Hose Leaking over Winter

[aggie76]

For the second year in a row I've had to replace the fuel transfer hose on my diesel gravity fill tank in the spring here in northern Minnesota. I have a small cabin surrounded by timber and pasture land that I use for hunting, food plots and CRP which I close up for about four months during winter and swing by every 3-4 weeks to check on the property. The hose had multiple small pinhole leaks along the length, almost like a ice pick or knife was inserted into it. The original hose had been on the tank for about eight years, no issues each spring with leaking.

Wondering if anyone has had any similar issue with hoses. We typically see temps as low as -40 but the hose is not used, it's just hanging under the tank. I don't believe I'm experiencing any vandalism as I haven't seen any foot prints in the snow around the tank. My thought for next year, after buying a new hose today, is to remove the hose and store it in an unheated shed so it's not directly exposed to the elements.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this.

 

[Wagtail]

The only thought that I have is, "what is the hose made of?" Is there something 'organic' that would attract an insect?

Other than that, yes, store the hose over the Winter months.

 

[aggie76]

The only thought that I have is, "what is the hose made of?" Is there something 'organic' that would attract an insect?

Other than that, yes, store the hose over the Winter months.

Thanks for the quick reply. I thought of that too, it's a Fill-Rite FRH 10014 hose so it’s got a neoprene exterior and Nitrile inner tube. Storing is probably the best option.

 

[number two]

Sure wouldn't expect that from Fill-Rite.

Biodiesel?

Good Luck!

 

[Thunder chicken]

could it be a critter chewing on it? I know not much is out and about at -40, but maybe a pine martin or something is looking for a snack?
Black Bears love hoses, jerry cans, trailer tires, atv/skidoo seats, along with biting into soup cans (and they will try every single one inside a cabin). I realize your hose is likely not a bear problem...

 

[CobyRupert]

Do you store it in a place that the sun shines on?

 

[aggie76]

Do you store it in a place that the sun shines on?

It's hanging on the northside of the fuel tank so it actually gets very little actual sun during the winter but that's a good point. I've got my new hose and will now disconnect it when I store the tractor for winter.

 

[aggie76]

could it be a critter chewing on it? I know not much is out and about at -40, but maybe a pine martin or something is looking for a snack?
Black Bears love hoses, jerry cans, trailer tires, atv/skidoo seats, along with biting into soup cans (and they will try every single one inside a cabin). I realize your hose is likely not a bear problem...

Good points, and we have plenty of pine martins, weasels, and other critters. Lots of black bear as well but I don't see any during the winter as expected.

 

[oosik]

If you had a critter chewing on the hose - you should be able to ID the chew marks. I wonder - water condensing in the empty hose and when frozen it will expand and force small breaks in the hose - ????

Best & easiest solution - remove and store the hose.

 

[aggie76]

So, I think I've got this sorted out. I went out this weekend and plowed a couple acres preparing for food plots and took a detailed look at the hose again after draining the fuel from it. The attached image pretty well confirms "Thunder chicken's" suggestion it was a bear, as the holes are spaced like an upper jaw and are about 4' in the air. Plus I got several photos on trail cameras showing two different bears roaming around. I am going to rig up a hose cradle that I can store the new hose up along the tank that's about 7' off the ground. Plus remove it over the winter as well.