Replaced the Radiator(aftermarket) and the lower hose(OEM from honda) on my 98 accord, I cannot get the bottom hose clamp that attaches to radiator to keep a seal on the new hose.

It's actually getting very frustrating as it's such a simple thing and yet it continues to be an issue.

What makes it even more frustrating is the top rad hose clamp was bad when I bought the car 2 months ago so I bought a new clamp.

I put that newest clamp on the lower hose (my thought was the newest clamp fixed the issue on the top hose so it's got to be my best clamp) and that newest clamp is the one that's letting coolent by.

So the oldest 3 clamps I have are sealing just fine, but the newest clamp I bought is giving me issues. WTF

I swear whenever I do anything related to plumbing, I have the worst luck.
Any suggestions?

I just bought another clamp from Honda and I'm going to install soon, it's the only thing I can think of.
Am I going to have to forgo the honda clamps and buy one that allows me to adjust the tension? I think this is silly.

 

I don't know what to tell you..it should be really easy

 

I usually end up replacing them all with standard worm drive clamps, more control and they dont loose their strength over time. also easier to disengage when they are in a tight spot like under the distributor etc.

 

Tell me about it.

I took my best, newest clamp and put it in the hardest to reach location thinking it was my best clamp and now all the oldest clamps in the easiest to reach locations are working fine.

I also find it strange that honda replacement clamps are not like the ones they're replacing.

The factory ones have a way to lock them when they're fully open(make it easier to get into position) and yet the newest clamps I keep buying from them are a standard non-locking type.

 

That was my thought as well but I was thinking that honda uses the clamps they use for a reason.

The factory ones are wider and are the correct tension (supposedly) so my thought was they would tear into the hose and destroy it at a slower rate then the ones you mentioned.

I may just have to go down that route though if I can't get these factory clamps to work.

I just can't believe the 3 old clamps are working fine and my newest clamp is the one that's giving me an issue.

 

Are your clamps all the same size?are you making sure their completly on and strait?id just replace them all and get worm drive clamps as mentioned above

 

Yes, I even verified with Honda that all the clamps are the same.

 

Just get the worm drive clamps. No need to cause yourself unnecessary headaches. Honda is great in a lot of areas, but for a hose clamp, it doesnt need to be that complicated. I noticed a dripping from my upper radiator hose this weekend when I was doing my oil change. With the simplicity of the worm drive clamp, I was able to disengage it, clean up a minute corrosion spot, cut the edge off the hose and reclamp everything. If I was on the side of the road, I would be stuck if I had factory Honda clamps.

You do not have to worry about every little part being Honda. Get the major stuff Honda, but nothing wrong with aftermarket upgrades when it is not a big deal. Remember that Honda puts radiators with plastic tops in the cars. This is one of the biggest weak spots of most Hondas. The plastic radiator cracks. I bought a full aluminum one for ebay for cheaper than a Honda radiator.

 

so you got a new radiator and a new hose which means there are not contaminants keeping you from getting a good seal. i personally have never had a problem getting the old seals to work on all three of my hondas so im guessing either the hose is not on all the way or is crooked or the clamp is crooked or not far enough down the hose.

as a last resort you can always use an autozone clamp that tightens with a flathead

 

You’re correct about worm drive clamps ruining the hose. Worm drive clamps are junk unless you get the German ones with the rolled edges.

 

Where does one buy those?

 

i would also like to know this. though the regular ones will work fine as long as you dont overtighten them. i use them all the time and find that they outlast the radiators, hoses etc until i loose them or leave them in the bay somewhere and go for a drive..im good at that

 

get some t bolt clamps..they tighten on really tight! i got some from napa

 

I usually just buy a variety pack of the worm drive clamps from the auto parts store, but i have use the vibration resistant/high strength ones from mcmaster carr http://www.mcmaster.com/#hose-and-tube-clamps/=fd2f7x

 

They’re kind of a huge pain to find, but any European car shop should sell you a few. We used to get them from Wurth when I worked as a tech.

 

You can get those hose clamps at any home improvement store or hardware store. The only thing is they will back off if you don't throw some electrical tape around it so that it doesn't loosen up, but they work better than the honda ones as the honda ones simply open up over time and can't clamp down as well. It's not really that complicated.

The hose clamps are like $1.50 each. You can get them at any auto parts store as well.

 

You’re not going to find rolled German worm drive clamps at any old hardware store. What you will find is the junky Ideal style worm drive clamps that tear into hoses. The Honda pinch clamps work fine if both the hose and what the hose attaches to are free of defects. My current Honda still uses all the OEM pinch clamps 20 years later and still no leaks.

 

Whats the big deal if it tears into the hose a tiny bit? The hose is like 1/4"- 1/2" thick. I never seen a worm drive clamp get loose, tear into the hose and cause it to fail, or any other reason to not use it. The honda clamps you should change each time you remove it because they do not clamp as effectively the second time. I might need my second radiator hose change for my car's life in a few years, but my worm drive clamp will still be just as effective. One less thing for me to buy again.

 

If you buy an aftermarket radiator sometimes the fittings are smaller as well, for my car the bottom trans fittings were smaller and the honda clamps did not hold.

 

Me too.

 

This.

These factory clamps are known to expand and retract at certain temp when things expands, and worm clamps don't whichl can cause issue, though, I have yet to see any where I've seen ppl use them all the time. But thats the purpose why these factory clamps were chosen by Honda. My instructor taught me that. Not such a bright idea after knowing it's purpose. Lol.

One kid in my class said they would take those factory clamps off and replace it with the worm clamps. Yes it'll make things easier and what not when removing but it won't be doing the things that the factory clamps do. The kid got quiet in class after he learned what their purposes are. Lol. It was funny.

 

I have use the stainless steel band style worm clamps, the ones that you get at a hardware store, on all of my cars. They work great and give good clamping pressure. I have never had issues with them causing any leaks by tearing through the hoses. If the hoses are so swollen that they do tear in. The hoses should probably be replaced anyway! Do not over tighten them. If you need to tighten them that much, there is something wrong with the fitment of the hose and nipple fitting.

 

+1 lol I don't know what German style worm clamps are but if someone wants to pay extra for something that they don't necessarily need more power to 'em I guess. Like ghost, I just use the stainless steel ones that u can get just about anywhere.

 

If you can get your hands on a flexible set of pliers and a lot of patientce you'll be fine. Last time I replaced the clamp and hose closest to the dizzy, it nearly kicked my ***. Don't reuse the old clamp since it's probably frozen. I twisted my clamp to face the firewall because it was the easiest position to clamp.

 

^ Thats what I always do is face them to the open, so it's alot easier to get a hold of them the next time around.