A word of warning

[Caveman Charlie]

I have a 1973 boat with a mercruiser 140 I/O .My engine compartment always smelled strongly of gasoline. I saw on here where some other members said the same thing so I just thought it normal. A couple of weeks ago I got my boat out of storage for the first time this year. I had removed all the old gas from the gas tank for winter storage. So, I dumped a few gallons in out of a gas can to fire her up. My boat has a fill hose that runs between the fill port on the top of the stern and the tank mounted under the rear seat. After dumping gas in I noticed a few drops of gas seeping from this hose. I removed it and found it was just full of holes. No wonder it always smelled like gas back under there. After I replaced the hose there was little if any gasoline smell under there now. I recommend that any one with a older boat replace this fill hose. Even if gas is not seeping out of it during filling like it was on mine the hose could still have holes on the top side allowing gas fumes to escape into the engine compartment.

Also, get the correct type of hose. This is a special hose with a anti-static wire built it. As I replaced mine I made sure a end of the wire was sticking out of the end of the hose and I stuck it under one of the hose clamps that hold the hose on. I also stuck a piece of electrical wire under that clamp and ran the wire to the same ground on the back of the boat where the gas tank and other things are grounded.

My boat is much safer now. IMHO it would be a good idea to check this hose every couple of years and replace it every so often.

Have a nice day

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: A word of warning

Thanks for sharing.
Just a FYI. I have a 1972 boat and know first hand. Your boat is about 35 years old. It's time to replace about everything that can go bad. These things were never meant to last this long.

 

[Don S]

Re: A word of warning

Moving to Boat topics and questions. This isn't just an IO problem

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: A word of warning

Thanks for sharing.
Just a FYI. I have a 1972 boat and know first hand. Your boat is about 35 years old. It's time to replace about everything that can go bad. These things were never meant to last this long.

I know it. I looked over the other hoses closely when I bought it and they all look good. I had them off the tank last winter and they look good inside and out. Must have been changed at some point. But, the fill hose still looked good even though it had hairline cracks in it that could not been seen because of it's style. Then after I removed it and looked closely they showed up. I removed the gas tank last winter dumped out the gunk (and there was some chunks floating in there) and painted it. I've given it a valve job and rebuilt the carb. The drive must have been taken care of and serviced a lot. It does not leak or make any bad noises. The bellows look good. I'm trying to find a mechanic to change the cooling impeller but, either they don't want the job or they tell me it's not necessary to ever do it. I'm going to keep looking.

I just didn't imagine that this thick fill hose could ever go bad. Easy to fix and not to expensive. I wonder if it shouldn't be changed every 6-10 years or so. Just to be safe.

(I'm used to older vehicles. My newest car is a 84. The oldest a 76 I have to admit my pickup is a nice new 1995.:redface: )

 

[j_martin]

Re: A word of warning

Gasoline in the bilge can make survival difficult. Always follow your nose and fix a trouble that causes it.

John