Found a GREAT trick for the stock airbox hose clamps!
 

Hey everybody -

I've had MANY frustrating experiences with the stock airbox hose clamps - the big spring clamps for the two intake pipes for the turbos. Best case is to replace them with worm drive clamps - why Mazda felt the need to use those spring clamps is beyond me.

Anyhow, sooner or later you're gonna have to deal with them. If you remove the clamp entirely from the hose, it's a ROYAL pain to get it compressed back on to the hose. You pinch them with channel lock pliers, but you can't get them opened up enough to fit over the hose. Meantime they slip out of the pliers and hit you in the arm :).

I helped a buddy with his FD this weekend, and he actually discovered this trick. He found a plastic cup in the garage that's about 2" around at the bottom, and gradually widens up to 4" or so up top. We turned the cup upside down on the driveway and put the clamp on it. Got the channel locks, squeezed the clamp as much as possible, and scooted it down the cup. Let go, re-set the channel locks to a "narrower" setting, move it down the cup again. About 3 times of that and the clamp was TOTALLY open, and we could squeeze it with the channel locks at the narrowest setting. Took it off the cup, popped it on the hose, done deal. We're talking SUPER easy - took all of 30 seconds.

Hope this helps somebody! I thought that was pretty ingenious!

Dale

I use a pair of channel lock pliers, one for the initial compression and slide the second one under and finish compressing the springs. It's still a pita but works! Great idea about the cup!

or you could get some real clamps:

https://www.mkiv.com/mohd/mods/others_mods/t-clamp.jpg

I use a Large "Robo Grip"... It works perfectly.

Yea... these are THE shit. I have them on my IC couplers. Love'em.

I have no problems with my spring clamps, and actually like them. The trick is to leave them on the hose when you take off the large hoses. That way they they don't get so small that you cant get the channel locks on them again.

I have those type on my IC clamps but they are serious overkill for the airbox.

Mazda used those spring clamps becuase they are great for manufacturing. No time spent tightening, no loose clamps, no clamps to tight, etc...

I actually like them. It seems the worm gear type always have this big piece of clamp sitting way out there which has been cut and bent. Then I get cut by the thing...

Is there anyone here who is strong enough to just use the index finger and thumb of both hands? I can do that to get them off, but by the time I get them back on my hands are too tired.

That's a helluva pinch grip, Jonski. :)

What do you mean overkill for the airbox, turbojeff? The OEM spring clamps lose tension after taking them off/on over time. Screw-types are the way to go, easy on/off, better leak sealing and they don't get chewed up/scratched with vise-grips or pliers. You can go cheap at Home Depot/Lowes or get the anodized ones. And you can swing them around to where the screw isn't visible but still accessible with a socket or phillips.

Yeah, I usually warm up by ripping some phone books in half then I go for those clamps:).

Long nosed vice grips. End of problems.

that's what i used to do... but i have since replaced them with worm gear type

Jeff is right about overkill. They are clamping a hose to the airbox in a location that does not see much pressure. It is NOT the same as the pressure seen after the turbos.

I can take them off by hand.. Robogrips just make life much easier.

https://www.mkiv.com/mohd/mods/others_mods/t-clamp.jpg[/QUOTE]
will these losen from vibration ?

no

vice grip. just adjust the screw to tighten it.

Now that is some real FD nerd comedy gold right there. I practice by bending nickles in half with my thumb and forefinger.

45 degree pliars are your friend. it even works great for taking off hoses!

No, that nut on the end of the t-bolt is a nylock-type.

good stuff no need for a cotter pin or lock wire then :)

Your not kidding those things suck especially because the two big hoses are stacked right on top of each other. And if the bottom spring clamp isn't angled just right it makes the top more difficult to install. All in all I think its a big mess and hassle, I think I'll stick with the worm type.