Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

[mike64]

1972 65HP evinrude-- The rearmost bolt snapped when I was tightening it installing the LU. It's the bolt that goes in underneath the trim tab.

Am I OK with the remaining bolts? I made sure the big bolt that goes in just in front of the trim tab was nice and tight. If I periodically check the remaining bolts after taking the boat out, to make sure they're staying tight will I be OK or am I going to have problems??

 

[Camo Joe]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

Drill it and get an ez -out...........put in a new bolt..............Happy Easter!

 

[mike64]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

Drill it and get an ez -out...........put in a new bolt..............Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you too Camo Joe. Guess I will try that. But in the meantime, what's anybody's opinion-- can I take the boat out and run the motor without the LU falling off? I want to try out the new lu I put on and see if it shifts properly under power.

 

[gsyfishy]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

You would probably be alright, but why take a chance on creating more damage? Its a tedious proccess to remove a snapped off bolt, but I would want to protect my investment.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

Please don't use an EZ-out. Chances are that it will snap off in there, then you'll have big problems. If there is a stub, get on it with a pair of vise-grips. Heat helps. If there isn't, then drill it out . A left-twist bit will usually spin it out once it gets to a thin shell.

You can take your chances running it with the remaining bolts. It won't fall off, but I wouldn't do it for long. They put that bolt there for a reason.

 

[mike64]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

Just to follow up, when I got the LU off there was about 1/4" of bolt sticking out to work with, so I got it out with vice grips + heat. The threads were messed up though, so I took it to the auto shop down the street and they put a helicoil in.

Now my wallet's $91.00 lighter

But once I get the LU back on I'm finally ready for the water!

 

[F_R]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

$91 is cheap compared to what that lower unit was going to cost you when it fell of in 50 feet of water. They never fall off at dockside in three feet.

 

[6hpboat]

Re: Snapped a bolt installing lower unit. Now what?

You can mig weld a dab on the tip and try vise gripping it off.... I did that a few times.

The heat from the weld will loosen threads... but just a small weld.