Water Inlet Tube

[mmajor97]

I am in the process of replacing the bellows on my 1984 Alpha One and when I put the water hose on it always wants to kink. Is this normal? Seems like it would make it crack at the kink over a couple months. Any ideas?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

are ya using a mercruiser hose?
the hose should be 13 7/8'' long

i don't normally vary from the s/m. but in this case, i think put it on the gimble hoseing end first. then route it down beside the bell housing and lastly connect to the bell housing.

i got to do mine 2 times for kink just like ya describe. my biggest issue was getting the hose all the way on the nipple on the gimble hoseing. i used a heat gun to warm up the rubber and pliers and a cone to spread the end of the hose out as best i could. i found getting the hose on the nipple to be the hardest part of the job. + if it's not all the way on, it'll kink the hose.

also, try and use the natural bend of the hose to your advantage when routing the hose..

yes, i purposely mis spelled...

 

[mmajor97]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

I was just using some 3/4 " heater hose I got from autozone. Does the mercruiser hose actually have a bend to it? I know what you mean about getting it on the bellhousing side nipple, what a pain in the backside!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

Does the mercruiser hose actually have a bend to it?

not the one i got. the proper part number was actually the same number as for the hose going from the inside nipple on the gimble housing up to the tstat. yep, like three times to long, cut to fit. i'm pretty sure Don S has posted up a number that is the oem part number that is 14'' long. this is a quote from Don S from a long time ago when i was having trouble getting my hose on.. "Or, get the new Merc hose, PN 4172533 that is 14" long and put it all the way on both fittings. Seems to be a heavier walled hose. Works for me anyway."

+ i bet the oem part is even more difficult to use than a heater hose. the oem part is very, very thick, stiff hose..

it just makes me cringe to remember how hosed i got over putting that stupid hose on... best thing i did was the heat up and expand the end to get it on the gimble hoseing end + routing from gimble hoseing end to bell housing end..

 

[mmajor97]

Re: Water Inlet Tubeboat

Re: Water Inlet Tubeboat

This is my first and last inboard boat. Everything i have done thus far has been a total pain in the neck. It will be a good learning experience when I am finished but I got to tell you, outboards are the only way to go!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

The OEM hose is double wall to resist kinking.plain heater hose is not the best thing.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

I'm starting to feel mmajor97 is right. These I/O drives are sure seem to have a lot more failure points than an outboard configuration... Do sound nice, though!

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Water Inlet Tube

My hands are too big to put that stupid hose onto the transom fitting. I take the through transom fitting off the boat, install the hose onto the plastic white tube, put it back onto boat. Then install the bellows and bell housing. And after those steps I put the bell housing end of the hose onto the nipple. And let me tell you it hurts my hand to shove the thing home but it has to be on correctly.