I just took it a 14 mile ride and after I got back i let it set while I looked for leak I found that the large hose next to the small drain hose was loose and discolored. I was able to tighten it. I had a couple of drops come out of the drain hose, will ride again later tomorrow if I get a chance and see what I get. I don't think the loose clamp would affect the drain hose, what do you think?
No...don't think so. If the big hose was leaking enough to lose pressure it might have actually helped the seal NOT leak, but it doesn't sound like it's that loose.
Here's what I did:
The weep hole/hose needs to drain, so you can't plug it off. I used a little bottle I had laying around that was white, so liquid could be seen through it. A small pill bottle would be nice. Fashion two holes in the lid and route the drain tube (or a shorter substitute tube from the parts store) into the bottle through one of the holes, just barely inside.
It has to be where anything will flow into the bottle, but won't back up into the tube if the level gets too high. Then mount the bottle below the water pump level. Zip tie it to the frame or whatever.
Go ride, and check the bottle occasionally. You will have caught anything that comes out and get a true feel for how much Is leaking. One or two drops is ok if you've been going a while. Anything more and I'd plan on doing a pump.
For comparison, my 700 probably would have taken 5 years to fill up the average Ibuprofen bottle at the rate it leaked on all day rides ( realistically, it was just dripping during warm up and then it would stop ).
The above is a temporary set up. I did mine to be more permanent by using 2 vacuum hose nipples epoxied into the lid and clamping the hose to them. The second (vent) side I ran up high. Mud guys vent them because grit will eventually work its way into the pump and shorten the life of the seal. With this set up, I had no chance of mud/water getting in, but still let the weep tube...well, weep, while keeping an eye on the bottle. Above all, you must allow it to vent and breathe.