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Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298638] Mon, 04 April 2016 22:23 Go to next message
Tom Whitton   United States
Messages: 235
Registered: February 2004
Location: Paducah, KY
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Bob Stone and I switched out my steering box this evening. When filling up the reservoir I dropped a small hose clamp in the fill opening. The clamp was holding a short piece of tubing on the end of a funnel. The tubing came off inside the opening and I was able to fish it out. Not so for the hose clamp. I can't see it and more than likely it dropped on down.

I haven't started the engine so the pump hasn't turned. Is this thing going to get into the pump vanes or will it just stick in there somewhere and do no harm? I'm trying to get away to go to the rally in Dothan but don't want to create any more of a problem than I have.

I'm kicking myself for this one.

Appreciate your input.

Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
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Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298639 is a reply to message #298638] Mon, 04 April 2016 22:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Tom,

I can't say for sure because I don't remember the exact interior
configuration, but I don't THINK it can get into the mechanism. There is
(or SHOULD BE) a magnet inside the reservoir, stuck to the the cast iron
main body to catch metal particles. If you're lucky, the clamp is stuck to
that magnet. Or, that may pose a problem if you're trying to extract the
clamp with a magnetic pickup. Or is the clamp SS & non-magnetic?

I'd try real hard with the magnetic pickup.

Ken H.


On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 11:23 PM, Tom Whitton
wrote:

> Bob Stone and I switched out my steering box this evening. When filling
> up the reservoir I dropped a small hose clamp in the fill opening. The
> clamp was holding a short piece of tubing on the end of a funnel. The
> tubing came off inside the opening and I was able to fish it out. Not so
> for the hose clamp. I can't see it and more than likely it dropped on down.
>
> I haven't started the engine so the pump hasn't turned. Is this thing
> going to get into the pump vanes or will it just stick in there somewhere
> and do no harm? I'm trying to get away to go to the rally in Dothan but
> don't want to create any more of a problem than I have.
>
> I'm kicking myself for this one.
>
> Appreciate your input.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298640 is a reply to message #298638] Mon, 04 April 2016 22:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
Tom, time to go fishing. Take a piece of 1/16" gas welding rod, bend the
end into a "j" shape and fish the clamp out. Probably not a good idea to
leave it in there.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Apr 4, 2016 8:33 PM, "Ken Henderson" wrote:

> Tom,
>
> I can't say for sure because I don't remember the exact interior
> configuration, but I don't THINK it can get into the mechanism. There is
> (or SHOULD BE) a magnet inside the reservoir, stuck to the the cast iron
> main body to catch metal particles. If you're lucky, the clamp is stuck to
> that magnet. Or, that may pose a problem if you're trying to extract the
> clamp with a magnetic pickup. Or is the clamp SS & non-magnetic?
>
> I'd try real hard with the magnetic pickup.
>
> Ken H.
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 11:23 PM, Tom Whitton
> wrote:
>
>> Bob Stone and I switched out my steering box this evening. When filling
>> up the reservoir I dropped a small hose clamp in the fill opening. The
>> clamp was holding a short piece of tubing on the end of a funnel. The
>> tubing came off inside the opening and I was able to fish it out. Not so
>> for the hose clamp. I can't see it and more than likely it dropped on
> down.
>>
>> I haven't started the engine so the pump hasn't turned. Is this thing
>> going to get into the pump vanes or will it just stick in there somewhere
>> and do no harm? I'm trying to get away to go to the rally in Dothan but
>> don't want to create any more of a problem than I have.
>>
>> I'm kicking myself for this one.
>>
>> Appreciate your input.
>>
>>
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Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298641 is a reply to message #298639] Mon, 04 April 2016 23:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gadabout is currently offline  Gadabout   United States
Messages: 124
Registered: March 2013
Location: Edmonton
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Hi Tom,

You actually dropped the clamp into the fluid reservoir , the pump is a self contained unit that resides in a the reservoir and draws fluid in through a passage.

There are not any parts rotating in the reservoir, only inside the pump unit itself.

Think of it like a sump pump, submerged in water.

Providing the clamp you dropped is smaller than the inlet passage, you should not have any problems.

Here is a you tube link you may want to view: http://youtu.be/o5JTghafe8s

There is also some good photos in the gmc maintenance manual.





Carl Harr : Driver NASCAR Pro Series #2
1978 Gadabout-Restoring
1978 Palm Beach
1976 Glenbrook
Prevost Featherlite H3-45
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298642 is a reply to message #298638] Mon, 04 April 2016 23:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Cruse is currently offline  GMC Cruse   United States
Messages: 606
Registered: June 2009
Location: SE Michigan
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Tom Whitton wrote on Mon, 04 April 2016 23:23
Bob Stone and I switched out my steering box this evening. When filling up the reservoir I dropped a small hose clamp in the fill opening. The clamp was holding a short piece of tubing on the end of a funnel. The tubing came off inside the opening and I was able to fish it out. Not so for the hose clamp. I can't see it and more than likely it dropped on down.

I haven't started the engine so the pump hasn't turned. Is this thing going to get into the pump vanes or will it just stick in there somewhere and do no harm? I'm trying to get away to go to the rally in Dothan but don't want to create any more of a problem than I have.

I'm kicking myself for this one.

Appreciate your input.

Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
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When using a magnet is a problem, I use one of these.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-Grabber-and-Retriever-PF0401/202505170


Mike K. '75 PB Southeast Michigan
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298662 is a reply to message #298638] Tue, 05 April 2016 09:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
Besides the antenna style mag retriever, there is also a flexible memory type ( like stiff BX) with a screw driver handle. My GF dropped some screws down the sink P trap (J Trap) and it worked. If that doesn't work get a small hi power magnet and start at the bottom outside the resevoir and slide it up the curved side till you can reach in and grab with the pincers or another mag tool.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298663 is a reply to message #298638] Tue, 05 April 2016 09:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
Senior Member
pop low pressure hose off. let it drain as much as possible. use a turkey baster to pull more fluid out. then maybe someone with good eyes can see down in there and find it/fish it out.



maybe a stainless clamp? magnet may not help, but some sort of grabber.


Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298716 is a reply to message #298638] Tue, 05 April 2016 20:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Tom Whitton   United States
Messages: 235
Registered: February 2004
Location: Paducah, KY
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Hose clamp in the power steering reservoir wrap up...

I started today by lowering a hose clamp, secured on a wire, down into the power steering reservoir to see if the clamp would actually go on down the sides. It went down easily. I couldn't find the missing one anywhere under the coach or on the engine so I had to assume that it was, in fact, down inside the reservoir.

Yesterday, I had tried using a magnet but it just stuck to the sides and was basically useless. Today, I bent a clothes hanger, fished and fished with it for a long time. I think I could hear it rubbing the sides of the reservoir near the bottom but I can't be sure. After a long time I gave up and called my brother-in-law for his opinion. He's a businessman now but started as an auto mechanic. Anyway, he suggested I call a guy near his home who rebuilds power steering pumps and steering boxes. I called him, told him what happened, that it was in a GMC motorhome. He knew the GMC coach and the power steering pump well. He said the hose clamp wasn't going to hurt a thing, to drive the coach and not worry about it.

So, most everybody is in agreement. The clamp isn't doing any harm laying on the bottom of the power steering reservoir. Regardless, I don't like it being there and hope to never make the same mistake again. I'm still kicking myself about doing it.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. As usual they were all helpful.

Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
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Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298728 is a reply to message #298716] Tue, 05 April 2016 22:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
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Registered: November 2013
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Next time you see the tool truck at a dealership or repair shop, stop in and ask the tool guy/girl for the aluminum encased magnet mounted on a stiff copper wire. Then you can stick that down in there and snatch the clamp. The encased magnet is only about 7mm thick and the wire can be formed to what ever shape you need. The aluminum casing reduces the side stick of the magnet.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298730 is a reply to message #298728] Wed, 06 April 2016 06:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Senior Member
Terry,

Agreed!

UNLESS the guy that installed it is an anally retentive perfectionist bastard (like me) and installed an Ideal all stainless steel
clamp. :-)

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry

Next time you see the tool truck at a dealership or repair shop, stop in and ask the tool guy/girl for the aluminum encased magnet
mounted on a stiff copper wire. Then you can stick that down in there and snatch the clamp. The encased magnet is only about 7mm
thick and the wire can be formed to what ever shape you need. The aluminum casing reduces the side stick of the magnet.
--
Terry


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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298735 is a reply to message #298730] Wed, 06 April 2016 08:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
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Registered: November 2005
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Rob
According to some online tests Ideal stainless clamps are in some cases magnetic -- generally the screw.

Try a magnet test was the conclusion they drew.

Dennis

USAussie wrote on Wed, 06 April 2016 06:42
Terry,

Agreed!

UNLESS the guy that installed it is an anally retentive perfectionist bastard (like me) and installed an Ideal all stainless steel
clamp. Smile

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry

Next time you see the tool truck at a dealership or repair shop, stop in and ask the tool guy/girl for the aluminum encased magnet
mounted on a stiff copper wire. Then you can stick that down in there and snatch the clamp. The encased magnet is only about 7mm
thick and the wire can be formed to what ever shape you need. The aluminum casing reduces the side stick of the magnet.
--
Terry


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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298745 is a reply to message #298735] Wed, 06 April 2016 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powwerjon is currently offline  powwerjon   United States
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
Senior Member
Rob and Dennis
The clamps that are available at HD and Lowes in the plumbing area are all Stainless (200/300 series stainless-steel band, housing and screw construction ). These are the only ones that I recommend. 304SS is slightly magnet were as 316SS is not. Most of the hose clamps that you get at most of the big box auto parts stores have SS band of some material but the screws are not stainless.


J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
Newsletter Editor/Publisher
Tech Editor
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan

> On Apr 6, 2016, at 7:55 AM, Dennis Sexton wrote:
>
> Rob
> According to some online tests Ideal stainless clamps are in some cases magnetic -- generally the screw.
>
> Try a magnet test was the conclusion they drew.
>
> Dennis
>
> USAussie wrote on Wed, 06 April 2016 06:42
>> Terry,
>>
>> Agreed!
>>
>> UNLESS the guy that installed it is an anally retentive perfectionist bastard (like me) and installed an Ideal all stainless steel
>> clamp. :)
>>
>> Regards,
>> Rob M.
>> USAussie - Downunder
>> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
>> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Terry
>>
>> Next time you see the tool truck at a dealership or repair shop, stop in and ask the tool guy/girl for the aluminum encased magnet
>> mounted on a stiff copper wire. Then you can stick that down in there and snatch the clamp. The encased magnet is only about 7mm
>> thick and the wire can be formed to what ever shape you need. The aluminum casing reduces the side stick of the magnet.
>> --
>> Terry
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Dennis S
> 73 Painted Desert 230
> Memphis TN Metro
>
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Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298746 is a reply to message #298735] Wed, 06 April 2016 19:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Dennis,

Agreed, however, please note I stated; "Ideal ALL stainless steel clamp." They have a stainless steel non magnetic screw.

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Dennis Sexton
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 9:56 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump

Rob
According to some online tests Ideal stainless clamps are in some cases magnetic -- generally the screw.

Try a magnet test was the conclusion they drew.

Dennis




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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Hose clamp dropped in power steering pump [message #298754 is a reply to message #298642] Thu, 07 April 2016 00:01 Go to previous message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
Senior Member
Suction sometimes works where magnets don't. Hook a shop vac to a small hose (3/8" or 1/2") and go fishing.


Sent from Camp Walmart just north of Dothan which has excellent free WIFI.



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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