Water heater hose replacement tips

[lw8000]

Fairly soon I believe I'm going to tackle the replacement of the two long heater hoses that run back to the water heater. All of the other hoses
we've replaced up at the engine, and many if not all looked original. For now I've put in shutoff valves for the two water heater hoses and am
considering keeping those shut off for now. Yes the hot water is nice but I'd rather play it safe until I can do this. The hoses look and feel just
fine but I'm not sure how long I will trust them.

I've read up here:

http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/living.html

Any other tips for this? Sounds like we'll go in behind the fridge to help feed through the two holes in the floor, which seems like the worst part
of it. Unfortunately last year I replaced the deteriorated foam behind the fridge so I'll have to take that back out.

Thanks all!
--
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan

 

[CGeils]

The easiest way to feed the new hoses in behind the fridge and into the bathroom is to use the old hoses to pull the new hose through. I used a
smaller than 5/8 tube, something like 1/2 inch, a couple inches long. Slit a couple Vs in the end of each hose so the hose can "shrink" a little in
OD. You want to slip the tube in the old hose halfway, and I insert the other half in the new hose and wrap tightly with duct tape. The goal with
slitting or Veeing the end of the hose is to shrink the Outside Diameter just enough so when you wrap with duct tape it is no larger than the hose
normally. On my coach the hole in the floor in front of the rear wheel was so tight that hose with the added thickness of tape would not fit through!
Once you get the new hose joined to the old you can just pull it through. It's really a two person job as one has to pull from one end while the
other person feeds from the other end. We pulled from underneath and fed the new hose from the bathroom, but I see no reason why you could not do it
the other way.
--
Chris Geils - Twin Cities
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; Headers, Progressive Dynamics 9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, 50k mi

 

[lw8000]

Chris:
Thanks for the suggestion on the V idea. I really like that idea of using the old to feed in the new. In fact, if that worked well enough it sounds
like we don't even need to access behind the fridge but we might try to feed it from the bathroom just like you did or vice versa through the floor
and up. I appreciate the feedback on this, we will give this a try soon.
--
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan

 

[emerystora]

Chris
Another way is to remove an end from the water heater and drill a hole about an inch back from the end. Put a strong wire through the hole and make a loop. Tie a rope to the loop and then pull the hose from the bottom pulling the rope with it.
Then attach the rope to the new hose and have someone feed it from the bottom while someone else pulls the rope from the top.

Then repeat with the other hose.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Chris:
> Thanks for the suggestion on the V idea. I really like that idea of using the old to feed in the new. In fact, if that worked well enough it sounds
> like we don't even need to access behind the fridge but we might try to feed it from the bathroom just like you did or vice versa through the floor
> and up. I appreciate the feedback on this, we will give this a try soon.
> --
> Chris S. -
> 77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
> S.E. Michigan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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[lw8000]

> Chris
> Another way is to remove an end from the water heater and drill a hole about an inch back from the end. Put a strong wire through the hole and
> make a loop. Tie a rope to the loop and then pull the hose from the bottom pulling the rope with it.
> Then attach the rope to the new hose and have someone feed it from the bottom while someone else pulls the rope from the top.
>
> Then repeat with the other hose.

Thanks Emery. I thought about doing something similar, but I wasn't sure if there are any hangers that hold it up inside the wall areas that I would
get stuck on. It's been a while since I've been back inside there behind the wall. Thanks for the feedback and ideas!
--
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan