old fuel fill hose removal

[Hayden]

WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF A NEW STRINGER JOB I'M REPLACING THE FUEL TANK, FILL AND VENT HOSES. THE ORIGINAL FUEL FILL HOSE ON MY 1986 18' SC CENTER CONSOLE IS ENCAPSULATED IN FOAM AND I'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL REMOVING IT. IF WE CAN'T REMOVE IT, I'M PLANNING TO ABANDON THAT HOSE WHERE IT IS, RELOCATE THE FILL PORT TO ANOTHER PART OF THE BOAT, MAYBE THE CONSOLE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW TO GET THE HOSE FREE FROM THE FOAM OR AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO RELOCATE A NEW FILL PORT IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY? THANKS!

[dcobbett]

The fill hose on mine was pretty well foamed in as well. I managed to start it a few inches from the fill cap end. That let me remove the fill cap. then I snaked a doubled length of 1/2" dia. rope down the hose and inserted a piece of dowel in the loop (just a little longer than the pipe's O.D. I could apply enough force with that setup to eventually start the hose and get it out, but it was not easy.

[Hayden]

That sounds like a good technique, I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[warthog5]

Sound's like a winner to me, but do the same thing a stick a come-along on it from overhead. Easier on the back.