Hose clamps

[Tanner03]

This might possibly be the lamest question asked so far?

Has anyone else noticed a hose clamp (2) end that is broken off in the engine bay. The clamp's I believe are on the riser's and is still holding tight but has broken right at the screw threads in the clamp. I am just wondering if I should change it? I find it weird that one would just break off for no reason known to me. did it come this way from the factory possibly?

First Born do you have any larger pics of your engine bay?

Thanks Guys!

 

[Dave S]

I had two on my 240SD that were broken in the fashion you describe.

 

[Tanner03]

Dave,

did you have to replace them? Also they are on the cooling intake not the risers I was wrong.

I just called are local marina and am getting some repalcements plus some other sizes just to be safe.

 

[First Born]

I have hit my quota and can not post any more pictures. I am emailing Jim for a little help. :smt017

Wesley

 

[Searay Jim]

It would be strange, unless they're getting tightened to much.

I have a real hard time with tightening hose clamps because I tend to feel like I need to tighten them too much. You don't have the movement and vibration you do on a car, and snug, is all it takes so you don't break clamps and cut hoses.

I'm getting better though and so far, I haven't actually broken any. :grin:

 

[Dave S]

Mine were on my exhaust hoses where they attached to the riser elbows. I didn't replace them because they were holding just fine. I could see that the strap directly under the screw was totally intact and therfore the clamp was holding fine. I did find the broken pieces in the bilge so I am theorizing they got broken off during the assembly process or during the servicing of the engine.

On the other hand, I was pretty sure if I ever removed those clamps, they would probably have to be replaced because there probably wouldn't be enough of the strap portion left to get them started on the screw again. :smt021

If you look closely at the clamps on the left side you will see only one end visible. The others were broken off. This picture was taken last fall and the boat was 4 years old then and they never gave me any trouble.

 

[Tanner03]

Dave that is exactly what I had found. Well at least now i have some spares... Thanks! :grin:

 

[Searay Jim]

Ohhhh, now I know what you're talking about. :grin:

I think tech's, maybe even rigger's at the factory, will pop them off. They can be deadly when you're crawling around the motor. But you're right, once they come off, you'll be hard pressed to even come close to getting them back on.

 

[AndersonAcres]

Using hose clamps in other applications, I've popped off the 'tails'. But who on earth would just let those tails fall into the bilge without retrieving them?

 

[fwebster]

It is pretty normal to find a clamp or 2 broken on well maintained boats. The worm gear that the screw driver goes into turns against the band. The slots in the band are the mating part of the worm gear. If you over tighten, it is easy to score or cut the leading slot which eventuually brakes off.

You should replace any damaged clamps because they have less of the clamp remaining to hold the hose with. It is much better to replace them at the dock than when they blow off at high rpms.

How do you not over tighten them?.........use a torque wrench and torque to the recommended specs. But, whos going to drag a torque wrench on the boat to check hose clamps with? I have discovered that a 5/16 socket on a nut driver handle limits the toprque to what you have in your wrist and hand and that approach helps.......but I still replace 1-2 a year.