Raw water intake hoses

RalphD

RalphD

Member
Mar 4, 2021
39
Wenham Massachusetts
Boat Info
2006 52’ Sedan Bridge
Engines
MAN
Hi,
I am in the process of replacing all of my raw water intake hoses with Shieldsflex II hoses. The present hoses are 16 years old so in most cases I am cutting them off due to the stiffness. I have two questions that I would like some input on:
1) What is the best way to clean the metal barbs that enter / exit the raw water strainers? Wire brushing alone won’t do it since there seems to be some soft black gummy material transferred from the hose. Is there a chemical that would dissolve, remove or soften this material?
2) Is there something that should be put on the barb before installing the new hose?
Thanks,
Ralph
 
Try some brake clean and good ole elbow grease, maybe a pick and scraper as well to remove the old hoses. No telling what a PO may have put on there to help slide hose on or as a seal. As far as installing new hoses I always use Vasoline.
 
Did you try a heavy wire brush? That would have been my first suggestion since based on what you mentioned, it sounds like that should work real well. You can also buy (a few bucks) wire wheels that insert into a drill. Otherwise, in addition to what Skip said, acetone/naptha/etc should help, too.

Just a side note about vaseline... it's petroleum based and that can soften/deteriorate rubber over time. Now, this only matters if the hoses do, in fact, have actual rubber in them, of course. Safer things would be silicone grease (easy to find) or even some plain old dish soap that you probably have in the galley. Another method is to heat them up with a heat gun to make them more pliable.
 
I have replaced hoses and I use liquid dish washer detergent to lubricate the inside of the hose and some on the fitting. Lots of bubbles when you start the boat.
 
Just a suggestion but if you’re going to go thru the trouble of replacing the hoses, you may want to take the extra step and relocate the fuel cooler on the port engine. It makes for easy zinc replacement and easy cleaning/ inspection and replacement.

9675A1E5-9C76-4339-9691-89F00110DF95.jpeg
 
Aside from lube to make it easier for hoses to slide on - is there anything for making them come back off a bit easier? I have to use a large curved pick type tool to get under the hose, twisting it around the barb to break it free, then pull and twist. I use an ant-seize on car brakes all the time - is there something for marine hoses?
 
RalphD said:
Hi,
I am in the process of replacing all of my raw water intake hoses with Shieldsflex II hoses. The present hoses are 16 years old so in most cases I am cutting them off due to the stiffness. I have two questions that I would like some input on:
1) What is the best way to clean the metal barbs that enter / exit the raw water strainers? Wire brushing alone won’t do it since there seems to be some soft black gummy material transferred from the hose. Is there a chemical that would dissolve, remove or soften this material?
2) Is there something that should be put on the barb before installing the new hose?
Thanks,
Ralph
Click to expand...
A stiff wire wheel to clean up the hose barbed areas. These in this pic are 2006 strainers that I pulled and rebuilt for my 52DB; a wire wheel on a drill motor worked great. Use soapy water (dish soap and water) to install the large hoses; it worked just fine for me. I would be very hesitant using any petroleum products on the hoses. Silicone grease would be acceptable also but for me wetting the inside of the hose and barbs with the soap worked just as well.
I did the same fuel cooler mod as @cod - there is no way to access the short adapter hose and clamps at the inlet of the port raw water pump unless you do that mod and get rid of that giant bracket back under there; you go from six impossible to access hose clamps to just two on the pump that you can get to.
IMG_5472 cropped.jpg
 
Last edited:
Phil S said:
I looked for this and found (in a few places) that it's no longer being produced :eek:
Click to expand...

Not that i am suggesting you need this product but...
https://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Quicksilver-Perfect-Compound-93-34227Q02/dp/B007I8YFZS

Under Product description:
Brand new, genuine Mercury Marine/Mercruiser Sealer-Pint Can. This is a factory original equipment part, not aftermarket. OLD SKU: 92-34227Q02-1 now 92-8M0170149 PLEASE NOTE MERCURY SHIPS THIS IN A DIFFERENT CONTAINER NOW MERCURY HAS SUPERSEEDED THE OLD CAN AND PN INSIDE MERCURY BOX IS NOW PERMATEX PRODUCT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,190
Messages
1,428,252
Members
61,100
Latest member
Raneyd85
Back
Top