by-pass hose

[morris minor man]

hi please can any one tell me if the water by-pass hose is a hard/big job to change as mine is leaking like bad??iv never changed one....

[MarkyB]

Not a big job to replace it with the concertina type, just fiddly.
If jubilee clamps have been used it will be relatively easy.

However if the cheap and nasty clamps that come with those hoses have been used you may need to hacksaw or otherwise butcher them off.

[mike.perry]

Change it now or you could be in trouble. Oil the jubillee clips before you start and make sure that they adjust easily. If you are not removing the head or water pump then you will need to use the flexible concertina hose. Fit the clips very loosely over the hose, smear the ends of the hose with washing up liquid and lever into position with a screwdriver. Take care not to stab the radiator or your hand.
The concertina hose is only a semi permanent repair and if you remove the head or pump it is wise to replace it with a thicker hose or a length of heater hose

[bmcecosse]

NO NO NO - DO NOT use the 'concertina' hose except as a 'get-you-home' measure. Take the water pump off - it's only 4 screws - and fit a proper solid wall by-pass hose with new clips. Good chance to inspect/renew the fan belt while in there.

[MarkyB]

If you take bmcecosse's advice which is rather extreme, but not utterly unwarranted, given the poor quality of new hoses.
Then I'd suggest draining and removing the radiator first, four bolts and two hose clamps, so really easy.
This will give you some room to get to the water pump which will need a new gasket, and the old gasket cleaning off both faces, probably not very easy.

With the radiator out you can peer through the grille and see where the water pump bolts are.

[LouiseM]

The problem is that the rubber in the concertina by-pass hose is thinner than a straight piece of hose so tends to perish quicker. I wonder if the (bright blue!) silicone concertina by-pass hose as referred to in this thread would be a better option though?

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34386

[bmcecosse]

You really don't need to take the rad out - but - I suppose it's a good chance to give it a good flushing.

[faversham999]

I just chage the concertina hose once a year at £1.50 simple. and carry a spare

[bmcecosse]

Fit a solid hose - and don't worry about it for 10 years or more!

[ampwhu]

i've had the same 'bendy hose' for about 13 years and there's still life in the old dog yet!

[bmcecosse]

If it lets you down - you can be sure you will be far from anywhere - and it will be dark and raining - and the engine may be wrecked before you realise what's happened! I can only give the best advice - it's up to each what they actually do with it !