHR. I replaced the factory hose clamps with stainless steel band clamps. Another facebook HHR owner has told me that I shouldnt use the stainless clamps because over time they will crack the plastic radiator hose connections. The reason stated was that they put uneven pressure because of the tightening screw. Before I undo what I did I would like to know other opinions from the long time HHR owners here. Thanks

I still have original clamps and hoses.

Oh my, another one of those Facebook opinions.
Honestly. Why would you think that it puts uneven pressure because of the screw ? Both designs are circular type hose clamps. Unless you're over tightening it, I wouldn't worry. I've replaced many clamps over the years on various things. Just don't tighten it so much to where the rubber pokes through those little slits in the metal band.

Ditto...

Just had a pressure test done a few days ago, too, no issues found.

I’ve got new hoses , just have to wait till there’s time in my schedule.
And come to think of it , FMG is right, don’t over tighten the gear clamp.

You want a worm gear hose clamp like this:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a488cb35ca.jpg
Not the common ones you find in hardware stores:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...1954d61673.jpg
If you can find them.

They can be over tightened. There are torque specs for them.

Their job is to keep the hose from going over the hump more than sealing the hose.

Everything thing has a torque value. If you know what your doing just tighten it. "Don't worry, be happy".
I think your off base with the idea the clamps job is to prevent slippage more than not sealing the hose to stop leaks.

Sorry.

I've been using those common hardware ones for many years on various vehicles and never had a problem at all.

Just use common sense and don't be ham-fisted with the tools.

Now, I once was told by a cousin of a guy that I worked with, that said he knew of a mechanics sister that had told him that the worm screw clamps had to be installed the right way around - ie: the screw head had to be either pointing to the drivers side, or to the front of the vehicle, depending on the orientation of the hose. I haven't found any opinion to the contrary, so I gather it must be true. ;)

Yeah I think you have to put them on when the outside temperature is between 80 and 90 degrees too ;)

:thumb:

Anyone remember the "tower clamps" used long ago ? They were designed to pull a true circle with even pressure.

Cat Man- I have those type clamps on my Zero Turn Mower when I converted the air filter to the Donaldson 2 stage system.. They can easily be found on eBay.

If using these clamps sometimes I will wrap electrical tape around the clamp area first. It prevents the clamp from digging into the rubber of the hose.

Hey Whopper, I think I know that guy. :roflol:

Tower Clamps- I remember them. Galvanized steel . Back in the day ,when they were rusted, you got a long screwdriver, put through it and twist like heck. It'll come apart ... But I did use them on my 69 GMC van last year...John

Tower clamps were a very good idea.
Point the bolt where you wanted it and tighten.
How many I tried to save when loosening them to reuse.
The square nut was always rusted.
Didn't use a rust bust like Kroil, only used the miracle fluid. WD40.

John- Yep, that's them.. Very important for correct resto of that era..

Cat Man- Yep they were great till ya needed to remove them... LOL
I think Kroil would have done the trick on them.

And I have used electrical tape on a hose prior to adding a cheap worm drive clamp too..

What bugs me about hose clamps in general is when I have to remove one and can't for the life of me figure out how the previous guy tightened it when I can't get any tool on it from any angle.


Like... How the @*&#$ did this guy put this thing on here.

I like to hide the worm drive. Makes for a cleaner look, just seeing the solid band, :thumb:& I cut off the excess so that is gone from sight as well.

You can buy plastic/rubber caps that go over the end of the clamp too.
Clamp Safety Caps - Ideal Tridon

Cat Man- I enjoy sizing the Stainless clamps I use. When I do a final fit & it is tightened, there is no room for a tab cover.. I might be a lil OC about things like this.. :nuts: (Help...)

Sizing? You mean you don't daisy-chain several too-small clamps together to do the job? ;)

3 pages, 23 posts! We must be really bored.:corny:

I'm more bored than you I think. ;)

No. I think we are having a good discussion on a simple thing.
How many people chime in and don't their A$$ from their elbow ?
Education is a wonderful thing.

Whopper- Nope, haven't done that since I was a kid & was in a pinch, till I could get the correct size clamp.. But it worked, looked like crap tho..

I worked with a guy that came from South America (yes he was a legal US citizen). He would say "What would you do in the jungle ?" Gots to do, what you gots to do.
When you have to clamp a 5" or 6" air to air intercooler pipe find something and make it work.

I've had to do that after a charge air hose come loose on the '07 Pete with a C-15 550 that I drive....John

Worked on many of them.
Thanks.
P.S. Was that a software update from a 475 that you had to pay for from the dealer ?
Also I'm glad you stated C15 other than the 3406E.

No, It was born a 550. We got the truck 5 years ago with 400,000 miles Now it has 889,000. I put almost 1/2 a million on it. John

You can contact Cat when it reaches 1 million miles and get a official cat certified certificate.
Had one customer where I worked that got one.
He had a Pete with a 3406B ATAAC engine.

I forgot to say we overhauled it with a Cat Platinum kit at 600,000 due to blown head gasket. It has the two turbo's and the annoying actuators. To bad it's not a 6NZ.. I'd rather drive a Cat than a Cumapart or a drippy Detriot any day . Love the torque...John

In my opinion the best Cat engines were the 400 WJAC and then the 425 WJAC. Cat use to have a red head gasket that never failed. When you did a rebuild the red one was no longer available, then head gasket problems showed up.
I will agree with you also about the 6NZ engine.
Long story short. Cat use to paint their truck engines white and later yellow. I had a guy swear that the white ones ran better than the yellow ones.

I remember the white ones-1673 &1693 in the 60's-70's