Some technical experience needed please
Discussion
I have a 1977 Maserati with a damaged hose near the thermostat housing.
I have rotated the leaking hose which is working ok, for now. But I do want to change the hose. The hose (internal diameter roughly 40mm) joins two alloy pipes. To remove one of these components would involve several gasket replacements, so I am wondering if there is such a thing as rubber hose that compresses lengthways? The gap between the 2 pipes is quite small and I can't imagine that warming up a normal rubber hose would be viable, and I think that this is probably why there is the damage to the existing hose, as a mechanic has struggled to get the hose to fit.
The hose is about 85mm long. I haven't cut the old hose off yet before I find out about possible solutions.
Is there a technique/product to help me with this please?
many thanks
I have rotated the leaking hose which is working ok, for now. But I do want to change the hose. The hose (internal diameter roughly 40mm) joins two alloy pipes. To remove one of these components would involve several gasket replacements, so I am wondering if there is such a thing as rubber hose that compresses lengthways? The gap between the 2 pipes is quite small and I can't imagine that warming up a normal rubber hose would be viable, and I think that this is probably why there is the damage to the existing hose, as a mechanic has struggled to get the hose to fit.
The hose is about 85mm long. I haven't cut the old hose off yet before I find out about possible solutions.
Is there a technique/product to help me with this please?
many thanks
Get a short piece of metal tube, 40mm external. Cover it in washing up liquid. Push a bit of hose over each end, push them together to meet in the middle. Put this lot in the gap you need to fill with hose. Pull the hoses apart and fit them where they need to go, jubilee clips everywhere.
Basically make a bit of expanding hose by having a rigid bit in the middle.
Basically make a bit of expanding hose by having a rigid bit in the middle.
The picture of the part on its own is helpful - the lower leg the short hose seats on is actually quite long.
But all you really do to effect a seal is to engage with it enough to get the jubilee clip fully tightened, outside the cast beading
So - other than the brute force and lubricant recommendations above, which I'd agree with, you may not need a full 85 mm of hose at all - look at the hose as it currently stands and picture cutting off the excess beyond say 2-3mm outside where the jubilee clips can fully-bear; it might be that 75, or even 72mm is enough - and that will be a lot easier to work into place - lube, slide onto long leg, pull back onto short return on the piece you pictured. Buy say 300mm of new hose and have a couple of goes, would be my approach.
Do let us know how you get on!
But all you really do to effect a seal is to engage with it enough to get the jubilee clip fully tightened, outside the cast beading
So - other than the brute force and lubricant recommendations above, which I'd agree with, you may not need a full 85 mm of hose at all - look at the hose as it currently stands and picture cutting off the excess beyond say 2-3mm outside where the jubilee clips can fully-bear; it might be that 75, or even 72mm is enough - and that will be a lot easier to work into place - lube, slide onto long leg, pull back onto short return on the piece you pictured. Buy say 300mm of new hose and have a couple of goes, would be my approach.
Do let us know how you get on!
It just got worse!
I thought; ‘This sounds doable from the replies received”. So I cut the pipe in half and discovered that the gap is roughly 10 mm across!!
I now have about 4 cm of decent hose that I could use to bridge the gap with several jubilee clips on either side however, this doesn’t feel like the perfect solution.
I thought; ‘This sounds doable from the replies received”. So I cut the pipe in half and discovered that the gap is roughly 10 mm across!!
I now have about 4 cm of decent hose that I could use to bridge the gap with several jubilee clips on either side however, this doesn’t feel like the perfect solution.
belfry said:
It just got worse!
I thought; ‘This sounds doable from the replies received”. So I cut the pipe in half and discovered that the gap is roughly 10 mm across!!
I now have about 4 cm of decent hose that I could use to bridge the gap with several jubilee clips on either side however, this doesn’t feel like the perfect solution.
I'd just do it properly and take it all apart, I know you said the gaskets are hard to find but how hard? I've spent far too long on jobs faffing around cutting my hands to bits to take short cuts on stuff like this any more. It makes me wonder why they didn't just join those sections together with a flange/seal and bolts rather than leave a 10mm gap! Is it really supposed to have a bit of hose there??I thought; ‘This sounds doable from the replies received”. So I cut the pipe in half and discovered that the gap is roughly 10 mm across!!
I now have about 4 cm of decent hose that I could use to bridge the gap with several jubilee clips on either side however, this doesn’t feel like the perfect solution.
The bit of spigot we can see there looks pretty scabby - I suspect you'll struggle to get that to seal. Really the right approach will be to dismantle, clean the sealing faces up and reassemble.
If you're determined not to dismantle anything, is there enough space on the long side to cut that back a centimeter or so to give enough space to stretch a hose onto it and then push down far enough to clear the other side? Concertina hoses do exist, but they all need a straight section to clamp and 1cm is nowhere enough space for that.
If you're determined not to dismantle anything, is there enough space on the long side to cut that back a centimeter or so to give enough space to stretch a hose onto it and then push down far enough to clear the other side? Concertina hoses do exist, but they all need a straight section to clamp and 1cm is nowhere enough space for that.
stevieturbo said:
As already said...it is doable with some decent silicone hose. If need be, cut back one side of the metal to allow a little more room.
Or just take it all apart ?
This is the solution I’d try. As for gaskets, I’m sure there are companies than can make gaskets to spec. The only problem is cost and lead time. I haven’t got any links to hand, but 10 mins Googling should give you a few options for made to measure gaskets.Or just take it all apart ?
Edited to add; really cheap washing up liquid as a lubricant will help plenty.
Belfry,
I think the manufacturers anticipated this. The left side metal pipe is long enough to push a hose onto far enough to allow the other end to slip between the two metal ends. Lubricate with washing up liquid. Then you can pull the hose back onto the second end. Hose clips can be opened and put around the hose ends after the hose is in place.
The post above is correct in that you should diligently clean those metal ends before trying this, to make it possible, let alone get a good seal. A small file and some wire wool will help, but prevent the filings and wool residue from getting into the pipe, with duct tape across the openings. Aim for a semi-polished finish - labourious, but will avoid dismantling!
John
I think the manufacturers anticipated this. The left side metal pipe is long enough to push a hose onto far enough to allow the other end to slip between the two metal ends. Lubricate with washing up liquid. Then you can pull the hose back onto the second end. Hose clips can be opened and put around the hose ends after the hose is in place.
The post above is correct in that you should diligently clean those metal ends before trying this, to make it possible, let alone get a good seal. A small file and some wire wool will help, but prevent the filings and wool residue from getting into the pipe, with duct tape across the openings. Aim for a semi-polished finish - labourious, but will avoid dismantling!
John
105.4 said:
This is the solution I’d try. As for gaskets, I’m sure there are companies than can make gaskets to spec. The only problem is cost and lead time. I haven’t got any links to hand, but 10 mins Googling should give you a few options for made to measure gaskets.
Edited to add; really cheap washing up liquid as a lubricant will help plenty.
Unless there is something special about the gaskets....which at 1977 I doubt it. Gasket paper is cheap, and scissors/knives are readily available.Edited to add; really cheap washing up liquid as a lubricant will help plenty.
stevieturbo said:
Unless there is something special about the gaskets....which at 1977 I doubt it. Gasket paper is cheap, and scissors/knives are readily available.
When I’ve looked into it before, it was for cork / rubber sump gaskets as I really don’t like using sealant on sumps.But for a thermostat housing, yes, I agree, decent gasket paper or even a cornflake box would probably suffice.
Huff said:
Notwithstanding what I already suggested - if you need or want to drive it meanwhile - Kraken self-amalgamating silicone tape.
It's truly amazing stuff, and will bridge that, and hold, for full cooling system pressure, no problem...
I’ve never heard of that stuff. I’ll look into that, as it sounds like one of those useful products to have kicking around in the bottom drawer of your toolbox.It's truly amazing stuff, and will bridge that, and hold, for full cooling system pressure, no problem...
Cheers
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