Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

[cheburashka]

'72 Mercruiser 140 with Pre-Alpha. Usually trailered, and run only in fresh water.

I pulled the outdrive today in order to lube the u-joints, and found that the bellows are in very good shape. No leakage, and replaced around a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, the water intake hose has a crack in it which allows a small amount of water to leak out, and I want to replace it.

Having the outdrive off doesn't help with access to the hose, but I'm hesitant to pull the bell housing since the bellows are in good shape and well sealed, and I understand it's a PITA to re-install them. I found one post regarding how to replace the hose with the bell housing in place, but that sounded like a PITA as well. Any pointers on how to replace the hose? Is leaving the bell housing in place one of those "shortcuts" that effectively doubles the amount of time necessary to do the repair?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

There are no short cuts, or an easy way to change that hose.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

Got it. I'll be pulling the bell housing.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

It might be doable without unfastening the u joint bellows.....
You might want to look first.....​

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

Worth a shot, especially since I don't have the hinge pin tool, and the marina's closed until Monday. The hose was so brittle it snapped in my hand.

<<Edit>> It's out!! U-joint bellows still in place too!. I'm going to try re-mounting it by running a rope through the hose assembly and the barb that goes through the hull, with a knot in it to keep it from going through the barb. I'm hoping to be able to get this done without having to enlist help from my wife. Something about fumbling around with a hose in a dark smelly place saying "I think it's in the hole--how does it feel to you?" just doesn't appeal to me the way it used to. <<edit>>

 

[Don S]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

Look at it all day long, but the fact is,

There are no short cuts, or an easy way to change that hose.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

I'm hoping to be able to get this done without having to enlist help from my wife. Something about fumbling around with a hose in a dark smelly place saying "I think it's in the hole--how does it feel to you?" just doesn't appeal to me the way it used to.

Ayuh,......... Especially with the Wife........................

Btw,........
If it comes to it,.... I believe a 1/2" Allen Wrench fits the hinge pins........

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

It worked. Two hours total including a trip to buy the replacement hose. It's a one-man job too. Just run a relatively thick wire through the hose and barb assembly, anchor the free end to something in the engine bay, pull the wire tight, and guide the barb assembly through the transom. I was amazed at how easy it was to get the bottom section of hose connected.

Not something I want to do again next year, but I feel pretty good about the results.

 

[PINESOL]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

bondo
1/2 inch allen wont help the marriage

hey atleast your fumbling with the hose still ...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

Not something I want to do again next year, but I feel pretty good about the results.

Ayuh,.....

You Did properly Clock the hose clamps so they won't rub on the bellows,........
Right,..??

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

Ayuh,.....

You Did properly Clock the hose clamps so they won't rub on the bellows,........
Right,..??

They're as far from those bellows as they can possibly get.

 

[sarantis]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

i hope you put the genuine one (bent from the factory).it cost me a lot to learn it.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

CRAP!

Whose sig is it that says "Just because you found it that way doesn't mean that's the way it's supposed to be"?

When I got it, it had plain old heater hose on it, so that's what I put back on.

So tell me, what happens when you use heater hose instead of the stock hose?

<<edit>> I looked at all the images I could of the hose for the pre-Alpha drive, and it looks like the one they're selling as a replacement is just a straight stretch of hose. Later drives definitely had a shaped hose, but I'm not sure that the hose for the pre-Alpha was significantly different from standard 5/8" heater hose. If it is, I guess I'll have to order the correct part and install it. <<edit>>

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

What you used will probably work for a good long time...

Make sure you have everything tight......We don't want you getting stranded in the Potholes!

 

[JustJason]

Re: Pre-Alpha Water Intake Hose Replacement--Pull Bell Housing or No?

That's my sig

Pre alpha's use regular heat hose. But you have you make sure it's not cut to long. If it is it's going to crimp when you turn the drive. I think its something like 4 inches or something :O