Removing hose clamp?

[motohomo]

Anyone have experience with removing the small metal hose clamps connecting clear hose to plastic fittings. This in in the rear bathroom under the sink in my 2013 vista. The extreme cold froze the lines and of course i have a cracked fitting i need to replace. I cannot remove the metal clamp. Hope someone can help. Thanks

[Tireman9]

These are a real bare to remove. I use diagonal cutters to grab the small tab that "locks" the clamp then again with the diagonals peal back the clamp where it over-laps. After you do a couple it gets easier.

Then your problem is how to clamp the PEX hose. Screw clamps just don't seem strong enough to get full tight on the PEX as the hose is stiff.

I ended up getting the special clamp off eBay along with a bag of clamps. I see a few for less than $20 right now.

Clamp tool at Big Box store or plumbing supply will cost $60+

[motohomo]

Ok. Thanks. So they have to be cut off andcannot be reused ? I appreciate the response

[slowmachine]

Originally Posted by motohomo

Ok. Thanks. So they have to be cut off andcannot be reused ? I appreciate the response

Correct.

[ernieh]

Originally Posted by motohomo

Anyone have experience with removing the small metal hose clamps connecting clear hose to plastic fittings. This in in the rear bathroom under the sink in my 2013 vista. The extreme cold froze the lines and of course i have a cracked fitting i need to replace. I cannot remove the metal clamp. Hope someone can help. Thanks

The good news is that you have cinch clamps. They are a lot easier to cut off than the crimp rings. Check out Shark Bite fittings at Lowes or Home Depot. They are a little pricy but may make your repair job much easier. I always carry a couple in my motorhome tool box.

[wa8yxm]

Dremel cut through the pinched part with a abrasive cut off wheel, then remove the band,, Replace with another like or another style that is easier to replace but still gives a good clamp.

[Wizard]

You can use a screw type clamp if you heat the pipe first with a hair dryer

[papaw.1]

I agree with Ernieh, you can't beat the shark bite and they are real easy to use and can be taken apart and used again.Good Luck.

[HerbZilla]

Shark bites are the way to go for repairs. They do make compression style connections that are cheaper but they are bulky.

[dpinvidic]

You will need to be very carful that you do not damage the PEX tubing when removing the clamps. Can you tell if the left or right side pipe can be slid sideways?
Your problem will be when you cut out the fitting, you will have a large gap between the two ends of the pipe. Sharkbites are bigger, but probably not big enough to span the gap. BUT...if you can pull the ends together so they go into the Sharkbite "T" fitting, you will be home free.


Sharbites use a rubber seal around the outside of the tubing. So you will need fresh ends. They get deformed after being clamped.


Regards,
Dan

[motohomo]

Thanks for the help. I have removed the clamp. Now need to replace fitting and new clamp.

[IC2]

Once you have removed that nasty little clamp, yes, Sharkbites work well but only on new pieces of PEX. That used piece of PEX has a groove in it or possibly was cut at an angle and wont seal with a Sharkbite. You have a couple of fixes. A new piece of PEX and Sharkbites (a 3-4' length is only a couple bucks at a Big Box Store) or you can buy the $20 manual ring compressor at that Big Box Store, a $2-$3 bag of replacement rings and a pair of $8 Vise Grips (10WR or 7WR size) to squeeze that compression ring. Then there is that plastic fitting that RV manufacturers like to use that wont accept a Sharkbite which leads back to that @#$% compression ring.

My luck with screw clamps on PEX is bad even with heating it - you never know when that CG with 100psig+ water pressure will be your next nightmare.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Dremel cut through the pinched part with a abrasive cut off wheel, then remove the band,, Replace with another like or another style that is easier to replace but still gives a good clamp.

Yep small cut-off will also work but I would caution that the heat may distort the PEX.

If you are doing some re-plumbing you could also just cut the PEX and remove the fitting. You could then use a PEX union connector but of course would need extra ring clamps.

I have used screw clamps (2) as a temporary fix but now that I have the correct tools and a supply of stainless ring clamps I find the ring clamps easy to install.

Lots of options.

[motohomo]

Thanks all. Now im having a little trouble finding the fitting. My local winnebago dealer didnt have it neither did lowes. Gonna try home depot or have to order from winnebago

[grtharris]

motohomo, try Ace Hardware

[John Hilley]

I can't believe Lowe's didn't have the fitting. It looks like there is a Pex 1/2" tee and a Pex 1/2" to 1/2" mpt elbow.

[grtharris]

motohomo, before Winnebago started using the PEX cinch crimps they used Flair-it fittings, not special tool required.

[depchief]

you could also try the local Plumbing Supply. They should have a complete stock of the fittings as Plumbers use them in the service and repair oe water piping

[motohomo]

Found one at home depot and back in business. All systems ready to go. Thanks everyone