Top hose cracking up!

[Oldmogman]

I fitted a ‘long life’ Kevlar reinforced top hose a couple of years ago but, as you can see from the pic, it already has more cracks than the EU!

I contacted the suppliers, Bull Motif, who said the cracking was because of “ozone depletion”, and that “the rubber surface cracks but the hose remains intact”. They said they wouldn’t give me a refund because “the unit has not failed and remains serviceable”.

I’m inclined to replace it anyway, but what do the learned gents of the panel think? Am I worrying too much? Or is this a failure waiting to happen?

And should I refit the original hose, which is still flexible and in good condition?

If not, could anyone suggest where I could get a quality replacement hose?[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

These Kevlar hoses are not getting great press - fit the old hose and carry this as spare.

[John Naylor]

That has been attacked by ozone as it has an inadequate rubber mix in its outer layer. I'm no rubber technologist but there are waxes in sidewall rubbers to stop tyres cracking when exposed to strong sunlight or high levels of ozone. Those hoses are unfit for purpose if they are not coping with the climate they were designed for.

[minor65]

Yep pure rubbish. Source a good old one or go for the silicone type hoses. And then source a good one for the boot.

[alexandermclaren]

Snap
Bought the kevlar one from bull motive and is cracked as above
I alwas thought bull motive were first class suppliers
But ?..............
Who knows
Silicone is this a longer lasting (as in more than 2 years and 2.5 thousand miles)?????????

[myoldjalopy]

I got five years out of mine, but still not good......

[andypocock]

It's clearly just a poor quality part. It does not matter whether it's reinforced with Kevlar or cotton, it's just the cheap rubber that is falling apart.

I fitted a set of Kevlar hoses to my Jaguar over a decade ago and they are still perfect.

The fact that Bull Motif were ready with the ozone argument suggests to me that you are far from the first to complain. I expect they have a box of 5000 to get through before they can have some decent ones made up.

As somebody has already said if you want something other than a standard hose I'd look at silicone.

[dalebrignall]

i got a top hose at the national rally from a chap called tom roy hes a supplier in yorkshire its a good hose ive got from him , or go for the silicone hoses

[Oldmogman]

Thanks for your comments and advice, everyone.

Yes, I was rather surprised at Bull Motif selling such a poor quality item, and very disappointed by what I found to be a rather dismissive approach to customer service. Somehow, I don’t think they’ll be top of my list when I come to order spares in future.

I’ll check out the silicone hoses but I’m inclined to stick with the good, old fashioned rubber sort - so, in the meantime, the old one will be refitted this weekend!

[ianmack]

I wouldn't keep that old one on for too long. I had one like that, Kevlar from bm, which cracked the same way. I had a loss of coolant which turned out to be a spray from a tiny pinhole in one of the cracks. At least I suppose the Kevlar held it together so it didn't rupture completely.

[liammonty]

I believe this type of hose is well known to be of poor quality, an issue that's been known about for a while. I don't thnk the suppliers in question are the only ones who supply this make of hose, but I did nearly fall off my chair laughing when I heard that it is due to ozone depletion. Although high-level ozone is depleted, I believe that there is actually a greater level of low-level atmospheric ozone than there used to be, which would make the already ridiculous argument even less likely. As above, change it ASAP or you will be doing it somewhere on the side of the road...

It's peculiar how the original hoses aren't affected by 'ozone depletion'

[amgrave]

I can't see the point of Kevlar reinforced hoses, their good points are lightweight and strength neither of which is required for normal engine hoses the rubber is still the same. I have fitted Silicon hoses to the heater as they needed replacement and to see if they are any improvement on standard hoses, they have only been on for a year so far. Time will tell.

[Oldmogman]

"The cracking is for Ozone depletion, the rubber surface cracks but the hose remains intact, as such the unit has not failed and remains serviceable so we are unable to offer a refund."
Laird Stuart J Nimmo Of Glen Coe
For Bull Motif Spares

Oh yeah? This is what I found when I changed the Bull Motif kevlar hose on my car!

So if your kevlar top hose is cracking up, replace it now before it's too late![frame][/frame]

[Mark Wilson]

I have found that Mr Nimmo's views on customer service tend to be rather different than most suppliers. Not in a good way. Now watch this post disappear....

[bmcecosse]

It' s only CW threads that disappear....

[MrIan]

It appears that anything today that is rubber and new isn't fit for purpose. We have seals that don't seal, hoses that split, mounts that are too hard. I've even read on an American site in relation to another brand of UK classic saying to avoid UK rubber car components !

[bmcecosse]

I can see Declan soon needing to run 3 shift 24/7 operation on his moulding machine... Perhaps it will be easier to redesign the front engine mounts into a 'bobbin' arrangement.