Best way to remove upper radiator hose

[TGKY]

I have an l4701 that I posted earlier has a very tiny cold start leak coming from the upper radiator hose. Per advise I got here I plant to remove it clean around it and replace the hose and clamp.
How do I remove the hose and put it back without damaging It.
looks like a tight fit

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have an l4701 that I posted earlier has a very tiny cold start leak coming from the upper radiator hose. Per advise I got here I plant to remove it clean around it and replace the hose.
How do I remove the hose and put it back without damaging It.
looks like a tight fit

Have you tried just snugging up the clamp?

Dan

 

[mcfarmall]

Grab it with a pair of Channellocks at the neck, twist it back and forth while pulling on it. Be advised that if the hose is soft and mushy the pliers may bite through it and you'll be buying a new hose anyway.

 

[armylifer]

I recommend trying to change the position of the clamp on the hose before you try to remove the hose. I have found that repositioning the clamp often stopped leaks from hoses. If you do choose to remove the hose, get yourself a new one to replace the old one. If you are going through all the work to remove the hose it makes sense to just replace the old one at the same time. Why go through all the work if there is still a risk that you still have a leak afterward? Also, if you do replace the hose, put new clamps on too.

 

[whitetiger]

I have an l4701 that I posted earlier has a very tiny cold start leak coming from the upper radiator hose. Per advise I got here I plant to remove it clean around it and replace the hose and clamp.
How do I remove the hose and put it back without damaging It.
looks like a tight fit

Have you been tightening your hose clamps yearly?
If not, tighten your hose clamps.

 

[DustyRusty]

I agree if you are going to remove it, then remove it properly and buy a replacement. If the hose is 10 years old, then it is 5 years past its life expectancy if it were an automobile. To properly remove the hose, first remove the clamp, then using a box cutter, single-edge razor blade, or some other very sharp item such as a scapple, slice across the top of the hose for at least 1" past the nipple of the radiator. Then do the same on one side of the hose. Next, cut the hose about 1" past the radiator nipple from top to bottom, leaving only a stub on the radiator. Next, gently peel the remaining hose off of the radiator using a round blunt object. The other end of the hose is attached to a steel nipple on the engine, so you can just cut the top of the hose lengthwise, and work it off. The reason not to do this on the radiator side is that the radiator nipple can break off if it is plastic, or it can break the soldered joint if it is a brass radiator.
Having worked on cars for over 6 decades, I have found this works well and reduces the risk of damage to your radiator. To reinstall the hoses, you can resort to the old tried and true method of using spit at the end of the hose to lubricate it, or if you are not up to spitting into a hose, then Johnson & Johnson makes a product called KY jelly that will do the same thing.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Be advised that if the hose is soft and mushy the pliers may bite through it and you'll be buying a new hose anyway.

Yep. and if the pliers are able to bite through it, you wanted a new one, you just didn't know it yet.

 

[TGKY]

Thanks for all the replies. The clamp is really tight but I did get a couple more clicks. If that doesn’t do it I’ll reposition the clamp I hadn’t considered that

 

[D2Cat]

I agree if you are going to remove it, then remove it properly and buy a replacement. If the hose is 10 years old, then it is 5 years past its life expectancy if it were an automobile. To properly remove the hose, first remove the clamp, then using a box cutter, single-edge razor blade, or some other very sharp item such as a scapple, slice across the top of the hose for at least 1" past the nipple of the radiator. Then do the same on one side of the hose. Next, cut the hose about 1" past the radiator nipple from top to bottom, leaving only a stub on the radiator. Next, gently peel the remaining hose off of the radiator using a round blunt object. The other end of the hose is attached to a steel nipple on the engine, so you can just cut the top of the hose lengthwise, and work it off. The reason not to do this on the radiator side is that the radiator nipple can break off if it is plastic, or it can break the soldered joint if it is a brass radiator.
Having worked on cars for over 6 decades, I have found this works well and reduces the risk of damage to your radiator. To reinstall the hoses, you can resort to the old tried and true method of using spit at the end of the hose to lubricate it, or if you are not up to spitting into a hose, then Johnson & Johnson makes a product called KY jelly that will do the same thing.

Or soak the new hose in hot water for a while!

 

[Pau7220]

Yep. and if the pliers are able to bite through it, you wanted a new one, you just didn't know it yet.

And possibly a broken radiator neck!

Safest way is to gently use a cotter pin puller along with dish detergent or rub-r-lube.

 

[Vigo]

Ive actually never heard the term cotter pin puller but i have a whole pile of the tools! I just call them picks.

They actually make a ‘hose pick’ for the job. It’s got a particular set of angles on it that make a bit hetter for that task. But any large right angle or hook pick will do, usually. You just have to be careful not to rotate the pointy end outwards and stab through your hose.

Here’s an example of a ‘hose pick’. If you use that as a search term you get all kinds of different designs.

 

[DustyRusty]

I have used hose picks or whatever else you want to call them, but at the end of the day, you are still working against the soldered joint on the radiator, and that joint is delicate. This is why I have found that cutting the hose off is the easiest way of doing it when replacement is what you are going to be doing. If it is a relatively new part, there is less chance that it has bonded to the hose nipple than if it has been on there for 5 or more years. Everyone's experiences are different, and they should do what they feel most comfortable doing with the tool that they have at hand. I explained my preferred method, as others have also.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Thanks for all the replies. The clamp is really tight but I did get a couple more clicks. If that doesn’t do it I’ll reposition the clamp I hadn’t considered that

You say "clicks". I'd it is a worm style clamp, it might be skipping and not tightening.
Where possible, I prefer the T bolt style clamps.

 

[William1]

What 'seals' a hose is not the clamp but the barb. The clamp job is to prevent the hose from being popped/pulled off. Over tightening a clamp often distorts the hose and induces a leak.
Buy a new hose. New clamp. Clamp just snug, not crushing the hose.

 

[Pau7220]

Ive actually never heard the term cotter pin puller

 

[Pau7220]

I plant to remove it clean around it and replace the hose and clamp.

I missed this part….

I have found that cutting the hose off is the easiest way

Then I must agree with this

 

[Vigo]

I guess i skipped a week but the caveat i would add to cutting a hose off is you can also score and cut into the neck/barb if you push too hard, so i try to resist the temptation to cut all the way through a hose in one pass of the blade. I usually make 3-5 passes with the blade cutting a bit deeper each time, and if i know im 90+% of the way through the hose i'll just start peeling it off because i know it will split the remainder easily vs taking my blade all the way down to the sealing surface. Making multiple light passes also prevents you from finding out about the other annoying possibility of not just stabbing the sealing surface but.. snapping the neck off because you pushed sideways on it too hard!

I've screwed up everything at least once..