At 16:36 5/24/2000, Vince P. wrote:
>I am replacing the heater control valve on my 85 Vanogon.  I spent one
>hour last
>night trying to get the upper spring hose clamp off and was not
>successful.  Any
>tips or tricks on how to make this job go easier would be appreciated.  I
>searched the archives and just found more tales of whoa and no good advice on
>how to do this replacement.

I don't know anything specific about the heater control valve -- but if
you're trying to take spring clamps off without a set of spring clamp
pliers, then you're just asking for pain -- figurative and literal.

Go to Sears Roebuck, ask for automotive spring clamp pliers.  They were
about $17 ten years ago, I think.  They have two features that make them
invaluable:  first, the gripping part of each jaw is hollow (optimized for
the round-wire clamp, but holds the flat one too) and can rotate to any
desired position; second, they have a ratchet so you can squeeze them and
let go of the pliers.

Tell them to send me the commission... <g>

Seriously, nothing else will work properly with these clamps.  I'm sure
MAC, Snapon etc etc have them too.  If you come here you can use mine.

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"