What is this drain hose for?

[gkosel]

First off, I have a 1991 Thundercraft 177LS with a 4.3L OMC Cobra Engine/outdrive.

I was washing out the bilge in my boat last night trying to wash out some leaves and other gunk that had gotten in there. While I was doing this I found a hose hanging down into the bilge from the engine. I just bought this boat last year and am fairly new to stern drives and still learning the intricacies of this boat and motor.

The hose looks like it was sliced at an angle. My initial reaction was to freak out and think that I had a hose that had somehow been cut in half.

Now, tonight after looking through my service manual it appears that it is supposed to be that way. However, in my service manual it is attached to the starter solenoid with a cable tie. In the section that describes how to remove the starter, it tells how to remove the cable tie to remove the starter and then reattach it when the new starter is attached.

So it appears to be a normal drain hose in the system. Now I have the following two questions:

1. What is this drain hose used for?

2. Does it have to be cable tied to the starter solenoid? Currently it is just hanging down into the bilge.

Thanks in advance for any information that you can provide on this mysterious drain hose.​

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Post a pic....
It just does not seem right, but.....​

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

it is a drain hose for the bell housing. I don't know why they suggest you tie it to the starter solenoid.

 

[gkosel]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Here are the references from the OMC Service Manual. This appears to be the same hose that I have found on my motor.

If it is a drain hose for the bell housing, what is it used for? Excuse my lack of knowledge of motors.

Here is the reference from the manual (Step 4) that says to tie the hose to the starter solenoid.

 

[gkosel]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Where are the OMC guys that I know would know what this drain hose is used for?

I just want to make sure that this is not something that I need to worry about before going out this weekend.

Thanks​

 

[eldrive]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Hey there, I just looked at my 1988 OMC Cobra outdrive and I have the EXACT SAME hose cut at an angle and just hanging into the bilge and not tied off to the solenoid....I would not worry about this at all.... my 2 cents!

 

[gooders]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Yep,me Too. I Just Replaced The Starter Motor On My 1988 Omc Mercrusier (?165.00 !! Ouch). Anyway I Have The Exact Same Hose Hanging Down In The Bilge.never Causedme A Problem So Dont Worry.

 

[gkosel]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Thanks guys for confirming that I don't need to worry about this hose.

From my searches of previous posts it appears that it goes back into the bell housing as uaw9fan said yesterday.

But it is just my curious nature, that I would like to know what its purpose is?

Is there a reason for having it tied up to the starter solenoid?

Maybe so it is pointing up and doesn't drain if it is simply hanging down into the bilge?

Thanks for all the responses. I definitely feel better. I was pretty worried when I saw this severed hose hanging down into the bilge the other day.​

 

[Coors]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Dunno, I guess my 1988 hose was thrown away by po; no problems, less weight

 

[bjcsc]

Re: What is this drain hose for?

Is it possible for your bellhousings to hold water if it gets high enough? If so, maybe it's there to drain it...