Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:53:15 -0700
Reply-To: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The GW kit has 4 brass sleeves that are inserted a specified distance into the rubber
hose and then clamped. The steel insert in the plastic pipe (which is there to keep
the pipe from deforming when clamped) has to be re-seated. Only one end of one pipe
had migrated out on my '90 Westy, and had been like that for over two years. I didn't
want to deal with it when I first discovered it. I was able to re-seat it with the
pipe in place. It took a LOT of effort, heating the end of the pipe with a hair dryer
and pounding on the end of the insert with a block of wood and a hammer. Then the hose
with the clamped brass insert is pushed over the pipe and clamped. No additional
sealing is required. The theory is that the brass insert is butting against the end of
the steel insert and will keep it from migrating out. Will it work? Ask me again in 2
or 4 or 6 years.
If I had to do it again, and I will on my '88 Westy (way over due for this maint.), if
the inserts
are in place or can be re-seated, I will drill a couple of small holes through the
pipe and the insert and put in stainless steel screws, close to the end, so they are
covered by the hose.
As to your "will this work" question, the lip on the end of the pipe is there to keep
the hose from slipping off. You can try anything, just depends on if you want to take
the chance of the hose coming off and dumping all the coolant. And the steel insert
may continue to migrate out. Your alternatives are new plastic pipes or stainless
steel ones, both of which require dropping the gas tank, or the two-piece SS pipes.
Others have suggested reinforced marine-grade rubber hose. None of these are cheap.
If funds are a problem, you might find some pipes at a salvage yard better than yours,
or go with your fix, double-clamp it and keep an eye on it.
Good luck,
Jerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "roger sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:03 AM
Subject: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??
> Hello, I know of the Go Westy coolant tube repair kit.I called them today and asked
about how it works. The guy,Greg, says that the kit will fix tubes that are not fully
corroded . They still have the ends intact,mostly.He says the metal inserts are
needed.Are they? I removed one form a junkyard vanagon a month ago. One end had
completely corroded off.The end was still in the rubber hose. The owner had fixed
this by screwing down tighter on the hose clamp.The "ring" of plastic had streached
the hose out quite badly. Is this the usual fix, besides the GW kit??
>
> GW says that the kit has metal inserts that are driven into the tube.They replace
the plastic end.Existing plastic ends are necessary. How do the two metal ends seal?
Gasket sealer?
>
> Would this work? Cut the ragged end off and cut your hose(front) in the
middle.Stick the larger end over the plastic tube and use 2 hose clamps to hold it.
Use a bronze ,barbed ,hose repair splice to reconnect the two cut ends of rubber hose.
This will effectivley extend the length of therubber hose, to compensate for the cut
off end of theplastic tube.What do you think?Will the plastic tube hold up?Roger
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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