Minor Tech Tips

I haven't been back long but I recall these little almost trivial, but helpful tips popping up and so here's the one I needed and remembered today.

Lower Radiator Hose Removal -- Here's the set-up. You know it, the hose has hardened to the shape of the large lip on the water pump and it's welded itself onto it. Clearances are impossible and there's only one way that pumps comin out without hittin the radiator because ya don't wanna pull the rad. shell to remove the shroud.

Answer. Use whatever hook shape is handy to pry the hose lip a little where you can and spray some Blaster in there. Then wave a propane torch on the hose to reintroduce some pliability to it. Shazzam, it'll slip offa the pump.

Hope that helps somebody, I know it's pretty wordy. I'm no good at brevity.

What else ya got?

 

I'm sure that would do wonders for an old radiator.

 

The hook you want for that job is a cotter pin puller. Most often I don't need the penetrating oil or heat. Once you get the puller tip in, it can be gently worked around to break the seal and because it's rounded is very gentle on br***. This link is just the first one that googled up to illustrate what they look like

http://www.bosstoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6774

 

Snapon actually makes one of these... Its called a hose hook. They are the best tool ever on planet earth. Looks like a cotterpin puller, just with an extra curve or two thrown in.

 

And I got one that's just like an awl with a screwdriver handle with just one 90* bend in it. I think it might have been made by MAC about 25 years ago. the bend is about 1 1/2 inches from the tip. it works really well, too cause it can get to the end of the steel/br*** hose bung. And you could make it yourself.

 

I've got the same tool gas pumper has and that's what I used to pry with. For the two inches I could. I was referring specifically to the water pump end of the hose. Where as often is the case with older but servicable hoses, it had hardened over the shape of the big Lump on the end of the pump. The pump could not be twisted, so the hose had to become pliable again and slippery at the same time!

 

My mistake, I had visions of a similar process to seating a tyre with Aerostart and a lighter. BOOM.