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Removing an inaccessible hose clamp

Started by John Barry [CLC17027], June 06, 2019, 12:55:49 PM

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John Barry [CLC17027]

This is what happens when you retire and have time to take up projects like learn-by-doing on an antique. But I digress.

Whoever put the hose clamps on the bottom radiator hose on my '40 La Salle...well, I don't know how they did it, unless the radiator was out. The one closest to the radiator has the straight screw slot facing up about 15° off the vertical toward the driver's side--and it's positioned such that you have to get past the fan somehow to get to it. The screw is a round head machine screw, so a socket drive won't help. From underneath, since the slot faces up, you can't see it--and even with the splash pan removed, good luck getting any sort of a tool on it. It would have to be done entirely by touch, and probably have to be done left-handed in the bargain.

I'm about at the point of sacrificing it and taking a pair of snips, cutting it free. (I'd probably do likewise with the marginally-more-accessible clamp at the water pump.) But before I do so, any suggestions? Thanks.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

Dan LeBlanc

can you get a set of small vice grips on the head?
Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

John Barry [CLC17027]

Not a chance.  Can barely get an ordinary screwdriver blade into the slot given the odd angle.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

John Barry [CLC17027]

Art: is there a face palm emoji? Should have thought of the Dremel. Thanks.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

The Tassie Devil(le)

Not sure what your access is, but I made up a screw driver that is 4 foot long, out of an old trunk torsion bar, and use it a lot to access hard to reach hose clamps.

It allows me to get the shaft down past the fan and other tight spots without destroying my knuckles, and works a treat.

It even allows me to install the bottom hose clamps on my cars so that I don't have to get underneath to tighten, or undo them.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

John Barry [CLC17027]

That sounds like a fine tool to have, assuming you have a (reasonably) straight and/or unobstructed shot. Not really here, given the position of the clamp (partially obscured by the fan; screw head about 15° off vertical). I've tried reaching down with a long (~15") screwdriver, and can't quite engage the screw slot: hence going the Dremel cutoff wheel route.

That said, I'd like to see a picture of this driver for future reference. Thanks.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

Dan LeBlanc

How about one of these?
Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

John Barry [CLC17027]

Worth a shot, but I'll have to do it blindly from below and it'll be very slow since there's little maneuvering room. (I've tried using a stubby handle ratchet drive with a slot screwdriver bit already.) Even standing on the front bumper, arms aren't long enough to reach from above. Thanks for the suggestion.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

The Tassie Devil(le)

Just put out a few for comparisom.

I save all my "modified" tools for future jobs.

The one with the ring spanner attached is for Ford Distributors.   The GM one is in the trunk of my '72.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   I have a lot more.
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

John Barry [CLC17027]

<applauds ingenuity and creativity>

Am I right in assuming you know how to weld to make those special tools?
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

bcroe

I use a 2 foot long 3/8 extension, with a screwdriver or small socket on the
end.  I only use hose clamps which are compatible with these tools. 
Bruce Roe

John Barry [CLC17027]

You may rest assured that when I (a) get the existing clamps and hose off and (b) install the new hose, the hose clamps will be positioned with the fastener heads facing a direction that's relatively painless to reach. If that means from below, so be it. But I like the idea of a 2 ft socket drive extension.
John Barry (CLC 17027)
Now-retired editor/Publisher of the Valley Forge Region newsletter, The Goddess
1940 La Salle series 50 four door sedan

Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373

Yah. Just cut that baby off. You don't want to reuse an old clamp anyway.
Jeff
Jeff Rosansky
CLC #28373
1970 Coupe DeVille (Big Red)
1955 Series 62 (Baby Blue)
Dad's new 1979 Coupe DeVille

bcroe

Quote from: Jeff Rose                                         CLC #28373
You don't want to reuse an old clamp anyway.  Jeff 


Oh darn, I have 6 coffee cans full of sorted out used clamps. 

Bruce Roe

The Tassie Devil(le)

And I have three drawers full of old clamps.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   I only save the Stainless Steel ones.
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

76eldo

For future use, Harbor Freight sells a set of very long screw drivers (3 foot?) for. Dry short money.  I have used these for bottom hose clamps and installing drawer glide brackets on the inside of cabinets.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

bcroe

Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le)
And I have three drawers full of old clamps.   Bruce. >:D

PS.   I only save the Stainless Steel ones.   

Yes some of us are more expert scavengers.  In decades past it
seemed most yard parts grabbers just dropped all the bolts,
clamps, vacuum fittings, and some more stuff on the ground.  I
would throw all mine and any others handy in my tool box.  Now
I have several nicely sorted collections of so many handy bits, the
bolt collection is over a hundred 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 bins.  Bruce Roe

Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373

Don't misunderstand me.  I don't mind using an old clamp. But if it is in an impossible location I will go new because if it is corroded and breaks when I tighten it then I have to do it all over again. Been there/done that.
Jeff
Jeff Rosansky
CLC #28373
1970 Coupe DeVille (Big Red)
1955 Series 62 (Baby Blue)
Dad's new 1979 Coupe DeVille

The Tassie Devil(le)

Quote from: bcroe on June 08, 2019, 12:00:41 PM
Yes some of us are more expert scavengers.  In decades past it
seemed most yard parts grabbers just dropped all the bolts,
clamps, vacuum fittings, and some more stuff on the ground.  I
would throw all mine and any others handy in my tool box.  Now
I have several nicely sorted collections of so many handy bits, the
bolt collection is over a hundred 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 bins.  Bruce Roe
Done exactly the same.

Plus, when I strip a car, nothing gets thrown out, well, almost nothing that I can't use in the future.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

R S Steven

Can you get at the bolts that hold the fan on?
Back when I was a wind tunnel technician (1976 to 1982) we use to change radiator in the tunnel all the time. First, unbolt and move the fan shroud back. Second, unbolt the fan. The fan spacer and water pump pulley would be left in place. Then remove the fan and shroud together to give access to the lower radiator hose clamps.

Hope this helps.