1984 Cheetah 170 restore

[scottn83]

Hello all

This my first attempt at a boat restore. I am a pretty handy type guys so i think i can handle it.

I paid $500 for this boat and broke a cardinal rule of buying a boat by buying it without putting it in the water. I did start the motor and run it for about 15 seconds to insure that it wasn't locked up but the boat had been stored for 3 yrs in a barn was taken out to the lake the Exhaust bellow, exhaust elbow bellow, shift cable bellow and the u joint bellow were all dry rotted so there was no way to water test. I figured for $500 I didn't have really much to loose.

The good the floor is nice and solid the carpet was replaced just before the barn stored it, The hull is in good shape has a couple of small places in the jell coat. The bad the interior was all sun damaged and falling apart .

I have removed the exhaust bellow and the exhaust bellow elbow and ordered the 4 parts i need to get it on the water.

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

here is a pic of the boat

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

here are a few pics of the interior

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

here are a few pics of the bellows that were removed

1st pic are the bellows that came off the boat. Pic 2 and 3 or after they were removed

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

Nice find. As long as it's a solid boat, you'll be pleased. My 84 Cheetah 166 treats me pretty well

 

[oops!]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

hi....welcome to iboats !

nice boat......and the price was right as well ! i see 1500 there in parts alone....never mind the motor/drive

what are your plans for your boat? have you taken core samples of the transom yet?

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

My neighbor had one of those....nice little bow rider.

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

no core samples probably will get it on the water and see how it goes


why do you say 1500 in parts or are you adding the interior to that?

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

i travel to okc with the FAA alot I will have to stop by and have a look when i get back out there

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

ok after watching a few u tube videos i pulled the out drive so i can replace my u joint bellows along with the rest of the rubber in that area after getting it off i think my gimbal barring is bad as well i guess caused by the leaking bellows. I was wondering is this special tool to take out the pivot pins (i think thats what there are called) the only way to get them out??? Or is it a large torx ?? Also i have saw alot of videos on utube how to pull the out drive but havent seen any for re installing i have tried to search this forum but haven't found to much instruction on re installing any help that you all could provide would be great. One more thing I am going to need to order the barring so right now i have no gaskets or anything ordered what else might i need in replacing that bearing and installing the bell housing and out drive.

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

Ok after some more reading peoples saying you can use a 1/2 Allen wrench worked perfect just put a pipe on it and it came right out cut off the bellows and water pipe and off came the bell housing. I got the bellows and pipe off the bell housing making me understand how hard this is going to be putting back together. I will post a few pics after getting the bellows off the transom area and both parts cleaned up. I have also sprayed my gimbil bearing down with penetrating oil and letting it sit over night will try to get it out tomorrow as well.

Searching i haven't found someone that gave some ideal as to what order to put all the bellows back on it. I have found YouTube videos of how to take it apart but know one follows through with part two how to put it back.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

the 1500 in parts i was referring to was if you parted out the boat.

couple of things....when you started the boat for 15 seconds....did you have the muffs hooked up and the water running?....if not....you will also need an impeller.

and am i correct in assuming that you are trying to replace the gimbal bearing?,,,,, with the proper tools ...the bearing will come out with a few whacks of the slide hammer....if not.....drill directly into the bearing in 5 places...this will allow stress of the race...and the bearing will come out.....
i have seen a bearing that needed as many as 30 holes in it to remove....but again.,..this was with improper tools.

as far as re installing the mercrusier drive.....its easy.....put on a new gasket...and make sure the water hole has its o ring...(put merc 2 4 c on the o ring and it will stay in place) put the shaft in the hole....make sure the shaft goes thru the gymball bearing....and shove the drive on.....if the drive gets stuck....just rotate the drive's drive shaft or manually turn the motor crank shaft a smidgeon....this will align the splines better.....then....use a special tool called a foot wrench to kick the drive on....and tighten it to 55 lbs with your finely calibrated elbow style torque wrench

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

I agree with the 1500 parting out so didnt feel like i could loose.

as far as reinstallation the out drive itself looks preaty easy but i am talking about how to put all the bellows and hose back on the bell housing. what can be the best method of getting to hose on and in what order is the best way to do it

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

Let me know when you're in the area. I'm about 70 miles outside of OKC. I need a good excuse to check out Lake Thunderbird in nearby Norman anyway.

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

Let me know when you're in the area. I'm about 70 miles outside of OKC. I need a good excuse to check out Lake Thunderbird in nearby Norman anyway.

doesnt look like i will be back this yr but i am normally out there 2 or 3 times a yr i will be sure to remeber to let you know

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

OK finally got the gimbal bearing out. Amazing how much easier things are with the right tools (if any of you are thinking about doing this go to an auto parts store and borrow the slide hammer and puller) any way after pulling the bearing it left a small rubber ring. I think this may have been a seal or what was left of the seal. There is a metal ring still in the opening from where i pulled the bearing what i also think is part of the seal. Is that the seal? if so I am going to ask the question that i think i already know the answer too. Do i need to pull that metal ring and reset the seal with the bearing. here is a couple of pics but they are a bit blurry Pic 1 and 2 is of the gimbal area and the third is what i found behind the bearing when it cam out

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

out with the old here are the conditions of the bellows and things that came out I did cut the water hose and the u joint bellows to make it easier to get out but the rest came out how they lay. Now to clean up all the mounting spots and start the re install. Pray for me

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

Got the exhaust bellows elbow replaced today finally a new part actually installed. This will be that last post for next few days Going to order the rest of the parts i need tonight to get the out driveall put back together so i can go after it next weekend.

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

ok got the rest of my parts in hope to start this weekend to get my gimbal bearing in and all the belows on and the outdrive back on so i can fire this baby up

 

[scottn83]

Re: 1984 Cheetah 170 restore

wohoo got the gimbal bearing (rocked it in with a home made tool and a sledge hammer LOL) in will start on the bellows tomorrow morning