Ok, so I feel kind of guilty every time I use a standard parts store worm gear hose clamp on a nicer car.
I did a search here and found 5 pages of threads on hose clamp pliers, but nothing about hose clamps themselves.
I did see a few brands mentioned - Lawson, Wurth, Norma, and Breeze.
Anyone have any input? I realize that I could go to all AN fittings, but I'm thinking there has to be a happy medium between stainless braided line and crappy parts store worm gear clamps.
Also, what do you normally use for smaller hoses? Example, I just installed a Y fitting on some 5/16" fuel hose. I used worm gear clamps, but I'm thinking spring clamps would work better - not as bulky.
Using the original spec? It depends. Some are quite decent, some (cheap ones) are not. Some (the wire type that cut into the hose) are a positive menace.
The constant tension types seem to be o.k. but they are made of spring steel and can corrode.
Personally, if in doubt I always replace hose clips with genuine “Jubilee” clips. They were the original makers, and still make the best I reckon. There are a variety of styles (including heavy duty) and materials (including stainless) available. I am in the U.K. where they’re made though, but suspect they’re available in the U.S.
Terry’s or Norma seem to be almost as good, but don’t offer the variety.
I keep about 10 different sizes in zinc plated, plus the sizes for British Gas hose in stainless, which I often need. Cost isn’t great but the convenience of having them is fantastic!
Jubilee also offer some stuff called “Multiband” which is basically a roll of the clip material that you can cut to any length and use with a separate clamp. This is great for getting you out of trouble and I have a small roll of it in my road box!
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Never had any issues with constant tension clamps such as these:
I have had issues with worm clamps, especially with smaller hoses and plastic fittings.
That looks like it would be better at accommodating to expansion and shrinkage due to warming up and cooling down
regular clamps seem to cut into the hose and then later aren't as tight after the machine cools down
Using the original spec? It depends. Some are quite decent, some (cheap ones) are not. Some (the wire type that cut into the hose) are a positive menace.
The constant tension types seem to be o.k. but they are made of spring steel and can corrode.
Personally, if in doubt I always replace hose clips with genuine “Jubilee” clips. They were the original makers, and still make the best I reckon. There are a variety of styles (including heavy duty) and materials (including stainless) available. I am in the U.K. where they’re made though, but suspect they’re available in the U.S.
Terry’s or Norma seem to be almost as good, but don’t offer the variety.
I keep about 10 different sizes in zinc plated, plus the sizes for British Gas hose in stainless, which I often need. Cost isn’t great but the convenience of having them is fantastic!
Jubilee also offer some stuff called “Multiband” which is basically a roll of the clip material that you can cut to any length and use with a separate clamp. This is great for getting you out of trouble and I have a small roll of it in my road box!
The very first one on the left is the style I see on most of my BMW hose clamps
Never had any issues with constant tension clamps such as these:
I have had issues with worm clamps, especially with smaller hoses and plastic fittings.
Second that ! I have a selection of small (1/4" ID) to very small of this style. The ones I have are very light duty because they are used on small engines with gravity fed fuel supply.
These seem to be the "industry standard" on cars these days, even on cooling systems
(now 21 psi ?).
Segue - On small engine that still use English sized fittings, the 1/4" ID fuel hose actually has a smaller OD than standard automotive hose
(7/16" instead of 1/2" ?). The above clamps do NOT have a wide range of proper fitment which is why I have multiple sizes.
Personally, if in doubt I always replace hose clips with genuine “Jubilee” clips. They were the original makers, and still make the best I reckon. There are a variety of styles (including heavy duty) and materials (including stainless) available. I am in the U.K. where they’re made though, but suspect they’re available in the U.S.
Jubilee is used as a generic term for "worm gear clamp" through out the U.K (and countries that were formerly part of the U.K.) Like Kleenex instead of facial tissue.
You would be hard pressed to find genuine Jubilee in the US !
I would love to use oetiker clamps everywhere because they look so clean and do the best job... But they are so sensitive to the size and I've never managed to find a good stock of them at an affordable price point. I'm sure they're great in a factory where they know exactly what they'll need and where but in the real world, good luck finding them in the sizes you need which kind of sucks if you ever need to replace them which is pretty much every time.
If I could just buy like a big case of like 100 every size up to a steering rack boot size for like $10, I'd be all over them. More likely I end up having to order the specific one from the manufacturer for $10 for that single clamp.
You can also,get a tool that uses safety wire to make a clamp. They are nice but don't use them in a place that you may need to remove/replace often
Those Clamprite tools are really neat but I never could quite get the hang of them. It had to endlessly consult the instructions it took me forever to clamp a hose.
I buy my ABA's from Ultimate Garage.
One thing that's clever about the larger diameter clamps is that they're designed with a solid band. The worm drive can never cut into the hose. BMW Airheads use this type of clamp on the intake system for the carbs. If interested take a look at the ABA originals on this page.
Thanks for posting that.
With 8 mm rubber hose, OD of 14 mm, looks like I need ABA's Mini Clamp #13 to start (ID of 12.5 - 14mm). They're $15 for a pack of 10, which sounds reasonable to me.
OE or constant tension myself. The bog standard hardware store worm clamps work but always struck me as looking 'hackish'. They tent to cut or squash since most guys crank the hell out of them and of course make sure you buy ones that are two sizes too big and leave 3 inches of extra band hanging out. Also interesting is they can be labelled as stainless but only the buckle can be stainless while the band is plain steel which rots pretty quick around here.
For hose clamps I go to Pick-N-Pull and head over to the Mercedes/BMW isles. Yep, I use 'used' hose clamps! The high end European cars are loaded with them in every size. One time they charged me 25 cents apiece and another time they just waved me through! They don't lose any clamping force being used and they have louvered slots and beaded edges so they are not easily stripped.
They have the sizes marked on them too.
Compare the European clamps to generic parts store clamps and you can easily see the difference. Sharp edges on the parts store clamps as opposed to the beaded edges on the European clamps. Punched slots as opposed to louvered slots. Notice they're much thinner too. Far superior to parts store clamps and the price is right!
For fuel lines I always use fuel injection clamps.
Never had any issues with constant tension clamps such as these:
I have had issues with worm clamps, especially with smaller hoses and plastic fittings.
I like these as well BUT how the hell do you get them to "lock". EVERY time I try and open them so that the little tab goes in the slot I can never get them to stay open, and then they slam shut and my finger is always near and gets wacked.
Or I try and open them and the little tab doesn't go in the slot either because it's too high or too low... There has to be a way of easily opening and keeping them in the open position? Unless I'm overlooking something super simple.
Thanks,
-Nigel
I like these as well BUT how the hell do you get them to "lock". EVERY time I try and open them so that the little tab goes in the slot I can never get them to stay open, and then they slam shut and my finger is always near and gets wacked.
Or I try and open them and the little tab doesn't go in the slot either because it's too high or too low... There has to be a way of easily opening and keeping them in the open position? Unless I'm overlooking something super simple.
Thanks,
-Nigel
Google spring hose clamp pliers or flexible hose clamp pliers
I would love to use oetiker clamps everywhere because they look so clean and do the best job... But they are so sensitive to the size and I've never managed to find a good stock of them at an affordable price point. I'm sure they're great in a factory where they know exactly what they'll need and where but in the real world, good luck finding them in the sizes you need which kind of sucks if you ever need to replace them which is pretty much every time.
If I could just buy like a big case of like 100 every size up to a steering rack boot size for like $10, I'd be all over them. More likely I end up having to order the specific one from the manufacturer for $10 for that single clamp.
Check Amazon