>The hose (it goes over the tranny) has a reducer,
>looks like brass sleeve, which goes into the long
>plastic return line.
>Do I have the wrong hose?
>Do I need the reducer?
>Should I just yank this brass sleeve and clamp down to
>the plastic feed/return line?
>A couple of pics.

That brass bit looks like the plastic pipe reinforcement. The plastic pipes
come with a metal insert that keeps 'em from crushing when you tighten down
the hose clamp. Unfortunately,  those inserts often gradually work their
way out of the plastic pipe. Dunno if you can get the insert back in or if
you have to (gulp) buy a new plastic coolant pipe. Here's a good
explaination of the issue and GoWesty's prevention idea:
<http://www.gowesty.com/coolantpipe_repairkit.htm>

John Bange
'90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"