General Tech Hose Clamps

[KVH]

Are folks generally happy with the vintage double wire hose clamps offered by Moss and others, or is there a sense that the more modern band type is superior? I ask because the vintage ones do not appear to tighten up all that much. But maybe good enough?

 

[charlie74]

I used them in the interest in originality and found them to be variable in their tightening. I have also heard that they can cut into them if tightened too much. I wrapped the hoses underneath the clamps with green electrical tape which isn’t a great colour match but if your not really looking it’s not really noticeable.
I also sprayed the union with hairspray to help them stick on to the pipes.

I guess the taped ends are noticeable but they’re neatly done and I don’t find them visually offensive. There are other, better options but they aren’t stock…and I’ll revisit that if and when the time comes…

c74

 

[CJD]

Modern worm clamps are definitely superior. I used all the original, though, and have had no problems at all. So they do work, you just can't get them as tight as worm clamps. Of interest, all my new cars use even simpler spring clamps...and I have reused them many times without a problem. The coolest clamps of all are the BMW clamps. They are molded plastic hose ends with an o-ring, and are held together with a snap ring. They click together to let you know they are connected. They are infinitely re-usable, but I think that's because BMW engines have to come apart so often, LOL!

I guess the final analysis is to use what you want, based on your goals.

 

[Popeye]

Exactly what John said… new clamps are better… I am using the original clamps on my TR4A… BMW clamps are cool.

One addition: the original style clamps caused me some consternation. They need to be loosened to install, and the ears of the nut can fall off the clamp. Sometimes you have to “open” then to install on the hose (when you can’t slip them over the end of the hose), and they become slightly out of round. It takes a bit of force to connect the ends. I’m not sure what or how, but eventually I got the hang of working with them. Be prepared for some fancy language in working with them!

Also: when connecting the radiator hoses, specifically the steel piece between the lower radiator hose and thermostat, there is very little room to the lower steering shaft flex joint. Twisting the hose this way and that eventually provided sufficient space; the problem is the hoses move as you tighten the clamps!

 

[Sarastro]

I know that this is heresy in the early Porsche community, but I keep a supply of high-quality worm-gear hose clamps among my car stuff. I haven't been rejected as an infidel yet, but I suspect it's just a matter of time. Seriously, these guys treat the kind of hose clamps like a religion, developing after-the-fact explanations of why the screw-tightened, original band clamps are superior to everything else. I don't think they are, and my 912 is bristling with stainless-steel worm-gear hose clamps. So is the TR4A. I think they are much better than the original wire clamps: tighter and less likely to dig into the hose.

Remember, the wire clamps were probably chosen because they were cheap and good enough. Lots of things have changed since then, and today's hoses are not necessarily the same material or hardness. It affects what works and what doesn't.

 

[PAUL161]

I put these on the rad hoses and they have never caused a problem, on the breather hoses I bought Jubilee clamps as original direct from the factory in the UK. The only difference in the new Jubilee clips is, they don't have the cheese head screws anymore. PJ