leaking hose fitting

[fowlmouth]

the boat i just bought is leaking from the fitting for the livewell pump, it's got those factory crimps on it. Anybody know if I can just pinch that metal crimp with a pair of channel locks or do you think that will crush the plastic outlet tube on the pump.

[djkimmel]

If those are Mayfair pumps, the tube is pretty thick, but can still be broken. You may have some dirt or chemical/scum buildup, or something like fishing line allowing a little space for water to leak.

You can try crimping it a little, but there is a risk the plastic will break. If you do try, do a little at a time to see if you can stop it. Otherwise, you might be better off removing it, cleaning it and putting on a new (cheap) hose clamp (West Marine or hardware would have them - stainless steel). That is the safest course to avoid having to get a new pump.

I've noticed some chemicals and use can make the plastic 'brittle' over time. It's hard to tell if the plastic is weakened until you break it - that's one reason removing the clamp, cleaning and putting on a new one might be better for the long run.

[Dropshot]

I agree with Dan they plastic can become brittle and crack if you are not carefull. Remove the old clip and get rid of it. The hose itself may also be bad. If you have any play in the hose and can cut off the portion that is currently attached then do that.

[fowlmouth]

well, it's a rule pump and turns out it is not the hose or clamp, but the elbow the hose attached to. I went to remove the clamp and the elbow split in two, now i have the the pump out of the boat, it is a rule cartridge type. Should I replace this pump with the same thing or is there something better? ALso anybody know what kind of sealant I should use?

[djkimmel]

What do you need the sealant for?

I don't have any experience really with the Rule brand. They seem comparable to the Mayfair, although a little more expensive sometimes. The cartridge types are nice for replacing burned out/bad motors. I have the Mayfair types.

It probably wouldn't hurt to stick with the model you have for consistency, fit and wiring.

[fowlmouth]

This is a thru-hull pump, and I need to replace the whole thing so I need to seal where it goes through the hull. The old housing was sealed with some sort of silicone, but will gas/oil affect normal silicone? I probably should buy the same pump I have so I will have a spare cartridge, the whole pump is less than $40.

[djkimmel]

Oh. I'd get the same pump too then. I don't believe gas/oil affect silicone much. I'd say I'm 99% sure about that. I did a quick Internet search to refresh my memory and found several mentions that various Silicone sealants were very resistant to incidental gas and oil contact.