water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

[otgdy]

I am installing a water inlet tube in an Alpha one transom.
Well after 2 hours fighting with the water inlet tube I got it on the
90 degree pipe. Only problem is there is a permanent kink in the tube
around 10 Oclock. Must have screwed up the mesh inside the tube or
something.

Well here goes round 2.

Can you please provide ANY tricks you found out that would help with
this. All I have seen to date is that it is a Royal PITA.

People suggested the following:

Put the hose is boiling water. Might be hard to handle hot you would think?
Putting oil to tube and metal. Ditto.
Using a screwdriver and wedging it at 9 oclock to help leverage moving
the tube towards the 90 degree metal tube.

 

[Don S]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

Spray the inside of the hose and the outside of the tube with Mercury power tune.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

A couple of other suggestions...

1. Make sure your hose is the correct length.

2. Make sure you are using the correct hose and not heater hose.

3. Use the natural bend of the hose to your benefit.

 

[ziggy]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

i had a bummer with installing that hose too. such a bummer i got to do it twice for a kink.
imho, put the hose on the gimble hosing side first. then the bell housing. imho, that's how i eliminated my kink. the kink came from installing the hose on the bell housing first, then the gimble housing.
2nd time around, i warmed the hose with a heat gun. + spread it with some pliers and two screw drivers. + used dawn on it right prior to install. it slipped right on then.

that sure is a bummer hose to install on the gimble hoseing side.

misspelled words are how i feel about it...

 

[bobhol]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I used dons trick with the power lube and it went on so easily I thought I did it wrong ..no kidding!!!...15 seconds tops...I was dreading it cuz of what I had read here but it was the easiest part of the whole job...go figger ...Bob

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I had taken the tube off the transom first, connected the hose to the tube, then reconnected the tube to the transom.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I had taken the tube off the transom first, connected the hose to the tube, then reconnected the tube to the transom.

I can't imagine trying it any other way. That upper hose nipple is just too easy to remove to try and replace the hose without removing it.

 

[otgdy]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

Spray the inside of the hose and the outside of the tube with Mercury power tune.

Am I reading that right power TUNE. Have to find some of that. Thanks for the pic thought it was a typo for power LUBE.
I am installing the hose cut to 13 7/8 and installing it on the transom where the 90deg tube is.

How does the tube connect to the transom ? Doesn't look real easy from where I am sitting. Not much better in the engine compartment either.

Thought crossed my mind about how to remove that tube but so did calling a junk hauler in to take the boat away. LOL

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

Here's a pic of the inside of the transom assembly. (Never mind the wording on the pic). You would remove the two bolts holding the plate on (around the tube). The you can pull out the rubber grommet that holds the tube in place. The tube will come out from the outside then very easily.

 

[bobhol]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

Just to be perfectly clear...It is Don's trick...he is the one who posted it when I was doing the bellows and shift cable ...I also used it to get the exhaust bellows on and it worked great!!!lots of knowledge shared on the site ..it is the best for sure!!regards,Bob

 

[dollarten]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I am installing a water inlet tube in an Alpha one transom.
Well after 2 hours fighting with the water inlet tube I got it on the
90 degree pipe. Only problem is there is a permanent kink in the tube
around 10 Oclock. Must have screwed up the mesh inside the tube or
something.

Well here goes round 2.

Can you please provide ANY tricks you found out that would help with
this. All I have seen to date is that it is a Royal PITA.

People suggested the following:

Put the hose is boiling water. Might be hard to handle hot you would think?
Putting oil to tube and metal. Ditto.
Using a screwdriver and wedging it at 9 oclock to help leverage moving
the tube towards the 90 degree metal tube.

Mercruiser once said that the water inlet tube is nothing better that a good grade of heater hose and nothing else . Cut a piece to the exact length as the old one and install it so it follows the same curve as the old one . There is a natural curve to the hose as it pertains to how the hose was made If you dont have the old one you will have cut a piece and lay it on the floor and install it so the curve of the hose or the outer radius is facing to your left as you are looking at it. Then install it on the swivel housing first and the on to the gimbal housing next . You can move the swivel housing around in order to install the hose and tighten the screw clamp and then position the housing back to it's normal position .. You do need the curve in the hose so it rests on the swivel housing and not rubbing on the bellows Hope this helps

 

[otgdy]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I used dons trick with the power lube and it went on so easily I thought I did it wrong ..no kidding!!!...15 seconds tops...I was dreading it cuz of what I had read here but it was the easiest part of the whole job...go figger ...Bob

Now I keep looking at the picture and that power lube is a combustion chamber cleaner. I googled it and it is supposed to be real good at removing carbon buildups.
This is the stuff your putting on the hose ? Just making sure there isn't a lubricant by this name that I should be looking for.
Would never in a million years use a carb cleaner on a hose. Thanks for all the feedback. I am almost ready for round number 2.

 

[Don S]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

It is called Power TUNE, not lube, I did not misspell it and it is not misspelled on the can in the picture. It is NOT carb cleaner, it is for cleaning carbon from combustion chambers.
It does work on hoses, and bellows, and you can find it at any Mercury outboard dealer.

 

[otgdy]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

It is called Power TUNE, not lube, I did not misspell it and it is not misspelled on the can in the picture. It is NOT carb cleaner, it is for cleaning carbon from combustion chambers.
It does work on hoses, and bellows, and you can find it at any Mercury outboard dealer.

I purchased a can tonight. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. Guess I am surprised anyone would try a product like this for putting hoses on. Not doubting what you say.
Guess its like the first human that grabbed a cows utter and thought it might be tasty. Took a lot of courage/curiosity/something . I would never do it. I am too in the box I guess. LOL

Thanks again

OTG

 

[achris]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I buy Power TUNE by the case. It's great as a cutting oil too, and for removing rusted together parts, and .. well, just about anything you can think of. It's as close as you can get to a cure-all for anything mechanical....

LOVE THE STUFF!!!

Chris..........

 

[wca_tim]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

hairspray works well for putting hoses on as does a little acetone or mineral spirits... the last ones especially good for rubber exhaust hoses in tight locations, Hairsporay for water or fuel hoses... "old lady" hairspray works best... ;-)

 

[bobhol]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

oops!!!POWER TUNE...sorry...my bad ...but it worked great...Bob:facepalm:

 

[otgdy]

Re: water inlet tube alpha 1 - the fight continues

I finally got the time to attempt the install of the water inlet tube with my can of power tune in hand.
That stuff is awesome !!! It didn't take more than a few minutes to get the hose planted and clamped down.
I am really impressed with y'all and what you know. I even got the shift cable replaced in less than an hour
and that included a coffee break.

Thank you for all the help really appreciate it ! Now I attack the driveshaft and exhaust bellows.

Is is that this power tune is so slick or does it actually break down the rubber ? Not arguing with success
just very curious. That was just too easy.

OTG