Can't get the hose back on thru-hull - HELP!

[dennisp]

Help! (It's probably listed as a tip somewhere in this forum, but after looking for an hour or so, I will just"go stoopid" and ask. No pride here...) Winterizing the head on my Hunter 306 two days ago (after a many tank flushes), I closed the head intake thru-hull and took off the white sanitation hose (1" or so OD) to pump some pink stuff through the head and lines. And since the hose end was pretty chewed up (and I still had a bit of slack to the Jabsco head pump) I cut off about an inch and replaced the 2 hose clamps (one was partly broken through) and now - it's a pretty difficult reach right behind the engine near the shaft packing - I can't get the silly hose back on the thru-hull. WHAT'S the trick? It seems to only fit on by "screwing" the hose clockwise....but I can't seem to get it more than about 3/4" over the through hull bronze fitting nipple ridges. Tried putting the hose end in (nearly) boiling water for 10 or so minutes...still won't go back on. Trying to "lubricate it" sounds like a bad idea. If no one can give me a hint, I'm going to be forced to try and get the next door kid who plays HS football to crawl in the aft berth with me and see if 4 hands can plain force it on (since just my 2 apparently can't). I'd appreciate any ideas...and will gladly tolerate collateral verbal abuse. Just focused on getting it back together.

 

[bobtigar]

Stick the end of the hose in hot (boiling ) water for about a minute. It will soften and expand enough to slip on easily. Simple physics. Bob

 

[Rich Stidger]

No collateral verbal abuse here. Been there, understand the difficulty.

What has worked for me is lubing the inside of the hose and the nipple with some liquid hand soap or dish-washing liquid. Make sure that none of the soap gets on the outside of the hose or your hand will slip on it. IMHO I think a properly clamped hose will be very secure regardless of the soap lube.

Be sure to hold the hose up from the nipple area so that you aren't squeezing the hose on the nipple.

I've also heated the hose in boiling water with success but you've already tried that. Maybe heating the hose AND soaping it up will do the trick. What ever you do, don't heat the hose with a torch. A hair dryer would be OK, just don't heat in one spot and melt the hose.

I suspect that the main source of your difficulty is the location and the inability to get a good push-on position.

 

[windward54]

And for hoses, especially sanitation hoses, I've had really good luck using K-Y Jelly. And yes, I have the other half buy the stuff for me.It really does do a good job of lubricating and it is biodegradable.

 

[Benny]

I like hand soap as a lubricant for hose fittings as it will not degrade the rubber in the hoses and once it dries it actually acts as a bonding agent between fitting and hose.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Peggy hates this idea but the only thing that works for good hose is lots of heat. I had to rent a heat gun at Home Depot. Peggy says it degrades the hose. Maybe, but ten years later it is still solid.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Or you could try

removing the hose barb from the thru hull shut off valve and then pull the hose to a place that gives better access and ( with dish soap) get the barb on the hose all the way and leave it there for a month to allow the hose to streach a little, or once the barb and hose are secure, remove other end of hose if better access, then screw on the hose/barb to the thru hull and work on the other end of the hose connection.

 

[dennisp]

Thanks VERY much, guys! I'd cleaned out/emptied most galley (and soft stuff) from the boat in anticipation of hauling it next week. I just went down (it's getting dark here in the DC area at 4-ish) to the boat, and brought back (!) some soap...AND a pair of rubber gloves (great for holding the hose). Tomorrow, I will take a pot back down to the boat, boil some water...use the soap....leverage with the rubber gloves...and wrestle the bugger back on. Sorry to be such a whiner...thanks to all for the quick responses. Y'all have a happy holiday!
V/r, Dennis
"Money can't buy you happiness but it can buy you a yacht large enough to pull up right alongside it"...............David Lee Roth

 

[alexco38]

Preventive measure

Thats why I have a bronze "T" for each thruhulls. Never have to remove the hose. Just screw the plug off and hand screw in a clear vinyl hose.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Why are you putting it back now?

You should leave the head intake hose OFF the thru-hull till spring...to allow any water in the system to drain out. And if the boat is coming out of the water, the thru-hull should be left open .

But if you insist on doing it now, I'd use a blow dryer and K-Y. The blow dryer isn't as risky as a heat gun, works better than boiling water and is a LOT easier for you to take back to the boat than a pot and whatever else you need to use it...and K-Y is a whole slicker than dish soap.

My guess: your head intake hose has suddenly become just a wee tad too short.

 

[woodster]

you may want to try laquior thinner on the inside of the hose it will slicken it up pronto and it will disipate in a short while ...but if you are a smoker then leave the smokes on the ground ....i used to do this all the time at the harley shop in memphis when replaceing the handle grips , they wouldnt go on with out it but when they dry they dont come back off either ...oh and besure to open up the hatches and have good air circulation as not to get intoxicated .....it workes every time but do be very careful
regards
woody

 

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't recommend using any kind of solvent on the hose as it may damage it.