Spring Clamps (C3) Square vs Round ends

[Tom R.]

You'll recall the recent thread on spring clamps, somewhat highjacked from the thread on 73 Resevoir Clamps. Well I'm tracking down a fuel leak on my 78, removed the fuel cap boot and while inspecting discovered that the red spring clamps used to secure the emission lines to the cannister and the fuel return line, well one had rounded edges and the other square edges. Surprised the heck out of me.

I'm concluding that the factory must have been using both interchangeably because I have no doubt that the configuration is original. It's like when I get down to the bottom of my dog's 13 gallon meal pail...the puppy chow begins to mix with the adult meal and both are served up. I'm thinking something like that was still happening at the St Louis factory into the late 70's.

this is a link to the original thread from a few weeks ago.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=63413

[Alan S.]

Re: Spring Clamps (C3) Square vs Round ends

Hi Tom,
I was away on vacation when that discussion was going on, so I hadn't seen it. I just read it straight through now. IT"S NO WONDER THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK NCRS MEMBERS ARE LOONY. There is NO detail too small to be discussed at length. I love it!!!
Has anyone measured the radius on the rounded ear? That certainly would be interesting to know!!! Also what kind of tool was used to cut the straight ear. Did it start to leave a burr as it dulled? A dull tool discussion could morph into a broaching machine discussion!
Regards,
Alan

[Gary S.]

Re: Spring Clamps (C3) Square vs Round ends

I am going out on a limb here by relying on memory, when I had my 72 judged for the first time at a Regional, I took a 1 point hit on the clamps on the fuel line. I had rounded ears and I was told that they should be straight cut. The reasoning for the rounded ears was that too many mechanics cut their hands when working on them (or something like that) and it was changed to rounded ears for safety purposes.

Gary

[Tom R.]

Re: Spring Clamps (C3) Square vs Round ends

Gary

There is a consensus that among early C3s, straight eared spring clamps were used. My guess is that by mid-70's, the rounded endges were introduced but there is no definitive timeframe. We can say tho and the AIMs confirm that the red 1/4 clamps were used on emission control lines (vapor) from canister to tank.