Plastic hose clips - blurrrghh!

davisdavid · 22 Sep 2014 at 12:30

Hi all,

I'm looking to replace the plastic hose clips on my loop as I don't like them nor do I trust them. Thought I would replace them prior to building the internals up. My girlfriend bought me the Phanteks Enthoo Primo pre watercooled from OCUK for my birthday (she's a good egg) so obviously I'm going to need to drain the fluid and then replace the hose clips.

The water loop installed is:

XSPC RayStorm 750 AX360 WaterCooling Kit

Am I right in thinking these compression fittings are the correct size to replace the clips with?

XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome)

Also does anyone have any advice for draining the loop and flushing the system out so I can replace the blue coolant with a red.

And finally, to save opening several threads am I right in thinking that the current pump and rad would probably be slightly too weak to complete a loop with 290x in CF? The hardware part I'm fine with, it's the watercooling I'm new to :/

Many Thanks

ubersonic · 22 Sep 2014 at 13:38

davisdavid said:
I'm looking to replace the plastic hose clips on my loop as I don't like them nor do I trust them

Considered switching to metal clips? more secure than compresisons and much cheaper.

davisdavid said:
Am I right in thinking these compression fittings are the correct size to replace the clips with?

Yes, however they wont fit as tightly as your barbs because your barbs are slightly oversized for the tubing to give a very tight fit.

davisdavid said:
And finally, to save opening several threads am I right in thinking that the current pump and rad would probably be slightly too weak to complete a loop with 290x in CF?

From what I have heard of that pump I would say yes, three blocks and a rad (or rads if your adding more) is asking a lot of it.

davisdavid · 22 Sep 2014 at 14:09

ubersonic said:
Considered switching to metal clips? more secure than compresisons and much cheaper. Yes, however they wont fit as tightly as your barbs because your barbs are slightly oversized for the tubing to give a very tight fit.

So if I changed the tubing to match I'd be good? I just prefer the compression fitting for the aesthetics of the build, the price isn't a massive issue because we're not talking hideous amount of money for tubing and fittings

Luke_Bowman · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:05

Is it bad to use jubilee clips over barbs?

Worked for me so far...

ubersonic · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:09

Luke_Bowman said:
Is it bad to use jubilee clips over barbs?

Worked for me so far...

Best way for water cooling, been doing it this way since 2003, more secure than any compressions fitting going, just looks like ****

Luke_Bowman · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:12

ubersonic said:
Best way for water cooling, been doing it this way since 2003, more secure than any compressions fitting going, just looks like ****

Yeah it's not very pretty but secure as all hell. No worries of them coming loose

Admiral Huddy · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:14

Never used clips... just used a size smaller hose for a tighter fit. Just dip them in warm water, slip over and when cool, they are pretty tight.

For example, 7/16" ID tubes over 1/2" OD barbs..

ubersonic · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:24

Admiral Huddy said:
Never used clips... just used a size smaller hose for a tighter fit. Just dip them in warm water, slip over and when cool, they are pretty tight.

For example, 7/16" ID tubes over 1/2" OD barbs..

According to the info that's exactly what he has ATM, plus clips.

davisdavid · 22 Sep 2014 at 16:29

Yeah I'm fairly certain that's how it is at the moment. I might just try drain it and put a longer tube on, the one that is on at the moment reaches but because it is already filled and attached, when i place the block over the cpu it makes the fitting try to turn lose to relieve the pressure, it's probably 2mm to short :/