Replacement hoses

[Sean]

Peggy,I just purchased a new Jabsco compact manual pump for my Cat27, hoping it would be just a plug and play replacement of the original head. Well I have discovered that the base sits higher and is longer than the original head. I have decided to build a shelf to sit the new head on and center it in the head compartment anyway. The original lines were run so close to the bulkhead that the new stiff hoses had little negotiating room. Here is my question, I purchased the 1 1/2" white hose from West (stiff as an ironing board) and it will not go onto the intake line for the holding tank. The intake line appears to be bronze and is approximately 1 5/8" in diameter. It also appears to be threaded. Any thoughts on what I can use to couple these two lines together? Thanks!Sean

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

What's the tank made of?

Metal fittings should never be used in plastic tanks because metal and plastic have different thermal coefficents (the technical term for " they expand and contract at different rates and in different amounts")...it's great way to crack a tank. In fact, bronze fittings shouldn't be used in aluminum or stainless tanks either...galvanic corrosion. So it really doesn't matter what your tank is made of (unless it's bronze)... Replace the bronze thread-to-barb fittings with nylon (not PVC).Warm the hose with a blow dryer enough to soften it, but not enough to melt the hose...smear a little dish soap on the fitting and the inside of the hose to lubricate it. It still won't be easy, but you will be able to put the hose on the fitting. Double clamp all connections.

 

[Sean]

Peggy

The tank is aluminum and the bronze fitting is attached to the tank by hard plastic (doesn't look like PVC). It appears if I try to crank on the bronze fitting either the plastic will crack or it will come apart at the tank. I really don't want to replace the tank so I would like to leave it intact. I tried the hair dryer trick, it didn't work to well, I will try again, however, heating up a larger section this time. Thanks for your input!

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Don't try to save the plastic...

Get the whole fitting out of the tank and replace it with a threaded metal fitting that's compatible with aluminum...you can prob'ly find one at Home Depot.