Morris Minor Owners Club

Long story short, whats the best method of ensuring a good seal on the silicone water hoses? should the clips actually be tightened over the ridge on the casting below, I was aiming for a little behind, can you over tighten them? I'm using jubilee brand clips.

(long story below)

As some may have gathered I've got a morris and am feeling a bit out of my depth at the moment. The other week I noticed some coolant leak (I couldn't tell what it was a first as it was mixed with oil from the timing chain cover) Anyway I eventually traced it up the fan belt to below the top hose. So I replaced this with a silicone one, the old ones was splitting around the edges) no apparent leaks. I decided the rest of the hoses probably were on their way out so replaced bottom and by-pass. so changed these, started the car revved it a little let it get warm, revved it some more, no apparent leaks.

Now a week or so goes by first day a couple of drops I thought this was residue from me draining the system in a bit of cack handed way by pulling the bottom hose. Every other day no problems. This weekend I've been driving the car and on sunday I took the manifold and carb off, the carb hasn't gone back on and the car hasn't been started or moved since. The whole of sunday working on the car not a hint of water, but I wasn't checking. Then this evening I get home sizable damp patch under the car, I think it must be rain but check the rad anyway, I can now see the level has dropped somewhat I can just see the peaks of the inner thins.

So there's water tracking on the fan belt again suggesting top hose, and the bottom of the radiator under the bottom hose is damp (I'd guess bottom hose is weeping down) Have loosened and wiggled the jubilee clips and retightened to try to get a better seal. I don't want to chuck radweld in but I know the coolant is harmful to cats etc so I don't like puddles of it below the car, I've put cat litter down to soak up the residue and sweeped it up. (also moved the car slightly to see if any more comes out)

oh is there any additive you can add to coolant to make it taste bitter to animals?

The clips should be behind the ridge on any pipes or fittings. Do them up snug.

Silicone hoses are superb, but you must use clips with rounded edges. Some ordinary clips can cut into the material. As Roay says, always have the clip behind the ridge on the pipe.

How round do the edges have to be? I'm using Jubilee branded clips 'original and best' and they come a spiffy looking vintage box. They don't have burrs on the edge but they are not rounded by design only the way the tool has been punched/pressed so that the burrs are on the outside if that makes sense. not cutting in at the moment.

When you say 'snugly' does that mean tight enough but not overly tight? I've done them until I can feel the 'driver about the slip

That should make the seal! But I have no idea about silicone hose -mine are good old rubber.

I don't think the jubilee clips are advised. As said before they should have a rounded edge. I've just fitted silicone to mine using the clips provided with them and there is a noticeable roll on the edges. I'll take a comparison pic at the weekend for you.