Any suggestions / tips? I'm not a complete moron.

Would like to save the hose, if possible, it's not warped.

 

If its sticking like that it means its bad.
Cut a slit length wise starting at the end you need to take off, peel it back until you get it off.

 

Finally got it off. It was an hour or so of pulling from under / from over / left hand / right hand / Cursing and kicking.

I will replace the hoses.

 

A cotter pin removal tool usually does the trick for me.



When installing them I usually smear silicone grease inside so they aren't as likely to vulcanize to the fitting.

 

I've got a similar tool that was actually sold as a radiator hose removal tool. I guess I know what else I should use it for now.

 

Also for removing/installing window gaskets.

 

I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that yet. My new-to-me defender is ex-mod and has about 5 layers of paint on it, including the window seals, so I was thinking about replacing them. How difficult is it?

 

Which ones? But if they aren't cracking or leaking I wouldn't bother unless you're stripping it for a respray.

 

Pretty much all of them, but the one in the windscreen and the small windows in the back of the hard top are what I was thinking about. I don't think they leak, and I wouldn't know if they are cracking because there is so much paint on them.... but yeah, I should probably wait until I decide if I want to paint it.