Alpha 1 - Cracked/Weathered Oil Reserve Hose

[SpilledBEERMayday]

Hello,

I am about to launch my new to me boat and the only thing a surveyor had called me about (haven't got the full report yet) was a hose on the out-drive. I believe it he called it oil reserve hose. I finally picked it up today and took some pictures. It appears the outer part of the hose is like a neoprene. I just wonder if the inner part of the hose is reinforced with nylon.

Can this wait to be fixed for one more season? This boat hasn't been used in a few years. Is it common for these hoses to have failures? This boat is a 1998 Maxum 2300 SC and Im sure this is probably the original hose. I have attached pictures.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Pretty beat hose, should be replaced. Lose the oil, lose the drive

 

[nola mike]

What is that hose? I don't have it on my gen 1.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Its the hose that supplies gear oil to the drive from the res bottle

 

[poconojoe]

That's not good! From the pictures, the bellows look pretty good. I wonder why they didn't replace that hose when they did the bellows? Oh well...

 

[achris]

What is that hose? I don't have it on my gen 1.

Correct. Integrated oil reservoirs only started on the Gen II drives (from 1992)... Reservoirs for earlier drives were a hose connected to the top 'vent' plug hole and the hose ran though a hole in the transom to an oil bottle (some round, some square).

Chris.......

 

[SpilledBEERMayday]

Is it necessary to take drive off or apart to repair this? Reason I ask...one place says they can do itbfor a 100 bucks and they dont have to tear everything apart. Other place says they do and is around 500 dollar range and laughed when i told him the other estimate and said gooood luck to ya.

 

[nola mike]

Its the hose that supplies gear oil to the drive from the res bottle

Yeah, didn't know of the change between 1 and 2. Thought they both came off the vent hole like achris said. Thanks.

 

[achris]

Drive needs to be removed, but not disassembled. That takes 5 minutes (and if you are skeptical about that time, check out my videos). $500 is over the top. The hinge pins have to come out to allow the bell housing to be moved to gain access, but again, not a long job. After that, the hose can be replaced, and the process is reversed... Given nothing is stuck, then about 2 hours for an experienced tech.

I wouldn't trust a tech that says the drive doesn't need to come off, but I'd also be asking the $500 dollar guy what else you're getting for the $500.... (I'd expect the bellows and shift cable to be replaced for that. )

Chris........