How do I disconnect this?

[mjb]

I've got to pull apart my existing aircon hose parts and replace them with the 2nd hand ones I've bought...

So how the heck do I pull these joints apart?

[puggy]

when they did mine i got a brief glimpse of the guy doing it, couldn't
quite see the tool he was using but he seemed to pull those plastic rings
into the joint and that seemed to release the spring inside enough for them
fo come apart . ( although i may well have missed something it was only a glimpse )

[teamster1975]

Looks almost as though the metal has been folded over the flange of the pipe

[mjb]

he seemed to pull those plastic rings into the joint and that seemed to release the spring inside enough for them fo come apart .

Ooooh. I think I can see how that could work!

[teamster1975]

Of course Puggy & I posted at the same time as his post is actually helpful!
I always wondered what those plastic rings were for...

[puggy]

think thats the first time i beat you teamy , ya fast bugger !!!!!

[teamster1975]

It's all about teamwork Lou
To be honest I can't see how the hell they come apart!

[mjb]

The answer to my question appears to be as follows:

1. Prop up the hose so the spring is as horizontal as possible and visible from the top
2. Pump full of WD40
3. Wait
4. Use a small screwdriver and (try to) snap the corrosion holding the spring down
5. Hit the joint, twist it, bend it, anything to allow the two parts to move independently
6. Pull apart (it won't go) and work around it pushing the spring out with a small screwdriver. The spring should stay along the outside. Keep moderate pressure on the joint and after lots of spring pushing it'll come apart

Those plastic rings looks like they could be used to split an un-corroded one, but they're too big and the legs too short. Perhaps the correct tool can use them, but without it they're useless. My coupé's pipes don't have the rings on anyhow

[puggy]

Been looking on the net , seems the tool to do it comes in various
sizes and splits along the middle to allow you to clamp it over the
pipe , it then expands the spring as you have done with the screwdriver .

[Welly]

Teamy said flange

I didn't think you'd separate those joints without the proper tool/adaptor doo-dad. I've never really thought about them before

As usual though mjb gets on with it and finds a way

I have to admire your getting stuck in with these jobs m

[puggy]

Teamy said flange

OOOOHHH i missed that , mmmmm flange .....

[Captain Jack]

Teamy said flange

OOOOHHH i missed that , mmmmm flange .....

Am I missing something here? Or is my English letting me down....

[mjb]

As usual though mjb gets on with it and finds a way

I have to admire your getting stuck in with these jobs m

I have four choices:

1) Do the work and find some way of getting the car re-gassed by Monday
2) Drive ~2000 mile round-trip to Germany without aircon and with my non-driving passenger emitting CO2 too (ZzzzzzzzzzzzzCRASH)
3) Drive ~2000 mile round-trip to Germany in a Golf TDI (owmyback owmyears BANG shitshouldhavechangedthecambelt)
4) Hire car (££££££)

If I can't get it fixed by Monday I've got a difficult decision to make.

[teamster1975]

Teamy said flange

OOOOHHH i missed that , mmmmm flange .....

Am I missing something here? Or is my English letting me down....

Another word for minge
I nearly spat my coffee at the screen reading that you lot!

[puggy]