johnsw
Well-known member
Anyone hear of a problem with rubber deteriorating at the rigging grommet?
Years ago I added an engine temp gauge with left and right temp senders wired so I can monitor each side at the helm via a toggle switch. Last season, the starboard side stopped working so put it on my 'to do' list. Isolated the problem to a broken wire between the rigging grommet and the rigging tube exit in the battery compartment.
When I separated the rigging tube from the grommet and opened up the grommet, the rubber parts have all deteriorated with what looks like blistering and are no longer 'rubbery'. The temp sender wire color had faded and the insulation was swollen and spongy. The wire broke from just pulling it from the grommet. The fuel line was blistered and will flake apart when scraped. The casings of the cables were discolored, and blistered and not a rubber texture.
Physical condition of everything entering and exiting the rigging tube / grommet under the cowl and in the battery compartment looks good. I didn't remove the rigging tube so not sure how far back from the grommet the damage extends, but the damage goes the few inches from the grommet into the tube as far as I can see.
Looking like solvent damage (thinking ethanol), I checked the condition of the fuel line on either side of the rigging tube and all looks good. Pulled from fitting at the engine, primer bulb and fuel filter and at least the ends still look undamaged.
Don't have the time to rebuild and replace the damage myself, so will turn this one over to the marina mechanic. But curious to know if anyone has seen this before and what the problem may have been.
2004 150 2 stroke w/ carbs
Years ago I added an engine temp gauge with left and right temp senders wired so I can monitor each side at the helm via a toggle switch. Last season, the starboard side stopped working so put it on my 'to do' list. Isolated the problem to a broken wire between the rigging grommet and the rigging tube exit in the battery compartment.
When I separated the rigging tube from the grommet and opened up the grommet, the rubber parts have all deteriorated with what looks like blistering and are no longer 'rubbery'. The temp sender wire color had faded and the insulation was swollen and spongy. The wire broke from just pulling it from the grommet. The fuel line was blistered and will flake apart when scraped. The casings of the cables were discolored, and blistered and not a rubber texture.
Physical condition of everything entering and exiting the rigging tube / grommet under the cowl and in the battery compartment looks good. I didn't remove the rigging tube so not sure how far back from the grommet the damage extends, but the damage goes the few inches from the grommet into the tube as far as I can see.
Looking like solvent damage (thinking ethanol), I checked the condition of the fuel line on either side of the rigging tube and all looks good. Pulled from fitting at the engine, primer bulb and fuel filter and at least the ends still look undamaged.
Don't have the time to rebuild and replace the damage myself, so will turn this one over to the marina mechanic. But curious to know if anyone has seen this before and what the problem may have been.
2004 150 2 stroke w/ carbs