I just wanted to mention that I first had a problem with leaking
three years ago from one of the front hose connections. I tightened
it, wrote the problem off to having the car up north in 18 degree
weather, and drove on for a year. Then it leaked again, same place. I
removed the hose and saw that the metal was in place but the plastic
around it had split to pieces, allowing the coolant leak. I removed
the broken plastic, sanded the metal, and recreated the missing
plastic and flange out of JB weld, which wasn't have but was like
using a very loose modeling clay. I put the JB weld around the metal
pipe, more or less to the height of the plastic, and wrapped it with
packing tape to make it smooth with the plastic. I came back a second
time and fashioned the flange at the end.

That's been two years and not a drop out of it.

Jim

On Oct 27, 2006, at 9:53 PM, Gerald Masar wrote:

> The GW kit has 4 brass sleeves that are inserted a specified
> distance into the rubber
> hose and then clamped. The steel insert in the plastic pipe (which
> is there to keep
> the pipe from deforming when clamped) has to be re-seated. Only one
> end of one pipe
> had migrated out on my '90 Westy, and had been like that for over
> two years. I didn't
> want to deal with it when I first discovered it. I was able to re-
> seat it with the
> pipe in place. It took a LOT of effort, heating the end of the pipe
> with a hair dryer
> and pounding on the end of the insert with a block of wood and a
> hammer. Then the hose
> with the clamped brass insert is pushed over the pipe and clamped.
> No additional
> sealing is required. The theory is that the brass insert is butting
> against the end of
> the steel insert and will keep it from migrating out. Will it work?
> Ask me again in 2
> or 4 or 6 years.
> If I had to do it again, and I will on my '88 Westy (way over due
> for this maint.), if
> the inserts
> are in place or can be re-seated, I will drill a couple of small
> holes through the
> pipe and the insert and put in stainless steel screws, close to the
> end, so they are
> covered by the hose.
>
> As to your "will this work" question, the lip on the end of the
> pipe is there to keep
> the hose from slipping off. You can try anything, just depends on
> if you want to take
> the chance of the hose coming off and dumping all the coolant. And
> the steel insert
> may continue to migrate out. Your alternatives are new plastic
> pipes or stainless
> steel ones, both of which require dropping the gas tank, or the two-
> piece SS pipes.
> Others have suggested reinforced marine-grade rubber hose. None of
> these are cheap.
> If funds are a problem, you might find some pipes at a salvage yard
> better than yours,
> or go with your fix, double-clamp it and keep an eye on it.
> Good luck,
> Jerry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "roger sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:03 AM
> Subject: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??
>
>
>> Hello, I know of the Go Westy coolant tube repair kit.I called
>> them today and asked
> about how it works. The guy,Greg, says that the kit will fix tubes
> that are not fully
> corroded . They still have the ends intact,mostly.He says the metal
> inserts are
> needed.Are they? I removed one form a junkyard vanagon a month ago.
> One end had
> completely corroded off.The end was still in the rubber hose. The
> owner had fixed
> this by screwing down tighter on the hose clamp.The "ring" of
> plastic had streached
> the hose out quite badly. Is this the usual fix, besides the GW kit??
>>
>>   GW says that the kit has metal inserts that are driven into the
>> tube.They replace
> the plastic end.Existing plastic ends are necessary. How do the two
> metal ends  seal?
> Gasket sealer?
>>
>>   Would this work? Cut the ragged end off and  cut your hose
>> (front) in the
> middle.Stick the larger end over the plastic tube and use 2 hose
> clamps to hold it.
> Use a bronze ,barbed ,hose repair splice to reconnect the two cut
> ends of rubber hose.
> This will effectivley extend the length of therubber hose, to
> compensate for the cut
> off end of theplastic tube.What do you think?Will the plastic tube
> hold up?Roger
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------
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>