OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

[Britcheflee]

Well, those stubs of bolts in the bottom of the lower unit are refusing to budge. I would like to get a drill in there and drill out the first bit of the bolt and see if that allows the bottom part to come off (or at least drop down enough so I can remove internal bolt to completely take off) - the problem is that there is that lower plate is in the way and I cannot get a drill in there - do you see any problem with me drilling a hole through that so I can get a drill bit into the bolt holes?

This is for my 6hp Evinrude Fisherman.

Thank you,


Lee

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

I would try puting some heat on those first.

 

[boobie]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Heat,Heat,Heat and patience.

 

[Rick.]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Agree with above. Also a smack at the start and end of every heat session. Be very patient. When they do move tighen loosen tighen loosen over and over until they are out. Put your drill bits out of sight.LOL. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[Britcheflee]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Thanks, I will give it more heat and some pb blaster - I will post a picture tomorrow as I want to make sure I got my problem clearly explained - the bolts snapped off right at the head - leaving the remainder of the bolt flush with the housing and nothing to grab hold of - hopefully more heat and a few belts will free them up enough for the bottom part to drop down.

Lee

 

[BonairII]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Is there room to cut a groove in the bolt and use a flathead screwdriver to back it out?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Is there room to cut a groove in the bolt and use a flathead screwdriver to back it out?

Not if the bolts are siezed in place currently. If the heads broke off then a screwdriver will have no chance.
My opinion only though.

 

[Britcheflee]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

No room - that is my problem cant get anything in there - I will try for a bit longer then I think I have no choice but to drill an access hole through that lower flat plate to allow me to drill out a little more of the bolt - hopefully that will work.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

No room - that is my problem cant get anything in there - I will try for a bit longer then I think I have no choice but to drill an access hole through that lower flat plate to allow me to drill out a little more of the bolt - hopefully that will work.

How about a couple of photos of the issue. Picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[coinman1947]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Hey Britcheflee, are these the bolts that you are having trouble with? If so, did all 4 of them snap the head off?

-

-

-

 

[Britcheflee]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Yes - in your picture it would have been the bolts which went through the bottom part of the unit where the propeller is and attaches that to the upper piece (in your picture there is just a hole where that bolt went thru - now I see there is no thread there I feel a bit more confident I can possibly get it free - I am assuming that inside that device with the 4 flat head screw retainers is the impeller? As you can see on the bottom part there is a plate which hinders getting in there as well - as a last resort I will drill through that and drill out the first part of the bolt - and, for whatever reason two on one side came out easy the other two are jammed solid - it does not help that the bolts appear to be made of very low quality metal and not hardended steel.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

If your bolts snapped at the head, then you can probably pry the lower unit apart from the midsection with a putty knife. Be careful and not marr up the seam. The threaded shank of the bolt should be exposed good enough to put some heat on and remove with vice grips, once the lower unit comes off. Apply heat and gently tap on them with a hammer and apply more heat.

 

[coinman1947]

Re: OK to drill through bottom plate on Evinrude

Remember,once you do get the lower portion to slide down about 1/2 inch,then you can take out the shifter bolt and be sure to turn prop to get the dowel pin in the correct position on the shaft so you dont break the dowel pin, i broke my putting in the new water pump impeller, but its not a big deal,NAPA has them in an assortment of dowels.-

-I sure hope you don't have to drill out the bolts-I hope you can lower the bottom and then use heat and vice grips on whats left of the bolts with the heads broke off.-