I have a 98 TR Bengal that has sprung a leak. Hoping the mice chewed thru a jet hose down low where I can reach it. I have torn out the deck that surrounded the spa and am ready to tip that puppy up BUT not sure where to apply a lever or jack. Afraid to engage the edge of the shell for fear of damaging it. Not sure about the wood ledge at the bottom either, tis kinda soggy.

Does anyone know the specific construction of this model? I have written the manufacturer, but must give them a few days at least to respond, and not sure they will help. Would be nice to know how these things are put together both plumbing wise and frame wise. Some of the wood around one side and underneath the pump chamber and underneath one edge and 3 corners of the siding is rather rotted. How far can and/or should you go to repair or replace the wood sheathing?

I have also noticed while gently pulling aside the check valve hose in the pump chamber, to vacuum out mouse poop, that the clamped friction fit is weeping a bit. The hose is very hard and maybe should be replaced. Is this just clear flex pvc hose that you can get at the hardware or is it special higher temp stuff?

Any advice, tho an experienced tutor is preferred lol, will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

The hose is not special... it's just clear vinyl...

Do you see any mice?

The wood is just tongue and groove, comes off fairly easily. I would attack it from that angle, rather than lifting it....
If you destroy some wood, just order replacement from your local Hot Spring dealer....
Not much fun searching a sponge for a leak.... Keep the spa full and water warm, so you can tell which direction to go once you find wet foam....
Good luck

~swine

Swine Thanks..good to know about the hose, I think it started leaking after it cooled down cause I know it wasn't leaking before.

Don't need to see mice to know they were living there. Plenty of evidence, large leaves-chewed foam-droppings and stink inside the pump chamber. Found more chewed foam under the deck too. I live out in the country, mice are in all the outbuildings and other hidey places. Spa's perfect cause it's deck sheltered from the dogs and warm too.

There's been a chipmunk hiding under there too since I put mothballs in the snowmobile shed this spring. Mothballs going under the spa deck too once I get it back together. I actually think the chippie is what was the beginning of the larger leak.

Do you know how TG attached their sheathing? I see no access screws attaching it, so I imagine that it's stapled and 'glued' on with the foaming. I really don't want to tear into that at this point. Plus I think I should take a look at the bottom anyway. Probably chewed up and there's some rotten wood under the edges.

So any advice on tipping that puppy?

You're going to be pretty dissapointed once you flip that spa.... It's entirely encased in foam... the outer layer is 60lb. density made especially to rip the skin off your knuckles

The wood is indeed glued and stapled on.... it's still the preffered method of going in. It's very difficult to get at much from the bottom....

Good luck however you decide to get at it

Well life is filled with disappointments, unless you never venture out of the realm of the surething.

Any advice on how to get thru that foam??

I use the claw end of a hammer, and a drill with a wire brush attachment, as well as a few chisels... Be carefull, it's easy to damage some of the 1/8" bleedlines that you find in the most unexpected places...

Good luck!

Tell me about bleed lines. What are they for? Are they called airlines even if spa does not have a blower?

T.R. have no blower, but they do have an unusal number of "bleedlines" throughout the tub, plumbed in to be sure that the spa primes properly when filled, as well as for draining as much water as possible when the drain is opened.... These bleedlines are of the same clear vinyl tubing you can see in the equipment compartment, but only 1/8" diameter... It's easy to damage them with a chisel or hammer, but the wire brush on the end of a drill doesn't hurt them

Just a word of caution

Thanks Swine. I actually got 'schematic' drawings of my tub from the dealer, one drawing each for pressure, suction and air lines. They're not very good drawings of course, plan views showing the lines running to the jets and some tees but they're illegible where the lines connect to the pumps. Would be nice to have drawings of what foam is where and how it was installed. Guess I'll have to learn the hard way.