Mikalor clamps

[IslandBlue]

Having read about these on a (locked) thread on y-piece clamps they seem great but I am confused about the sizing which seems important as their clamping range is limited.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12011&p=93458&hilit=mikalor#p93458

For example someone stated that for a large bore maniflow LCB the y-piece clamps required would be 44-47. Which begs the question what is the OD of the receiving end of a large bore maniflow y-piece? I'm guessing at 1 5/8" or 41mm - so does the 44-47 clamp adjust down to 41mm?

My interest actually relates to a maniflow freeflow 3-1 which dumps straight into an RC40 so I'm looking for a clamp for a 1 7/8" OD or 47mm - would I require a 47-51mm Mikalor clamp?

Thanks

[Dean]

I have them on mine with a free flow and a rc40, i check them tomorrow but i am sure they are the 47-51mm.

[IslandBlue]

I have them on mine with a free flow and a rc40, i check them tomorrow but i am sure they are the 47-51mm.

That would be very kind of you!

[ianh1968]

For example someone stated that for a large bore maniflow LCB the y-piece clamps required would be 44-47.

... "Someone" was me!

The 44-47 clamps are fairly well closed up but you may find that the next size down
will not go over the pipe with it fully unwound. I think that I might have tried it and failed...

These pictures are the actual clamps I used with the Maniflow Large Bore LCB:
(Check how substantial they are where the bolts go through)

QualityClamp01.jpg

QualityClamp02.jpg

You can get these here http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/search?q=clamps
(The small one is M6, the large one is M8).

<SNIP>Mikalor clamp?<SNIP>

This picture is from the Mikalor website:
(Check how flimsy they are where the bolts go through)

MikalorClamp.jpg

Interestingly, on the Mikalor site, these clamps are listed as "Hose Clamps".
The Mikalor ones are cheaper, but at the end of the day: -
"You pay your money, you take your choice"...

Personally, I'd rather pay more for quality.

Ian

[IslandBlue]

Thanks Ian, sorry for not name checking you, was in a bit of a rush!

I think the clue is the W5 stamp, I think you may have mentioned in the original thread that the W2 is the lower spec material (not all components are stainless?) perhaps the sizes get beefed up too? Agree with you about quality, but right size vital!

Stewart

[Jono]

I used Mikalor clamps on my other classic (Lotus Twincam) to clamp the Y piece to the header downpipes.

What I have found is they do not provide sufficient clamping pressure to properly close the joint. If you nip them up too tight they have a habit of stripping the threads.

They looks nice but, personally, I would only use them on hoses.

Jon

[Vegard]

I use these on my exhaust as well. Great stuff!

[ianh1968]

Stewart - Being referred to as "Someone" is far more polite than what
I got called on here recently... No apology necessary.

(Mikalor clamps) If you nip them up too tight
they have a habit of stripping the threads.

I think that you would have a problem stripping the threads on the "Nice" ones...
The ferrules are made from a solid 12mm bar on these, whereas on the
cheaper ones, these parts are far inferior and the amount of thread
engagement is very poor.

I use these on my exhaust as well. Great stuff!

Which ones? The Mikalor ones, or the "Nice" ones?

Ian

[Vegard]

Mikalor.

[Jono]

Ian,

They were the goods ones, cost me around £5-£6 a pop IIRC

The only one's I had success with, at least on my application, which as said was not a Mini, were the conventional horse shoe type U clamps. My exhaust and downpipes on the Lotus are admittedly stainless, which requires a greater clamping force that MS to achieve sufficient crush to cause a seal so perhaps they just don't work on SS pipework?

They do look nice however and I have them on the rad hoses where they work very well (though not looking 'period')

Jon

[ianh1968]

My exhaust and downpipes on the Lotus are admittedly stainless,
which requires a greater clamping force that MS to achieve sufficient crush
to cause a seal so perhaps they just don't work on SS pipework?

Mine were also used with a totally SS manifold (HOW EXPENSIVE???)...
I guess that with the smaller tubes, there would be enough "meat" in
the ferrules to take them out from M6 to M8 if stripping is still a problem.
(Or even tap the ferrules to take 5/16" UNF which would be a slightly finer
pitch and would have a better mechanical advantage when closing up the
tubes).

If you can strip the threads in a solid ferrule, I don't think that you would
stand much hope of success with the "lesser" ones.

Ian

[Jono]

....expensive indeed, especially after the Zircotec

Jon

[Dean]

here they are fixed to my maniflow free flow and a rc40, all stainless
both at 47-51mm W4

[IslandBlue]

here they are fixed to my maniflow free flow and a rc40, all stainless
both at 47-51mm W4

That's perfect, thanks very much. Don't think I'll be posting any pictures of mine!

Looking very tidy under there, is that some sort of wrap round the front of the exhaust pipe?

[Dean]

Yes. My car is a floor start with a remote. So it's tight. I have moved the floor start over enough and wrapped the exhaust to the end of the remote to reduce heat and stop the power terminals on the floor start hitting the exhaust! The exhaust does not move that much under there. Plus it hits the tunnel before it would hit the floor start.

Better safe than sorry. I did buy a small section from maniflow which is ment to get around the tightness but it would not of been a good fit.

[pad4]

Been using them for years - never had a problem with them

Pad

[ianh1968]

Stewart - Top Tip/Polite request:

Please don't use the "quote" facility to reply when there are pictures in a
post as this makes viewing the page a bit repetititititive and/or confusing....

It's also very labour-intensive for my right hand as I have to do a lot of scrolling.
(See previous remarks re name-calling, etc...)


It is possible to use the "quote" facility and edit the images out, like I have done here.

here they are fixed to my maniflow free flow and a rc40, all stainless
both at 47-51mm W4

That's perfect, thanks very much. Don't think I'll be posting any pictures of mine!
Looking very tidy under there, is that some sort of wrap round the front of the exhaust pipe?

... and I agree, it does look really nice under there!

Ian

[IslandBlue]

Stewart - Top Tip/Polite request:

Please don't use the "quote" facility to reply when there are pictures in a
post as this makes viewing the page a bit repetititititive and/or confusing....

It's also very labour-intensive for my right hand as I have to do a lot of scrolling.
(See previous remarks re name-calling, etc...)


It is possible to use the "quote" facility and edit the images out, like I have done here.

Ian

No worries, completely agree and usually do as you say on most forums but am posting from work which blocks photobucket images so perhaps was less aware!

Have even fixed it

[IslandBlue]

Having established the size of clamp I require (thanks), I was intrigued by the different specifications of the "Mikalor Supra Heavy-Duty Hose Clamp" available so I decided to investigate further.

Attached are the detailed specs of the W2, W4 and W5 clips from Mikalor's website http://www.mikalor.com/eng/supra-heavy-duty-clamp-eng

Clearly the quality increases as you progress but in the 47-51mm size the maximum torque values are 16Nm for all 3 specs and maximum pressure values are 30 Bar for the W4 and W5 but 36 Bar for the W2.

Automotive applications are only mentioned for the W2 and the main benefits of the higher specs seem to be corrosion resistance which is no bad thing. The W2 bolt does not appear to be stainless, merely "high-strength" and is also 10mm across the flats rather than 11mm for the W4 and W5.

Interestingly the reassuringly solid ferrules that Ian has identified don't seem to appear in the current literature so unless someone else is making W5 clamps to Mikalor's design it seems that the spec has been changed. Having watched a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK7LDkK ... Rv84x#t=59 (this is getting out of hand - these things are more interesting than I ever imagined ) there is a captive nut attached to the curved clamping plate with a trunnion/spacer as well - it is not only the narrow curved plate that is threaded.

Unless I am missing something the logical conclusion is that the W2 clips are probably adequate for my purposes but that the W4 includes the benefit of a stainless bolt with a larger head.

Hopefully this sheds a little more light on the subject!

Stewart

[ianh1968]

unless someone else is making W5 clamps to Mikalor's design

... or are Mikalor making clamps to someone else's design?

There may be several firms either making or marketing this type of clamp.
Possibly they all come out of the same factory, but get stamped up with
different details dependent on whose clamps they are to become?

My clamps are marked "INOX" which is actually just another name for stainless.

"Norma" marketed W5 Clamps are shown here with the solid ferrules...
http://www.directindustry.com/prod/norm ... em_1579886
If you scroll down a bit, there are several clamps of the "Nice" variety, including some DOUBLE ones!

Ian