1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Jason - Are you getting ahead of yourself? After you get the bellows and all that on, how are you going to do the alignment? Won't all that have to come off to align? Did I miss the engine install?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Jason - Are you getting ahead of yourself? After you get the bellows and all that on, how are you going to do the alignment? Won't all that have to come off to align? Did I miss the engine install?

Nah, the Bell Housing and all that goes with it, none of that stuff will be in the way of the engine alignment.

Engine install will happen as soon as I come out on top of this U Joint Bellows!

Thanks for trying to keep me out of trouble buddy

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

All right, I wasn't going to post this as I'm not real proud of my work, but in full disclosure - if you feel like watching 12 minutes of failure...

After that I tended to the family and came back out for another 30 minutes, nope, no good.

I'll have loss commentary in a bit, hang tight.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

was working from memory eek and as soon as you said ^^^, I thought well I showed him my knowledge. :redface: I better go hang with EZ.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Don't give up you'll get it! Just a quick question, where would the bellows expanding tool come into play? Looks like you could of used an extra set of hands.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

was working from memory eek and as soon as you said ^^^, I thought well I showed him my knowledge. :redface: I better go hang with EZ.

Nah, GA - you are just looking out for me man, appreciated!

Don't give up you'll get it! Just a quick question, where would the bellows expanding tool come into play? Looks like you could of used an extra set of hands.

Yah, great question. The bellows expander tool is only for the exhaust bellow, course I went with the tube so no need for that eh.

Yup, another guy would have been great there. I was totally wiped after about 45 minutes of pushing really hard with one arm and trying to get it clamped with the other. Add to that the cold metal on the hands, it was a rough go. I bet you could tell though:facepalm:

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

So here is what I was thinking after my wrestling match...

In short, I made some rookie mistakes.

The first was not recognizing that I needed to push it on farther to get the bead in the groove.

The second was taking so long to recognize the problem. By the time I got it figured the bellows adhesive made it super difficult for it to move it further in.

The third was not warming things up. Warming up the bellows or pre stretching it certainly would have helped.

Ah well, I made rookie mistakes cuz, well, I am a rookie after all.

I do believe I have a plan though

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

It's times like that to walk away for a spell.. When it's me alone in the garage, a hammer or other tool nearby has been known to get chucked at a wall... You'll get it dude!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Fourth - tape that Mercruiser Service sign on the transom - Show that bellows you know what you're doing. And from reading here you are the first guy to have trouble gettin' that guy on - NOT. Stick the bell housing by the heat pipe behind you and put the bellows in the pipe. That ought warm it up. We're all rooting for you, Jas.

 

[Deadwood]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

That bellows looks kinda spendy....got to be something out there that will get that glue off without hurting the rubber....got any of this to experiment with????

http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/748-solvents-thinners/110825.html

Sorry...too late for this: http://www.sterndrives.com/supplies/mdtips03.html
Way down at the bottom they feel your pain.

Don't feel bad Jason....I tried to do some maintenance today on our nice (read $$$) but quite old Moen extendable kitchen sink faucet today.....guess where I'm going tomorrow??

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I remember this spring I put a new set of bellows on a Volvo Penta drive and had the same problem you did with the bead seating. That Volvo Penta was a little more tricky because the bellows are attatched directly to the drive so I had to lift the whole drive up and try to get the bellows seated by myself. After 2 or 3 days I finally got it

 

[ben2go]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

That's crappy luck on the bellows.I've never attempted one on the boat.I assemble the gimbal on the bench and use a special tool to tight up the worm drive clamps.It's like your flexible screw driver, but has a clip to hold the end on the clamp screw.I can't seem to find them online.Mine is old one that I just happen to find in a junk sale.It's currently buried under about 10 foot of crap in my storage building or I would get a pic of it.You can also use a hair dryer to soften the bellows to make it easier to slide on.


Jason,I took a screen shot of one of your vids, because I have a serious question.Please bare with me, because I am a southerner.If you have a look at the picture, you can clearly see my confusion.Would this be the yankee equivalent of our redneck mason jar drinking apparatus?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

All right, I wasn't going to post this as I'm not real proud of my work, but in full disclosure - if you feel like watching 12 minutes of failure...

After that I tended to the family and came back out for another 30 minutes, nope, no good.

I'll have loss commentary in a bit, hang tight.

Anybody else catch the look on Jas's face right after the shower comment there at the end, ya know right before he turned the camera off....... Trade a flexible screwdriver for a loofah? Seemed like the perfect time for a break anyway, timing is everything!

 

[rheagler]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Hang in there Dude. Like bear says, sometimes it's best to walk away for a while. After reading your whole thread (yes, I did) I know you've got the perseverance to beat the bellows. You'll get it, then celebrate with some pie!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

So here is what I was thinking after my wrestling match...

In short, I made some rookie mistakes.

The first was not recognizing that I needed to push it on farther to get the bead in the groove.

The second was taking so long to recognize the problem. By the time I got it figured the bellows adhesive made it super difficult for it to move it further in.

The third was not warming things up. Warming up the bellows or pre stretching it certainly would have helped.

Ah well, I made rookie mistakes cuz, well, I am a rookie after all.

I do believe I have a plan though

Out there somewhere, Ezmobee shed a tear after the 'outboard guy' commitment. Make it a tiller & Teamster will offer you his first boat.

As long as you learn something from each difficult task, it will make it easier on the next........................

 

[Pmccraney]

Hang in there man. We are all pulling for you. It's NOT a loss when you learn something new. Enjoying your vids and your positive attitude. I have leaned a ton already from watching..thanks for posting.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

....would this be the yankee equivalent of our redneck mason jar drinking apparatus?

Good thing this is a Tinny, else that may have had poly' residue in it! Fortified coffee, is that your early am secret?!?!?

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Dude.... try some Wd40 on the adhesive... let it soak in for a few and then try wiping it off. I've had luck in the past, hopefully you will here too!!

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Some days nothing goes right and others the exact opposite. I spent hours messing with the bolt holes on my shifter trying to get everything lined up and bolted in place and when I replaced it the job took 20 minutes.

It all averages out along the way and you could probably do it in the dark or blindfolded the next time. Since you do a lot of your work at 3 am it could come in handy

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Good luck with it tomorrow.

I will never ever own one of these. Good grief!