right tried the inner tube trick - how do you keep the tube on the radiator ?
I tried using the clamps for the hoses but it is far too loose
Cheers
Al
The inner tube is thinner than the radiator hoses, so the original clips won't work. Bin the useless spring clips and use proper worm drive ones. Jubilee is the usual and original brand, but not the only one. They're easier to fit/remove and give a reliable and adjustable clamp to anything but the very smallest hoses. The spring ones are used simply for quick assembly, and for no other reason.
Incorrect.
Spring clips are commonly used on pipes that experience extremes of temperature ... ie radiator pipes. The rise in temperature causes both the hose and the spigot of the radiator on which the hose sits to expand, the spring clip "gives" with this expansion and allows it to happen. A "jubilee" clip, or any other worm drive will NOT expand and can easily, and often, cause the plastic spigot to crack as it tries to expand and the worm drive, effectively, over-tightens.
In theory, I'd have to agree with you. But in practice? Extremes of temperature? In an automotive cooling system? Just
how hot do you think they get? Nor are they are at a high pressure. And if the plastic/rubber components increase measurably in size at these temps then surely you would be better arguing that a better material should have been used? Which would be a good idea for many plastic items. After all, the plastic tanks are crimped to an aluminium core and we don't worry about them leaking unless they are very old and worn out.
It's not as if you tighten a worm drive hose clamp particularly tight anyway. You can't, the thread will strip.
Aside from the practicalities of fitting/removing spring clamps, knowing that a replacement is actually tight, rather than hopefully tight, outweighs any potential risk to me.