X2 through hull cooling lines

I have my hull completely defoamed and I want to install all new cooling lines. I have never done anything like this, and need some advice! I know I need stainless, or atleast thats the best. I assume I need 3/8" but I don't know exactly how to seal it all up on both ends to ensure I don't soak this brand new hull. I'd like to get a couple seasons out of it before I have to do this foaming process again! Also, can I redo the large tubes that the trim and steering cables go through? There is a small crack in one of them, and I'd like to completely replace it as opposed to just sealing it with epoxy. Thanks.
 

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I have 20' of 3/8 stainless steel tube on the way. I just need to figure out how to replace the steering and trim tubes. Any ideas? It feels like some king of PVC but I won't be able to form anything that stiff into there. Maybe rubber conduit?
 

dbrutherford

Parts Whore
Location
Fairmont, WV
I chopped up an X2 hull to throw away. Well in my 95 hull those tubes were aluminum. Try filing or hack sawing one a little to se what it is made of. If it is aluminum, you may be able to have it tig welded. Otherwise I would epoxy them.

You could replace them but... it is going to be a real PITA! I can dig out the pieces in the ends of them and take a few pics for you. The threaded ends are a press fit into those tubes. If you do replace them, you could use PVC and heat it to bend it.

If it was me, I would replace the cooling lines but would never dream of touching those trim and steering lines! I think you already have a big job on your hands, why make it more complicated? Good luck!
 
Location
hhh
I have 20' of 3/8 stainless steel tube on the way. I just need to figure out how to replace the steering and trim tubes. Any ideas? It feels like some king of PVC but I won't be able to form anything that stiff into there. Maybe rubber conduit?

where did you get that?
 
I chopped up an X2 hull to throw away. Well in my 95 hull those tubes were aluminum. Try filing or hack sawing one a little to se what it is made of. If it is aluminum, you may be able to have it tig welded. Otherwise I would epoxy them.

You could replace them but... it is going to be a real PITA! I can dig out the pieces in the ends of them and take a few pics for you. The threaded ends are a press fit into those tubes. If you do replace them, you could use PVC and heat it to bend it.

If it was me, I would replace the cooling lines but would never dream of touching those trim and steering lines! I think you already have a big job on your hands, why make it more complicated? Good luck!

I'll definitely be replacing all the cooling lines. The trim and steering will probably stay as is, and get epoxied. It's definitely PVC or something similar. and one has a small, roughly 2 inch crack in the side. It opens up when I flex the tube just a little. So I figure I can epoxy or 5200 over that, 5200 every other possible area that could leak and refoam. I think that hardest part of the job is over, which was successfully defoaming it, without destroying it. :friday:
 
I order 3/8 od .035 wall stailess from Mccaster for 8 bucks per 3' section.
Sounds like a good deal. I ended up getting a 20' coil of 3/8 od with the .035 wall for around 55 shipped. I figured we'll be doing another X2 soon, so I may as well get enough of it now.
 
I would have if I would have known! None of the other fittings in the ski are 1/2 though, so without changing the two inlets on the exhaust mani to 1/2 inch it wouldn't help would it? I would have to drill and tap ALL the cooling fittings to benefit from this right..? I never really thought to run bigger lines. If I had the mani tapped with 1/2 lines, and the head tapped with 1/2 lines, and 1/2 pissers though, it would flow a hell of a lot of water.
 

Crab

thanks darin...noswad!
Location
Seattle
Why wouldn't you got to 1/2" cooling line while your in there?
Just seems way overkill, I run dual feeds to the motor, but single out of the head to limit the water. We ride the river and do a lot of mud sliding, I like the extra insurance it provides having a backup feed if one were to get blocked. More than once I have seen the fitting at the exhaust manifold get plugged after sitting all winter in storage.
 
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dbrutherford

Parts Whore
Location
Fairmont, WV
Mine were aluminum, I know because I cut through them. If your's are cracked and they are plastic, then I would replace them. I have seen people pn here use PVC to do steering and trim tubes. They had a nice end cap that looked liek the stock ones but plastic.

As for stainless tubing, I would get it in straight pieces. I wouldn't get it in a coil since you will have to uncoil it and it may crack with repeated bending.

I would run two cooling lines and a new bilge line. The later years X2's had a 1/2" tube, I believe bilge If you need a larger size bilge, I may have one.
 
The Lowes next to me sells PVC tubing down to 1/4 inch. Its not kept where the normal plumbing PVC is kept , it was in a different plumbing isle. Comes in 10 foot lengths. Its ridgid but has a certain amount of bend ability to it and worked perfectly for running new lines.
 

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