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water heater hoses [message #185936]

Sat, 29 September 2012 19:09

pzerkel

Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL

Karma: 0

Senior Member

As part of installing a new stainless hot water heater tank, I am attepting to replace the hoses going to the water heater. My 78 Eleganza does not have any outside access to the rear of the fridge.

There is a 'fitting' (just a short length of copper pipe and some hose clamps) below and just to the rear of the entry door where two sections of hoses are connected. What I don't know is if there are any other connectors above and in front of the wheel well (possibly an elbow to go from vertical to horizontal?)

I have tried to pull out the old hoses out from both the bathroom, and below the coach. They simply are not budging.

I suspect the only real way to figure this out is to remove the fridge and look at the hoses behind there...or cut an access panel in the outside of the coach body. Sad

I would like to know if anyone has replaced these hoses on a 78, without having outside access to the rear of the fridge? If so, are there are tricks, or if there is something I am missing? Or is my fridge coming out again?

Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)

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Re: water heater hoses [message #185949 is a reply to message #185936]

Sat, 29 September 2012 20:41

midlf

Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)

Karma: 1

Senior Member

pzerkel wrote on Sat, 29 September 2012 19:09

I have tried to pull out the old hoses out from both the bathroom, and below the coach. They simply are not budging.

I suspect the only real way to figure this out is to remove the fridge and look at the hoses behind there...or cut an access panel in the outside of the coach body. Sad

Well not a 78 but a 74. I'm not sure if there are any real differences. Someone else may know.

However, on mine, the hoses come up through the floor into the compartment below the refrigerator. The hoses did not go into the refrigerator compartment. They rose up to just below the refrigerator compartment and high enough to get above the wheel well housing. From there they ran under the sink on top of the wheel well and over to the hot water heater.

Now the part that may be giving you problems. My hoses were somewhat foamed into the urethane insulation foam. My suspicion, the hoses and hot water heater were installed before the interior was foamed and then the interior modules were installed. Others may be able to comment on this supposition. In any event the hoses were very hard to pry out of that foam. The best way to get at this area is to remove the storage compartment from under the sink. It comes out fairly easily but the exact method is not in my instant recall array. JWID

Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI

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Re: water heater hoses [message #186001 is a reply to message #185936]

Sun, 30 September 2012 14:47

skip2

Messages: 544
Registered: September 2011
Location: Winter Haven,FL (center o...

Karma: 3

Senior Member

Don't know if this would apply, but on my 74 canyon lands I did find the frig was replaced after the hoses and under it the po had put a mounting screw for the frig through one of the hoses and it had sealed up on its own. Just something to look out for. Skip Hartline

74 Canyon Lands, FiTech, 3.7 FD LSD, Manny Tranny, Springfield Distributor, 2001 Chevy Tracker Ragtop Towd

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Re: water heater hoses [message #186012 is a reply to message #185936]

Sun, 30 September 2012 18:38

pzerkel

Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I did end up removing the fridge. We have the old hoses out. I really do not see a way it could have been done without removing the fridge.

I also took out a small 1/8" plywood panel which was behind the fridge. That panel was about 12" x 24" and was at the bottom of the bigger panel behind the fridge. I was then able to get a hold of the old hoses. It took some violent pulling and shaking. One of the hoses came out the bottom, the other out the top.

FWIW, there was no elbow for the transition from vertical to horizontal, just one (well two) runs of hose about 7' long each, going from just below the entry door to the water heater.

I still have not tried to run new hoses into the coach, but that will be sometime this week. I will report back how that goes.

I also need to replace the long runs of hoses from behind the door up to the engine compartment. But it appears that run, though longer, is much more accessible.

I am pretty sure that these hoses Were the original. Considering how inaccessible they were. After 34 years they clearly were due for replacing.

Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)

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