Modern Vespa

Trying to attach the engine coolant hose and for the life of me I can not get it all the way on. I think the clamp is just barely on the outlet in the back, you can see how it is a little cockeyed. So I've got a couple of questions.
1. Is that clamp too big? I know I need to rotate the screw down to keep it from rubbing the other hose. But, is it a size too big?

2. Is there any kind of lubricant that is safe to use between the hose and the water pump to help me slide it into place? I've seen recommendations running from permatex make a gasket, to waterless hand cleaner, to things called Duck Butter and assembly lube.

Someone recommended vaseline but even I know not to use anything oil-based.

I've tried using a rag and channel-locks without any luck. I've also tried using a screwdriver on the back edge of the clamp and gently tapping with a hammer. But I don't want to make yet another split in the hose.


Lend me your smarts!

Try heating up the rubber hose to make it more pliable.

Kim, what is the tape for?

There is a small split. Trying to get myself back on the road until the replacement hose comes in.

My 2 cents is that the clamp is too tight to allow hose expansion past the spigot's lip.
If you loosen the clamp and slide it to the left, will the hose then budge? if not, try a hair dryer to warm it.

I bet a small bit of the rescue tape has tucked under the lip of the hose, and is fiercely resisting the hose being pushed further on.

The clamp is big enough, no problem. Consider using two clamps to properly cover the split underneath.

Undo the clamp and push it way back out of the way, pull the hose off and cleanly cut off any rescue tape protruding further than the end of the hose itself. Use a tiny smear of food-grade silicone grease (as used in coffee machines etc, available in the plumbing supplies section of any hardware store) or water-based 'lube' (!) and push the hose all the way on.

Now you can wiggle the clamp into position. Use a 6mm (IIRC?) socket to tighten the clamp, using your other hand to keep the clamp properly at 90° to the hose.

Awesome, many thanks everybody!

Cut up an old inner tube instead of using tape. That should be much cleaner.

Soak the end of the hose in hot water, then try to fit it.

Just a thought, I would have put the clamp on so that the screw was on the bottom. More room there and no chance of the end of the screw bumping the hose on top.

Silicone spray is perfectly safe for rubber bits, and is available at any auto parts store. Spray just enough to get the inside of the hose wet and it will slide on without issue.

it is probably hanging on the hose/hose clamp that is DIRECTLY BEHIND IT. You can see it in one of the pics. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Piaggo couldn't give it just a little more room. They jammed all three hoses/clamps in there, and it is difficult to assemble all three.

During assembly of veterinary anesthesia machines. We used rubbing alcohol to make rubber hoses easier to install. The alcohol dries without leaving a residue.

I 2nd the suggestion of using alcohol, worked for me many times.

It seems a very sensible solution (!) to the problem.