82 Osprey 17 fuel fill hose

[jjsnjax]

Ok, is there a trick, a secret method, another option... for replacing the the fuel fill hose on my 17?  The old hose was rotted.  It came apart leaving a big chunk still in the tight area on the front port side where the line turns the corner to go up the side of the hull to the fill.  I cannot reach there, I cut a port in the fuel tank tub, but still cannot reach the line there.  Trying to feed a new line from the top down, or the bottom up has not been succesful so far.  It does not matter whether I am pulling or pushing, the new line does not like to bend and gets hung up in the corner.  It looks like enough space for the new line to pass, but bending the corner has been the problem.
I am considering cutting another port in the deck in this area, but I'd really rather not, and I am not sure it would help.

Any thoughts?
Thanks, Jeff

[Skoot]

I have 2 ideas. First one:  get a piece of smaller diameter tubing (Any ole tubing, nothing fancy) that's more pliable. If you can feed that through to your fill or tank your in business.  Then take your new hose and attach it to the tubing and pull the smaller piece of tubing out leaving the new fuel hose into position.

As for the tight corners: You'll need to heat up the new Fill hose to make it more pliable. Use a Hair dryer, space heater, lamp etc until it reaches the desired flexibility and immediately start the pulling, pushing, tugging process until its in place.

Does that make sense?

[jjsnjax]

I have tried heating with a heat gun, but this is wire reinforced underdeck hose, so it does not really get "soft"  I have fished a line through to pull with and have tried that as well.  The vent hose (5/8ths) goes through without a problem

[MarshMarlowe196]

So, the chunk of old hose is still in the boat?  That could be what's making feeding the new hose so difficult...

I replaced the fill hose in my 19-6 recently.  It was a mother.  I'm not sure about your boat, but there is a trough cut into the stringers of mine where the hoses lay.  If you've already pulled out your old hose, it's going to be difficult getting a new one in place.  I duct taped the new hose to the old hose and pulled it through using the old hose.

1st off- it's never going to work with pushing.  You'll have to pull it through- the hose is just too big and stiff otherwise.  I'd recommend finding something with the same diameter as the fill hose that's more malleable and pulling that through first- then attach this to your new hose (duct tape works) to pull it through.  Maybe a less heavy duty fill hose, similar to the material of your vent hose will work for this purpose.  An Eaton-Weatherhead dealer should be able to find you a hose in a length (5-6') and material suitable.

While you're at it, you might as well pull a small trackline through in case something like this comes up in the future..

I'd say you should try to dislodge the stowaway chunk using fish tape or something like that first, then try again.  Should at least make it easier.

Good Luck  

[fitz73222]

Ok, heres my $.02

The goal is get the fuel fill hose through the notch in stringer and on to the tank inlet. First, take a regular steel snake wire and feed it from the gunnell fill to the tank. Tie a piece of 1/4"-3/8 nylon rope to the snake wire and pull it through to the tank. Disconnect the snake wire. Next make two small cuts with a sharp knife, top and bottom in the fuel fill hose behind a couple of wraps of the integrated wire reinforcement. Feed through a big cable tie (3/8-1/2" width cable tie) through the slits you made and tighten the cable tie until it makes the fill hose into an oval; reduce the diameter top and bottom by at least 1/3 of the fill hose diameter in the free state. Take some vasoline and lube that fill hose up good on the outside so she will find her way through to the promised land without resistance (we know how to do that). Tie the cord through the cable tie and begin to pull with authority while an assistant provides pushes on the hose from the outside while you pull on the cord; it may take some timed in and out motion with the assistant until she finds that notch in stringer and comes on in.  Once you pull her through cut the fuel hose off past the area where you made the cable tie attachment and clamp her to the fuel neck with two hose clamps pulling clockwise and counterclockwise to oppose one anothers clamping force. If the fill hose provides some resistance while trying to do this; poor a glass of red wine down  the fill hose and talk gently to her during the process and she will submitt.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Ok, heres my $.02

The goal is get the fuel fill hose through the notch in stringer and on to the tank inlet. First, take a regular steel snake wire and feed it from the gunnell fill to the tank. Tie a piece of 1/4"-3/8 nylon rope to the snake wire and pull it through to the tank. Disconnect the snake wire. Next make two small cuts with a sharp knife, top and bottom in the fuel fill hose behind a couple of wraps of the integrated wire reinforcement. Feed through a big cable tie (3/8-1/2" width cable tie) through the slits you made and tighten the cable tie until it makes the fill hose into an oval; reduce the diameter top and bottom by at least 1/3 of the fill hose diameter in the free state. Take some vasoline and lube that fill hose up good on the outside so she will find her way through to the promised land without resistance (we know how to do that). Tie the cord through the cable tie and begin to pull with authority while an assistant provides pushes on the hose from the outside while you pull on the cord; it may take some timed in and out motion with the assistant until she finds that notch in stringer and comes on in.  Once you pull her through cut the fuel hose off past the area where you made the cable tie attachment and clamp her to the fuel neck with two hose clamps pulling clockwise and counterclockwise to oppose one anothers clamping force. If the fill hose provides some resistance while trying to do this; poor a glass of red wine down  the fill hose and talk gently to her during the process and she will submitt.

LOL!    

Oh yeah, good idea too  

[gran398]

Good points all. Always best to use the snake in tough passageways.

Fitz, agree. In past years have dealt with many types of hose. Easy hose, hard hose, nasty hose. They were all attained via your methods. So thanks.

If I may make one suggestion, would substitute water based lubes/emollients for the petrol-based lubricants you suggest. This way, you have evaporation, and don't potentially compromise the rubber.

Nevertheless Fitz, I nominate your post as the best, most concise, and most helpful post of 2011, thus far.

Thanks.

[flounderpounder225]

when I was pulling new stuff through the rigging tube, I used Dawn Dish Liquid... pretty slick stuff, and it won't hurt anything?? just my .02

[RebelYell]

..

I was fortunate enough to redo my 1990 200 Osprey with a new tank and hoses, ground wiring, etc when I restored it a couple of years ago.

I seem to remember a conversation on here about foamed in tanks and hoses; along with many juicy pictures and suggestions as to how to tackle the problem. And its a helluva problem. I was lucky, none of the evil foam is in my boat ( except for the stringers )

I would hope in your situation that this is not the case. Heaven forbid you if it is.

 :twisted: