Hunter 41 2007 water heater to engine heat exchanger hose replacement

[Tucker67]

Hi folks has anyone replaced the coolant hoses that run from the engine to the water heater. I am looking for how I can snake the new ones in with out removing the water heater. I can't find any access between the engine through-hull compartment and the bench the water heater sits in.
Many thanks. Bill

 

[marcham]

The hoses will be secured every 18-24 inches .... depending on where the tank is (under the settee bench?), you may have to remove floorboards to remove and then install the new hoses.

 

[Tucker67]

Thank you. It is under the settee. the section of floor between the engine and settee does not have any screws to allow it to be pulled up, Is it glued and if so once I get it up how do I resecure it.

 

[MFD]

I have a 41DS, and have been thinking about the same chore sometime within the next year or two.

For my boat, I have become somewhat familiar with that hose run from a couple of water tank replacements.

For me, it goes underneath flooring that has galley cabinetry and single piece table surface.

And everything is wedged in there super tight where I have years-ago wedged bits of cordura-like material around them in spots where they had bends around hard edged corners.

 

[Tucker67]

So I pried up the glued down floor in the galley now have good access and will secure it with screws should be straightforward next challenge will be the pressure valve on the water heater that is dripping. It will not turn looks like they used something else then thread tape / sealant

 

[MFD]

Thanks for the pics, they will be helpful for me when I get ready to do this as well.

For the sealant on the TPV valve, mine originally had some brownish pipe sealant or something. It took some force, but I was able to disconnect everything the first time I replaced the hot water tank.

 

[Tucker67]

Thanks for the insight. Feel better about giving it another shot. will put some PB Blast on it and see if that helps persuade it to come loose as well.Seems the floor was glued down with four beads of calk so u just have to work around the edges. Running the hose I started from the water heater side, insert a brass fitting, duck tape the hoses to hold it all together, pushing new in then pulling on the old from the other side (repeat ) till it's all the way through. One mistake I made was not marking the inlet and outlet from the engine. Picture attached of flow direction I found on the web. For 4hj4e could be diff on other engines. And if I got it wrong please let me know

 

[MFD]

The water tank hoses are on the upper left (facing aft) of the water pump. The two you can see here that have the orange shutoff valves on them. Also mine originally came with a little plastic vent type thing which you can see a bit of behind the fuel line and is useful for bleeding. I have searched around a little bit for something similar in brass or bronze but never found one. I need to replace all these hoses.

I put the valves in when I noticed chafe some years ago where they were going around plywood corners. It allowed me to adjust the hose a little bit to move the chafe point and also I also installed some firehose type material around the hose where it rubs on the plywood.