Date:         Wed, 29 May 1996 13:03:50 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         SyncroHead@aol.com
Subject:      Re: fuel lines

In a message dated 96-05-28 19:39:37 EDT, jlbrown@u.washington.edu (John
Brown) writes:

>Vanagons do have factory installed fuel line clamps installed.  However,
>they are some kind of special clamps.  I had one of these clamps come
>loose and spray a 4 inch wide strip of gas for about a mile down the
>freeway.  Fortunately it did not catch on fire.  I replaced the factory
>clamps with stainless steel hose clamps.  If you have a Vanagon I would
>recommend checking these factory installed clamps to be sure that they are
>tight.
>

When I replaced the engine in my 87 a while back I bought & used "fuel
injection" hose clamps.  I surmise that they're made for a higher clamping
force required by fuel injection systems.  The do NOT have the little
gear/screw with slots cut into the clamping band.  They have a smooth band
that goes all the way arroungd and overlaps a little at the tightening
mechanism.  The tightening mechanism is a screw attached to one end of the
clamping band and a nut attached to the other end of the clamping band.  As
you turn the screw, it pulls the ends closer together & tightens the band.
 It doesn't have nearly the range of diameters that a traditional hose clamp
has, but I guess it must do a better job clamping.

Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg