Please help a merc newbie. I have a '96 50hp model EL50PTO, and yes, a merc service manual. It has this small length of rubber tubing that comes out of the forward end of the lower part of the mid-housing (centerline) that goes into another fitting on the mid-housing on the port side. Just a piece of rubber tubing about a foot long. I've looked through the manual to try and find what this is for to no avail. Motor runs great, just trying to satisfy my curiousity...johnnyrudes don't have this. THanks for any help; jim