John V outside agitator
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2005
- Location
- Sleezattle, WA, USA
Stainless clamps.
Master Tech, a critical eye analyzing what makes such a simple thing as a hose clamp good or bad will show that "better a good design than simply a stainless"..
Little details count.
The OEM clamps are some of the best hose clamps made..stainless or not..
AWAB used on Volvo and Saab are so good that for 30 years I'd go on hose clamp hunting expeditions and harvest buckets of them and then send them out for re-zinc plating...it was cheaper than spending time to clean them..
2 particular things make them FAR better than the normal Merikun clamps
1) the edges are turned up-
2) the band isn't perforated
and 3..all hex are 7mm so using a NUT DRIVER one size driver--or socket for deep access- fits all...
These thing mean--with a little Liquid wrench on the screw mechanism---you can use a wrench and tighten the clamp to the point of destruction and it will not cut or damage the hose beneath it..
You can't say that about the ordinary Merikuh stainless clamps...
If you just have to have stainless I like the German clamps on VW, BMW, Euro Fords--with 6mm hex, or even better from Mercedes cause they use 7mm hex
Of course its EXTRA soooooper bitchin if you have the correct tool and nothing makes tightening clamps a near orgiastic experience as the flexy shaft nut drivers
Luxury!
I will not allow a Merikun hose clamp on anything I work on...
Remember Jen, a little squirt with Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster or similar on the screw housing and it makes it a lot easier..