Removing Tower style hose clamps

6hypo5conv_old · January 12, 2011 at 9:11 AM

Is there some sort of trick used to remove/loosen these? I remember basicly destroying them in the old days then replacing with band style clamps sometimes destroying the hoses in the process.

I need to replace my tower clamps but do not want to destroy the hoses now, I certainly can unscrew the clamps but they most always stay tight.

C6ZZKGT · January 12, 2011 at 9:41 AM Official Post

You can get them loose by using a 1/4" drive 3/8" Craftsman deep socket, as it has no inside shoulder, over the bolt and collapsing the tower with the socket and a hammer. I am sure that there are other sockets other than a Craftsman that do not have the inside shoulder. If you do not have a socket, tapping the sides of the tower down with a screwdiver and hammer will also work. Of course, anything that a hammer can't fix, a hacksaw will. <img src=images/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

-Fred-

CharlesTurner · January 12, 2011 at 10:36 AM

I remove and re-use these all the time. Just use the long socket like Fred mentioned. The trick is to to have the socket against the top of the tower, not the top of the screw.

6hypo5conv_old · January 12, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Fred and Charles, Thanks!! so should I be putting some pressure downwards at the same time, up until now I've just been unscrewing the screw w/o any pressure and they just seem to back out w/o the clamp itself loosening.

CharlesTurner · January 12, 2011 at 11:53 AM

That's right, the clamp will not loosen by simply turning out the screw. Turn it most of the way out and then put the deep socket over to tap the top of the clamp. You want the top of the clamp where the screw goes in to be the only contact area of the socket. If the screw is bottomed out in the socket, it won't work.

6hypo5conv_old · January 12, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Got it!! Thanks again Charles!

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