Heater outlet on radiator hoses
 

I am trying to renew the radiator hoses on my 400. Both have a brass insert mid-way along the hose that allows connection to the pipes supplying water to the heater.

Can anyone tell me how to correctly remove and re-fit the insert?

Heater outlet on radiator hoses
 

Dear Cliff,
Surprised they made hoses like this in the 1950's (very common now).
The inserts are bonded to the rubber hoses during production using special
primers for the metal parts and chemical bonding agents applied before
curing the rubber to the metal in a steam autoclave.
If original replacement parts are not available, or something very similar
you could make to fit, you could re-use the brass inserts by simply
attaching new hoses with Jubilee clips. If curved hoses are required you can
use hoses of the correct diameter from any other car model, and even
lengthen them using metal tubing.
If you can get away with straight hoses, make sure these are reinforced EPDM
rubber hoses, i.e. intended for hot water, and not NBR (hydraulic) hose.
EPDM will last 5 times as long.
Rgds,
Andrew.

If your brass stub is anything like the ones I've come across, then you can reuse it on your new hose, the stub has a flange inside the radiator hose, and a shaped spacer retained by a slender nut on the outside, the correct hose would have a ready hole for this, when assembling pass the stub up the bore of the hose. If you need, I can take a pic of a stub and hose I have yet to fit. Good luck finding decent quality hoses, there's some atrocious rubbish out there, I recently removed a lot of expensive rubber from an old Rover that had only been there a few years, usurping stuff that had served decades. The paper labels boasting of the kevlar content were still in good condition, the hoses were perished and rotten throughout.

Yes, thanks Des. I did finally persuade the compression joint to part (bonded tight by probably 40 years or more of use). I've fitted the hoses supplied by Bristol - top hose - old rubber and a near correct fit, needed the hole making and I added some sealant. Bottom hose - brand new silicon type - was completely incorrect with Bristol thinking that the 400 hose matched the 405 type. This was true in so far as once you have cut a third of the hose off (including the specially bonded side pipe) then the hose is an ok fit!

Cliff.

Heater outlet on radiator hoses
 

I believe still one is much better off to buy a good quality radiator hose
made for a modern mass-production car like VW, or a good aftermarket hose
produced by a specialist like Gates, rather than any aftermarket hose made
in small numbers in Bonga. If made from SBR, which is quite likely, these
will last a few years at most. Bristol will also not be able to source good
quality hoses a few at at time, unless of course they have family working at
Avon.
In my humble opinion.
Andy.