Water Hose Clamp Tool, which one to get?

monty23psk · Post by **monty23psk** » Mar 08, 2005 3:40 PM

Hey everybody.

I just got my parts from Steve, and ordered some water clamps for the hoses. They are the brass closed type ones. I know i need a crimp type tool to ge install themt. Is there a regular tool i can use. I found a link on grainger, would this be it? http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/produc ... 44&ccitem=
I know i can use regular pliers but want to do it right the first time. I thought they were going to be the screw ones, but i guess this is what bmw uses.

thanks

alex in s. fl.
88 m5
04 civic

dworthy · Post by **dworthy** » Mar 08, 2005 3:44 PM

I had a old pair of channel-locks that I gounded down to do the same job, 2 bucks and 20 minutes was all I paid.

monty23psk · Post by **monty23psk** » Mar 08, 2005 3:56 PM

I found this on the sears site for craftsman. it might do the trick.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product. ... site=CRAFT

anyone know.

monty23psk · Post by **monty23psk** » Mar 08, 2005 3:57 PM

I had a old pair of channel-locks that I gounded down to do the same job, 2 bucks and 20 minutes was all I paid.

i would do it, but dont have such power tools. thanks for the suggestion.

alex

dworthy · Post by **dworthy** » Mar 08, 2005 3:59 PM

Whenever I want to get a new tool, my wife always ask how often will I use it. I am sure you want to use the right tool for the right job, so go ahead with it.

RetiredDoc · Post by **RetiredDoc** » Mar 09, 2005 12:13 AM

http://www.lytron.com/support/fittings_clamps.htm

These hose clamps are referred to as Oetiker clamps, after the inventor. Of you do a google search for the term "oetiker clamp" you will find a wealth of information about these clamps, and tools of all price ranges used to install them.

monty23psk · Post by **monty23psk** » Mar 09, 2005 12:26 AM

thanks so much. now at least i know the name. Too many options when i did a generic search on google.

alex in. s. fl
88 m5
04 civic

spinedocab · Post by **spinedocab** » Mar 09, 2005 9:02 AM

why in the world would you want to crimp on a clamp when there are perfectly good hose clamps of the screw or "breeze" variety available at any parts store (or the home depot/lowes, for that matter). That sounds like a make-work and future maintenance nightmare.

Also, I haven't seen any crimped on clamps anywhere on my 535. all the cooling system hoses were screwed together. The only place I can think of where I might see AND use a clamp like that would be on the CV joint boots.

just my unsolicited .02
Andrew..

Post by **Shawn D.** » Mar 09, 2005 1:57 PM

[QUOTE="spinedocab"]Also, I haven't seen any crimped on clamps anywhere on my 535. all the cooling system hoses were screwed together. The only place I can think of where I might see AND use a clamp like that would be on the CV joint boots.[/QUOTE]
The windshield washer tubing and the evap canister hoses in the trunk are crimped from the factory.

DMNaskale · Post by **DMNaskale** » Mar 09, 2005 2:13 PM

Search on eBay under "knipex", there are always some oetiker pliers on there, Knipex is a very high quality German brand, that is where I got mine. Also, the Knipex Plier Wrench is an amazing tool.

RetiredDoc · Post by **RetiredDoc** » Mar 09, 2005 2:49 PM

Spinedocab,

If you'll check the table in this reference comparing eared (Oetiker) clamps versus worm drive clamps, you will see that there are some advantages. One problem with using eared clamps as replacements on an engine in place is access for the crimping tool. During assebbly line production where the hoses are more accessible they can be installed quicker than worm drive clamps.

http://www.lytron.com/support/fittings_ ... K7Ahy5eO3X

monty23psk · Post by **monty23psk** » Mar 09, 2005 3:14 PM

thanks guys, i went to grainger and they had it with my corportation discount fot 15 bucks. the brand is oetiker, which is the main name of the ear clamp. to them it is called pincer jaw tool. now i can do all the small hose clamps with ease. they also had one for side jaw for those hard to reach areas. was about 10 dollars more, but i dont need it for the hoses on my car.

alex in s. fl.
88 m5
04 civic

spinedocab · Post by **spinedocab** » Mar 09, 2005 3:37 PM

Shawn D., thanks for pointing out those other spots. I had forgotten about them.

RetiredDoc, excellent reference link. I enjoyed the concise explanation of the tables statements.

I have no doubt that there are advantages to the oetiker clamps. I think speed of assembly during factory assembly figures heavily. Also, they cannot be overtorqued by an overzealous hand. (assuming use of the proper size clamp). but I still think that for the home mechanic the availability and ease of use of the screw/worm clamp outweighs the others potential mechanical benefits.

As I said, I have used them for CV joint boot installation, and then it was primarily because of clearance. The worm drive assembly of a screw clamp would not fit into the back of the hub, or would hit a control arm at some pooint in its rotation. Also, CV joints are long term, high reliability, no maintenance items. And I could borrow the tool from a mechanic friend and return it when I am done.

Mike in Louisville · Post by **Mike in Louisville** » Mar 09, 2005 6:04 PM

From the Lytron link: "Since ear clamps have a low spring constant, Hooke's Law dictates that ear clamps maintain a greater force after hose relaxation."

Hooke's law --> the force of a spring is F = (1/2)kx where k is the spring constant and x is the length of spring compression. The force is directly proportional to the spring constant....so lowering the spring constant also lowers the force. It might be true that ear clamps having a greater holding force, but the site's explanation doesn't seem to prove this to me. What do you phsyics majors think?

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

Water Hose Clamp Tool, which one to get?