Replacing Bad Fuel Filler Hose?

[Keyboardman]

Lots of cracks in what I can see of the fuel filler hose on my sterndrive boat. It's a new to me boat and I don't want to chance a leaking hose. It has a built in under deck tank. Looks basically impossible to remove and replace the filler hose without cutting the floor out to gain access. I could re route the hose under the engine thru the bilge area. Does the hose have to be encapsulated in something or maybe just a couple of straps to secure it in place would be sufficient? Not sure of any USCG regs about it. Thanks for any help.

 

[dingbat]

Cut a hole in the floor over the connection point and install a deck plate. Instant access when needed. Looks like it belongs there.

Trident A1 or A2 fuel hose. Not cheap, but it will last the life of the boat

 

[tpenfield]

Maybe post some pictures of what access you have and any visible sections of hose. That might prompt a few ideas. Sometimes you can use the old hose to 'pull' a length of new hose through hidden areas.

Snaking it under the engine would be a no-no.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there should be access at both ends. if not, get a 8" or larger deck plate like dingbat mentioned

disconnect both ends

with a length of rope and a shop vac, feed the length of rope thru the old hose. (shove the rope in one end, and use the shop vac to suck it out the other.)

then tie one end of the rope to the tank

now pull the old hose out.

get new hose about 6" longer than needed

drill thru hose about 1-1/2" from end

feed end of rope thru the hole in rope and tie

with help from someone, one person feed in the new hose, one person pull on the rope

cut off 2" from the end with the rope tied, install

cut off as required on other end and install

 

[Keyboardman]

The site will not let me upload pics for some reason. I have posted pics before so I don't know what the problem is. The pic starts to upload, then I get an "Unknown Error" prompt. Any Admin/Moderator Help?? There is a 8" deck plate over the filler connection, vent line and sending unit. It does not give much access to the filler hose and the deck is tight over the top of the hose with no clearance. From the fill end of the hose, it goes straight down about 16" to inside a thin wall 4" PVC tube glassed into the structure. From there, it goes a couple of feet to where it must make a 90 degree turn to starboard and towards the fill inlet on the tank. I don't think I'll be able to pull the hose thru that sharp a bend. There could be a 90 degree elbow in there, I don't know. If I can get the old one out, not sure if a soft wall hose would kink? If I did re route the hose thru the bilge under the oil pan I could run it thru some PVC pipe to protect it. What would be the danger of re routing it the way I'm thinking? I'll keep trying to post pics. Thanks guys!

 

[Chris1956]

Don't use a shop vac. They have open sparks, and if there is any gas fumes...kaboom.

W/O pictures, I find it hard to offer more than general advice. Remove the fuel filler fitting. This will give sufficient room to introduce one end of the filler hose. If you can get a hand onto the fuel tank filler fitting, you should be able to pull the fill hose onto it. Clamp with two SS clamps.

 

[Horigan]

Be sure to replace the vent hose at the same time. It is likely in the same condition.

 

[GA_Boater]

The site will not let me upload pics for some reason. I have posted pics before so I don't know what the problem is. The pic starts to upload, then I get an "Unknown Error" prompt. Any Admin/Moderator Help??

Try using a browser other than Internet Explorer. For some unknown reason IE and this version of VBulletin hate each other.

Firefox and Chrome work well.

 

[Keyboardman]

Replacing fuel filler hose now with Video

Can't upload pics, but I can share a video of the situation I have. I really don't know if I could pull a new hose thru even if there isn't a 90 elbow below the deck. I thought of encasing the re routed hose in PVC pipe to protect and shield it. The exhaust manifold is on the other side, I haven't run this new engine in the boat yet, so I'm not sure if it really gets hot at all in the bilge. Suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Chris1956]

Just cut the floor a bit more to get your hand onto the hose. Remove the fuel filler fitting. Now pull the hose off the tank.

Tape the new hose to the old one at the fuel fill fitting, and pull it up and out at the tank until you get the new filler hose to the tank.

It may work easier feeding the new hose from the tank size, hard to tell.

I presume the floor is under your dog house?

 

[alldodge]

I pretty sure it does not have a 90 degree fitting, or even a 45 degrees. Remove both ends of the hose and then see if it can be moved back n forth. If its stuck hard, you may need to do some cutting. Suggest runing the lines in the original way

 

[Scott Danforth]

this post should be merged with your other one on the same topic.

 

[GA_Boater]

this post should be merged with your other one on the same topic.

It is.

 

[Keyboardman]

Well, as soon as it stops raining long enough here on the NC coast, I'm going to give it a good try pulling the hose. I'm sure the vent hose is shot too so I'll try to pull it all including the sending unit wire so they don't get hung up and broken. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Grub54891]

It might help to mix up a batch of fairly strong dish soap, and spritz it down the tube for a good slippery pull.

 

[Keyboardman]

It finally stopped raining enough to get back to the boat. Got the old filler hose and vent hose pulled out. I cannot believe how deteriorated the old filler hose is. The rubber is totally gone in a big section and the wire webbing has rusted up from water. When I drained the tank, I noticed a lot (over a gallon) of water in it. I know that the boat had water in the bilge just below the oil pan once when someone forgot to take out the plug when he first got the boat. Obviously the water got into the tank thru the rotted filler hose. Thanks for all the advice guys, will let all know how pulling the new hoses works out!