ok so, was heading to a certain members place on here to help them out on their mini and well, was sitting at the GC highway at Markeri St lights, and I here this zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzrhhhh, hmmmm.. (guessed it yet??) look at the temp gauge, everything normal there,,, lights still stay red, then look down 30 seconds later,, arhh yep I thought so u bugger.. the thing was starting to sky rocket... lights turned green, I move forward, look in my rear vison and yep as I expected coolant all over the road.... I did the U turn that I needed to do, and then pulled straight over..

Opened the bonnet and sure enough the bottom rad hose had spilt.. Very hot day out there today, so not suprised..

LUCKILY mr fix it here had his spare rad hose in the back of the van ready for his SA road trip in the next week, so out she comes. Ok so this mr fix it, didn't bring his tools with him this short trip (the one and only time he doesent )

I managed to find 2 screw drivers, and a pair of pliers....

Rang father and told him all I needed was a 13mm socket, ratchet, and a extension for the bottom rad shroud bolt.... (yes on my way now he says... )

Anyway so I get to work, undo top hose,, remove it, then the top hose clamp on the bottom rad hose at the water pump, the heater hose attached to it, the 2 bolts holding the rad at the top using the one and only pliers I had, and shes all free to come out cept the one 13mm bolt at the bottom, so I wait n wait n wait.,, nothing coming,,, 1hr later, ok, so this is no good... then seconds later I'm bending over the bonnet for a second thought/ look and I hear this brrooooommm.. (me thinks to myself,, arhhh correct me If I'm wrong but that sounds like a mini engine...) lol pop me head out from the boonet and sure enough, would you believe it,,, it was a green sedan, (think it was a roundie, shooting up the next street.., obviously didn't see me down the road, ) seems like every time I break down, I see a mini, lol... anywhooo,

so then the neighbor over the road from where I'm parked comes out, and says do I need help, im like arhhh if you have a 13mm ratchet and extension I'd be on my way... sure enough he had one,, so in she goes, and out comes the bolt... out comes the alloy rad with a bit of jiggling, and off comes the hose... sure enough it was *****ed... the new one goes on, and in goes the rad again, plum it all back up again, bolts, hose clamps and all, and fill her with rad water, and I'm running again, piece of cake in and out within 30 minutes (the young guy watching was amazed at how quick and easy I found it, lol....

Anyway so even after that my help still hadan't turned up ,, so im thinking ok, wats going on,, i call and call and call, but no answer, so I get going and then 15 minutes later get the call where the hell r you? Explained the situation and that I had fixed it, and he couldn't believe I did it on the side of the road with bugger all tools.. and a pair of pliers.. in that time,, im like well you did take a while, lol...

I felt bad for him coming out then finding I'm fixed, but he knew he was late,, 2hrs after my first call, when we only live 20 minutes away

Anywayy,, thanked the guy for the lend of the socket and gave him something for his trouble.. and I was on my way.. arhhh so now I know I'm ready to do this SA trip... Nothing can stop me yet tools or no tools...


oh and yes I know some will say you can replace the rad hose without taking the rad out, yes I will agree you can, however my bottom hose clamp was in a position where I could not undo it without having a jack to get under the car properly to get to it... and even then,,, ive got my rad setup and its shroud , so its piss easy to get out,,,, even with the air con setup in the way... so not worth trying to get your hand down there with hose clamps and pushing the new rigid hose on..

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

I thought it may have been another episode of "lockie the mechanic - fixing everyone whos broken down"

I remember when my bottom hose popped off and i eneded up pulling the whole radiaotr out, connecting the pipe and then putting it all back in, took me ages.

I dont know how anyone would put a botton hose on with the radiator in the car. the hose goes through the shroud and there isnt enough room to fit ya hand down there.

One question though?

When you asked your father for some tools WHY did you ask for a 13mm socket, rather than a 1/2''?

I can understand if 13mm was all the neighbour had or something like that, but when you can choose......

Brenton

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I don't know about anyone else, maybe I have skinny arms, but I always replace bottom hose with the rad in, even with mechanical fuel pump... didn't think it was that hard?!

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

Yeah, a super long screw driver makes it a snap, as long as the clamps are put on facing the right direction so you can get the screwdriver onto them. The key to the job is the correct placement of the clamps actually.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Good work Lockie.
While I had the head off the van and all the injection crap out of the way I made use of the empty space to change my rad hose. There was nothing seriously wrong with the old one but the thought of having to do it on the side of the road doesn't excite me with the spi and air con filling the engine bay.

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'72 English Van...'72 Export Moke ...63' 850...KZ 750E1...'74 P76

Yep that's how i remember doing it, ( Probably 25+ yrs ago). Providing the hose clamps are in the right spot , you can do it fairly easily. I am just about to replace mine because it hasn't been done since i have owned the car, and i will be replacing the hose clamps with brand new ones, just to make it easier the next time i do the job.
You done well by the sound of it Lockie, i'm a firm believer that you do these sort of jobs in the shed rather than on the side of the road, usually a lot less stressful.

as Mick and goodie point out, it's all in the placement of the hose clamps... my bottom hose clamp was not anywhere where I could get it, so hence the 13mm or half inch socket if you like.. 13mm will do the job more than happy on the side of the road, that's all dad has..

P.S. Note that when I put it back in the hose clamps are now positioned in the correct position so if I do need to replace it over my road trip again, it will be slightly bit easier.

You can do the hose in the car, but as meantioned by others, its really a PITA job, and in the time I can get my rad out and in, with the next hose, its really not worth the buggering around and jigging my hand.. but it is certainly doable if you have paintece.. something I rarely have...

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!