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Author Topic:   Fitting Fuel Hose Over Barb Connections

jason78 posted 01-19-2014 05:21 PM ET (US)
I am in the process of replacing my fuel line. I am having some trouble with the 3/8-inch hose that runs from the tank to the fuel-water separating filter in the bilge. The old line was 3/8-inch, but I cannot get this new 3/8-inch hose on the tank barb. It is the black Shields A1 hose from West Marine. I have used hose lube and heated the hose, but still cannot get it the last hair. The hose is currently even with the back edge of the last barb on the fitting. Could this need the next size larger hose? I am fairly sure the 3/8-inch that was on was the original but my leverage through the access hole in the deck is limited. Any advice here?
[LATER] I actually solved the problem. Did some more searching online and found a suggestion to put the end of the hose in hot water for a minute or so. Did that and it was still very difficult but I did get it all the way on. Probably does not help that it is 50-degrees outside today. Thanks
Tom Hemphill posted 01-19-2014 08:57 PM ET (US)
Thank you for following up with the solution you found.
retired posted 01-20-2014 12:55 AM ET (US)
I did the same job last year and had the same problem. Like jason78, I also solved the problem with hot water, except instead of hot water I stuck the end of the hose in boiling water and that puppy went on real easily.
rtk posted 01-20-2014 07:21 AM ET (US)
I typically use an electric heat gun to soften the fuel line enough to get it over the barbed nipple.
Rich
jason78 posted 01-20-2014 06:18 PM ET (US)
I tried a heat gun but that did not seem to work. I actually did end up using boiling water for about a minute. It didn't make it easy by any stretch but made it finally go on after a bunch of trouble still. I think it was in part due to the hose I was using.
jimh posted 01-20-2014 08:40 PM ET (US)
If the fuel hose is a rubber hose, try using alcohol as a lubricant. It will tend to make it much easier to assemble the hose over a barb fitting.
I don't know where you can get really pure alcohol. I use a rubbing alcohol that is 70-percent alcohol and 30-percent water. It should evaporate quickly if you are worried about contamination of the fuel system.
tmann45 posted 01-20-2014 10:27 PM ET (US)
My local Walmart carries 91% isopropyl, look for the red label.

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Author	Topic: Fitting Fuel Hose Over Barb Connections
jason78	posted 01-19-2014 05:21 PM ET (US) I am in the process of replacing my fuel line. I am having some trouble with the 3/8-inch hose that runs from the tank to the fuel-water separating filter in the bilge. The old line was 3/8-inch, but I cannot get this new 3/8-inch hose on the tank barb. It is the black Shields A1 hose from West Marine. I have used hose lube and heated the hose, but still cannot get it the last hair. The hose is currently even with the back edge of the last barb on the fitting. Could this need the next size larger hose? I am fairly sure the 3/8-inch that was on was the original but my leverage through the access hole in the deck is limited. Any advice here? [LATER] I actually solved the problem. Did some more searching online and found a suggestion to put the end of the hose in hot water for a minute or so. Did that and it was still very difficult but I did get it all the way on. Probably does not help that it is 50-degrees outside today. Thanks
Tom Hemphill	posted 01-19-2014 08:57 PM ET (US) Thank you for following up with the solution you found.
retired	posted 01-20-2014 12:55 AM ET (US) I did the same job last year and had the same problem. Like jason78, I also solved the problem with hot water, except instead of hot water I stuck the end of the hose in boiling water and that puppy went on real easily.
rtk	posted 01-20-2014 07:21 AM ET (US) I typically use an electric heat gun to soften the fuel line enough to get it over the barbed nipple. Rich
jason78	posted 01-20-2014 06:18 PM ET (US) I tried a heat gun but that did not seem to work. I actually did end up using boiling water for about a minute. It didn't make it easy by any stretch but made it finally go on after a bunch of trouble still. I think it was in part due to the hose I was using.
jimh	posted 01-20-2014 08:40 PM ET (US) If the fuel hose is a rubber hose, try using alcohol as a lubricant. It will tend to make it much easier to assemble the hose over a barb fitting. I don't know where you can get really pure alcohol. I use a rubbing alcohol that is 70-percent alcohol and 30-percent water. It should evaporate quickly if you are worried about contamination of the fuel system.
tmann45	posted 01-20-2014 10:27 PM ET (US) My local Walmart carries 91% isopropyl, look for the red label.