I'm not trying to promote my business but we do sell the good Oetiker tool,
the cheap India knockoff, and quite a assortment of stainless steel Oetiker
clamps.
http://www.kegkits.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=W&Categ
ory_Code=OCLAMP

These days we sell more for aircraft, motorcycle, car and boat maintenance
than for home kegerator construction.

One piece of advice I'll give is - DO NOT try to spread open the step and
re-use. These clamps are designed to be used once and spreading &
re-compressing the step will result in a weak & unreliable clamp. And at
$0.30 each, why would you want to re-use them? I mean, how many times do you
plan to tear down your cooling system or FI system this year?

Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
www.grow-sun.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Mike S
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 6:58 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Factory Hose Clamps

On 6/8/2012 7:35 PM, JRodgers wrote:
> I'm sure there is a tool to remove and reinstall VW factory hose
> clamps but what is it? And where could I get one? I want to remove the
> hose clamps on the rear heater hoses and would like to reuse them -
> among others on my vans. Hate to destroy them. Anyone dealt with this
before?

I have an AC, but from your question will guess that they used Oetiker
clamps (which they use a lot of on current vehicles). They're not made to be
reused, but you sometimes can. Normally, you just use some pliers to twist
them, breaking the overlap, to get them off. If you want to try, you can use
an awl or small screwdriver to try and spread the pinch. Search for "oetiker
pliers" for the tool to crimp them on. ~$25.
The Knipex ones are the best.
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