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Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:23 am

I am replacing some coolant hoses and wanted to know if the clamps are ok in general to reuse.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:29 am

Stephenmarklay wrote: I am replacing some coolant hoses and wanted to know if the clamps are ok in general to reuse.

unless they is damaged, go for it. they should work fine in reuse.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:30 am

Are you talking the OEM spring type clamps ?

I reused almost all of mine. I also used the correct Wurth style smooth faced clamps elsewhere when needed.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:31 am

"Overtighten" it just a little to prove it's still good, then back it off to proper tightness.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:35 am

Sorry I should have been clear, these are the spring type clamps. I guess I was thinking metal fatigue on them.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:46 am

Stephenmarklay wrote: Sorry I should have been clear, these are the spring type clamps. I guess I was thinking metal fatigue on them.

Metal fatigue occurs from repeated cycles, hundreds of thousands, or millions of cycles. A spring clamp is cycles a few times. Often less than 10 times, it can't really "fatigue" unless its been overstretched. Metal fatigue is a "specific technical term" but it's not the right word for an overstretched thus damaged spring clamp.

I understand you want to know how you can assess if an old spring clamp is still fit for duty. I can't really 'write that' on a post other than, "does it still feel springy?" Sorry I know that's not much help. :lol: :lol: Does it have enough tension to compress into the rubber a little? Try to pull the hose off after clamped.

I've re-used them many times. I have used two spring clamps on one connection before, simply because I had two clamps.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:50 am

Fatigue isn't really much of an issue unless you abuse them. I have seen some where the tab that prevents them from opening too far has been ground off or bent down. Doing this and forcing them fully open can possibly stretch them and cause less tension.

As mentioned, go ahead and re-use them. You shouldn't have any problems.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:03 am

Thanks everyone that makes sense. Case closed :)

I will reuse the originals.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:06 am

I'm going to piggy back on this. I did my whole cooling system with the "bad" clamps before I knew any better. What would be the easiest way to swap them all out? Would it be worth doing? Sounds like a ton of trouble...

What are the "Wurth" clamps, and where can you get them?

Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:12 am

The spring clamps have stops on them which will not allow over extension. They can be reused as much as you like as long as they aren't abused.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:12 am

fFYI... I recently replace the pressurized coolant reservoir and re-use the OEM spring type clamp (the bottom one)... it leaks.. so I replace the clamp then no more leak...

I think metal fatigue on a 25 year old clamp is the cause. Clamps are cheap, it's safe to replace them now rather on the road.. the ones you didn't touch it they will be fine..

Mon Sep 12, 2016 1:15 pm

I've said this before but I'll say it again.

Intellectually I know that spring clamps are better than screw style through the heat cool cycles of a hose. They in theory just keep squeezing. The temperatures involved in a cooling system are low as far as metal temper being affected go.

But, when I was a much younger man I had some "run in's" with the US style spring clamps used as OE back in the 60's and 70's.
I had one break on me and I was "bit" many times by them.
Keep in mind these were the wire style not the flat German style.

Anyway, I developed a distaste for spring clamps and have NEVER reinstalled them if I had another option.

There is something very satisfying about twisting a screw until it is tight.

FWIW......
There is a newer screw clamp that utilizes a spring on the screw to mimic the performance of a spring clamp.
I used some of these for my fuel tank fill system when I eliminated the rubber grommets and went to steel fittings. Very nice, albeit expensive, clamps!

Constant tension clamps....

http://www.global-hose.com/silicone-hose-clamps

Dave

Mon Sep 12, 2016 2:09 pm

In certain parts of the country spring clamps are subject to rust and thus have a fairly short life. They sometimes will just outright crack and fail as well. They are sill my preferred clamp though. Each clamp only has a very narrow range where it will work correctly, if your replacement hose is thicker or thinner than the stock hose you may run into problem either getting the clamp to fit on over the thicker hose or having enough pressure to keep a leak from occurring on a thinner hose.

One trick I have used when using standard screw clamps is the cut a strip out of an old oil or antifreeze jug and use it under the clamp to keep the clamp from digging in to the hose.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 5:40 pm

Wildthings wrote: In certain parts of the country spring clamps are subject to rust and thus have a fairly short life. They sometimes will just outright crack and fail as well. They are sill my preferred clamp though. Each clamp only has a very narrow range where it will work correctly, if your replacement hose is thicker or thinner than the stock hose you may run into problem either getting the clamp to fit on over the thicker hose or having enough pressure to keep a leak from occurring on a thinner hose.

One trick I have used when using standard screw clamps is the cut a strip out of an old oil or antifreeze jug and use it under the clamp to keep the clamp from digging in to the hose.

Good thought as I am going to use the gates green stripe and I am not sure how that will work with the spring clamps.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 6:09 pm

Spring type are OK. Probably faster for factory assembly. If the last guy had a special spring clamp tool he could leave it in a position that regular pliers can't get to. Been there. Worm/screw type are pretty easy to use.

Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:28 pm

djkeev wrote: I've said this before but I'll say it again.

Intellectually I know that spring clamps are better than screw style through the heat cool cycles of a hose. They in theory just keep squeezing. The temperatures involved in a cooling system are low as far as metal temper being affected go.

But, when I was a much younger man I had some "run in's" with the US style spring clamps used as OE back in the 60's and 70's.
I had one break on me and I was "bit" many times by them.
Keep in mind these were the wire style not the flat German style.

Anyway, I developed a distaste for spring clamps and have NEVER reinstalled them if I had another option.

There is something very satisfying about twisting a screw until it is tight.

FWIW......
There is a newer screw clamp that utilizes a spring on the screw to mimic the performance of a spring clamp.
I used some of these for my fuel tank fill system when I eliminated the rubber grommets and went to steel fittings. Very nice, albeit expensive, clamps!

Constant tension clamps....

http://www.global-hose.com/silicone-hose-clamps

Dave

FWIW, I'm with Dave. I reinstalled the stock spring clamps on my van when installing new cooling hoses. I had not one, but two leaks! I didn't want to drain and refill my system so installed new tension style clamps alongnside the old and cut the old spring clamps off with a side cutter.

I live in sunny California and the clamps looked brand new. I think that a combination of new hoses and the tension the stock clamps provided was just not enough for the system pressure.

Bill

Sat Sep 24, 2016 3:40 pm

I just bought a new Toyota Prius this week and look what is holding the hoses tight!

I guess I should finally embrace the spring clamp?

Dave

Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:28 am

It looks like that clamp is designed to be setup open with the two pieces latched together holding it open, slipped over the pipe, then released like a spring? Interesting.

Sun Sep 25, 2016 12:00 pm

Metal fatigue occurs from repeated cycles, a dozen or so if the metal goes past a certain limit (for most steels, not beyond that limit, the # cycles has to approach a million for a problem to occur) - not so with Al, Mg, Ti, etc. only steel is the miracle metal

like a paper clip that you pull all the way open

do not worry about a stock clamp in good condition - unless somebody has been using it for a satanic ritual or some weird elongation fetish

Now, what if it is not a stock clamp?

- not all clamps are good for the hose, so post pics of any non-stock clamps and people willl let you know

Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:08 pm

0to60in6min wrote: fFYI... I recently replace the pressurized coolant reservoir and re-use the OEM spring type clamp (the bottom one)... it leaks.. so I replace the clamp then no more leak...

I think metal fatigue on a 25 year old clamp is the cause. Clamps are cheap, it's safe to replace them now rather on the road.. the ones you didn't touch it they will be fine..

it takes a few cycles for fatigue failure, I monkeyed around with these clamps forcing them open and forth many times, never had one fatigue fail ever. under normal,use they are not near at the strain for fatigue to set in as a problem