Evil weird 3rd gen coolant hose clamps

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Hi all,

I'm having a helluva time figuring out how to remove some weird 3rd gen hose clamps, and pry the hose loose from the underlying little t and L shaped connectors.

These clamps don't look like the typical screw-down or spring-type clams. These look like they have little round nubs at the end, and a long single coil of clamp that wraps progressively around the nnub as you twist it.

The problem is the part to twist is too small to use by hand, and seems like only pliers could spin it... and slowly at that.

Anyone have any idea how to manipulate these things? Or should I just cut them off and buy all new parts and use a different kind of clamp?

 

[StreetCreeper]

Hi all,

I'm having a helluva time figuring out how to remove some weird 3rd gen hose clamps, and pry the hose loose from the underlying little t and L shaped connectors.

These clamps don't look like the typical screw-down or spring-type clams. These look like they have little round nubs at the end, and a long single coil of clamp that wraps progressively around the nnub as you twist it.

The problem is the part to twist is too small to use by hand, and seems like only pliers could spin it... and slowly at that.

Anyone have any idea how to manipulate these things? Or should I just cut them off and buy all new parts and use a different kind of clamp?

Without a picture I'm not sure what clamps you are talking about. What should be there are some constant tension clamps that will expand & contract with hoses as the temperature changes. That allows the clamps to keep an even amount of tension at all times.

I'm not sure about your clamps, but the typical worm gear or screw style of clamps can damage the hose under some conditions. So — my completely unprofessional advice would be to order some appropriate sized constant tension clamps and then just replace those weird hard to remove ones on there now —unless you can figure out what they are and if they are superior in some way to what came on the truck.

 

[pluton]

Why not get the oEM clamps?
They're cheap.

 

[mtbtim]

OP, from your description, it sounds like you have the OEM clamps. All you have to do is squeeze the opposing sides towards each other and then move it back off the fitting it's squeezing the hose onto. You want the clamp completely off the area of the fitting and just on the hose so you can remove the hose from the fitting.

You can use 90 degree bent needle nose pliers, regular pliers, channel locks, etc. The trick is to be able to grab the single arm on one side and the 2 arms on the opposing side all at the same time and then squeeze all 3 towards each other while moving it off the fitting. I've found the 90 degree bent needle nose pliers one of the best tools for removing these constant pressure style clamps.

 

[Kanoe]

I believe the OP is talking about the clamp above the arrow on the heater control valve pictured below. (web photo of some random Toyota) They are factory clamps, the 3rd gen has a few of them scattered around, at least my 96 did.

They are a pain to take off. Needle nose pliers slowly will unwind them. I have never tried to reuse one. Just find the correct size constant tension clamp to replace it.