How to get upper trim limit retaining bolt out?

[jonny rotten]

Trying to get the upper trim limit retaining bracket off to replace the senders. THe one that holds the wire bracket at transom. The lower one is easy and out. The upper one I cant get to. A regular open end wrench doesnt have the angle without hitting the gimble bearing housing and the gimble ring blocks the bolt for a socket. Its to tight for a swivel socket. A stubby wrench is to long also. Bellows are off and gimble housing is off and I still cant get to it.

The bolt appears to be to close to the the housing on one side and it doesnt seem as if the closed end of a wrench will have room to get around the bolt head or I would run out and get a swivel wrench set or off set wrench...but I dont think they would work either
Any tool or ticks to get that upper bolt out?
Mercruiser alpha one

 

[Bt Doctur]

grinding a socket thinner may help, a flex-cable extention vs a solid extention

 

[jonny rotten]

grinding a socket thinner may help, a flex-cable extention vs a solid extention

A 1/4 socket comes about 3/8 from the gimbal ring so there is no way to connect anything to a socket. just tried heating and bending a 7/16 wrench and still cant get a good bite/leverage...losing my mind
So there is room for a socket but it does no good without being to connect something to it

 

[tank1949]

A 1/4 socket comes about 3/8 from the gimbal ring so there is no way to connect anything to a socket. just tried heating and bending a 7/16 wrench and still cant get a good bite/leverage...losing my mind
So there is room for a socket but it does no good without being to connect something to it

No real way to sweeten a response. In my opinion, a crappy MC design. I have had to replace way too many over the decades. I have always had to remove drive and unloosen bellhousing from ring(special tool) and force down bellhousing or totally remove it. You may have to also remove bellows, depending on your hand size. .

 

[Alumarine]

You need to bend a 7/16" box end wrench at a approx. 45 degree angle about 2"
from the box end. 12 point might be best.

When replacing the bracket you can just use the lower bolt.
Or you can buy a 54-12078 Alpha 1 Gen II Trim Wire Retainer Clamp and 1/4-20x3/4" bolt merc # is 10-28636.
The newer style just uses one bolt.

 

[Alumarine]

Like this. I think I got the idea from user Muc.
My apologies if I'm mistaken.

 

[achris]

Here's my 'special tool' (mind out of the gutter, guys! )