|
I discovered over the week end that my turbo to intercooler hose, on my 89 740T had weakened at the turbo end, and was leaking air. I wrapped it with duct tape, but it wasn’t enough, so I went to Lowe’s to see if I could find something to help. In the plumbing section, I found a three inch no-hub pipe coupling, for US$3.47- Lowe’s part number 23463. It’s two hose clamps attached to a metal sleeve, lined with rubber. For that kind of money, it was worth a chance. Back home I sized it up and saw that it would fit- the width was near perfect. I had to make two modifications to the inner rubber sleeve: First, I cut out about a one inch section from the sleeve, so it would compress when the clamps were tightened. Second, there is a circumferencial ridge inside the rubber sleeve, in the middle, that is there to prevent two pipes for coming in contact with each other. I took a sharp knife and removed it. All that was left to do was install it. I removed the original hose clamp at the turbo end, since the clamp on the new coupling would replace it. Then I slid the coupling over the hose lined it up, and put it back on the car. A bit of twisting was needed to get it lined up, then I tightened it down. The thing looks to be semi permanent, and, with the extra rubber plus the metal sleeve, I doubt there is any chance of blowing out the hose at the turbo end, at any pressure the turbo could produce. It could probably serve to reinforce a new hose, as well.
|
