1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Tips on changing a T-connector?

you will have a great deal more acess into that area if you simply remove the airbox assembly.
take the clamps loose and slide them down the hose where they can no longer grab the connector.
In lieu of having the correct tool to do the job a set of channel locks works well enough for me most of the time.
good luck.

 

No I have methane piped in from the john....

 

Cut off the carpy OEM ones. Get some real clamps from the Auto Parts store. Stainless with rolled edges are the best.

These are about the best on the market in my opinion.

ABA Hose Clamps

 

Special cable clamp tool was developed just for this situation....
It lets you put the head down in the tight area and with the cable the pliers works the clamp up where you have plenty of room...

 

A pair huh....

One for SAE and one for metric spring clamps?

 

Why yes, I keep them in the drawer with my metric crescent wrench & hammers..... The other with my whitworth tools.... :smilewinkgrin:

 

Use whale oil in lanterns to light the garage too?

 

There is a special tool for that.

http://www.amazon.com/Mercedes-Collar-Clamp-Pliers-Clic-R/dp/B00E5LZTZ6

They really are a one time use clamp meant for easy of assembly, not for ease of maintenance.

Reach down in with a wire cutter or snip of some type, cut off the clamp, then replace. I've heard you can twist them off with a screwdriver.

 

I've had the oem type clamp break about 50% of the time removing them...or simply not get tight again if you try to reuse them...
They are a pain...sometimes they "pop" off...but I have also spent 25 minutes on a single clamp.just takes time...that's WHY the shop charges "book'" rate for jobs...
Some cars take 5 minutes to do a job, some take 45 minutes...so "book" is the average of a (IMO) slow, unmotivated pro doing a job...
I have tried 3 or 4 diffent tools to do it...duckbill style visegrips or even an old set of "dykes" (front cut trimmers) work in a pinch if you are carefull....have also pried them off getting style...worse the cutters and a screwdriver...all sucked if they had been in place a few years...

 

I had to replace one those small diameter hoses in that rat nest. Like you it was tough. Had to pull out the airbox to get any leverage to maneuver. Its not that bad.

 

I bought a pair of these Chuck. Theys the bees knees.....