I have run into this issue before trying to install new radiator hoses, or any hose under the hood. When I put on the rad hoses on the Jag it was a B&tch putting them on as the hose inside was dry and the part on the rad it went on was dry. What can you do to put them on with more ease?
I ask this because I am about to put on my octopus hose and with that new hoses being new will be unstretched to get on the fittings. Is there a way to make this easier???

 

Try a little soapy water. Not too much soap. Or silicon spray if you want to get fancy.

Warming the hoses helps. Dipping the ends in boiling water will soften them up.

 

Silicone spray as thats its primary use.
i just did my lower rad hose and just getting the clips on and off was a job in itself. they are so hard to clamp with pliers and are always in tight positions so you cant get to them easily, i ended up clamping them up then cable tieing them then sliding them in position and snipping the cable tie.

took me over 2 hours to drain the coolant and change the 1 hose

 

Prior to applying silicon to the inside diameter of the hose and the outside diameter of the fitting it's going on to, heat the end of the hose with a hair dryer. It will slightly soften the rubber and actually expand the inside diameter a tiny bit.

I used this technique when work on boats; nothing is accessible, and everything is difficult.

 

To echo the above, heat, silicone spray, a liberal amount of swearing, and (optional) blood if you slip and hit something.

 

Heat gun on end of hose.Gently The way the pros do it.
Special hose clamp plier tool if reusing original hose clamps.
If using regular hose clamps a big *** flat blade screw driver frrom Harbor freight.

 

Heat gun and a little antifreeze ( coolant) I try to use compatable elements. Antifreeze is quite slippery. Rich

 

The lower hose clamp is almost impossible to put back on without a tool such as this:

 

Tell me about it. Like i said if you get a thick cable tie and clamp it with some big pliers then put the cable tie on and then slid it on your pipe before you start its very easy. All you need to do is then snip the cable tie. Took me an hour to figure thats the only way with out special tools.

I bet thats why people use jubilee clips as they are simple but not as effective as the proper clips jaguar use

 

Well to my surprise the octopus hose went on rather quickly. No leaks thus far.