outdrive transom mount bolts loose merc/alpha 1

[rtmt91]

I have a 1987 chris craft 210BR with a 260hp merc and an alpha one outdrive.
The lower bolts on the transom plate are loose and causing a leak in to the bilge.
(the bolts are the lower ones with the zinc caps on the outside)
How do I get to these bolts to tighten them? I can see them from the engine compartment. They appear to be below or behind the exhaust elbow before it joins and turns and runs thru the transom plate. Will I need to remove the exhaust to get to these?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive transom mount bolts loose merc/alpha 1

Ayuh,...... After you pull the motor...........

Those bolts get Loose for 1 of 2 Reasons,...........

A),... They're Aluminum,+ they've Rotted to Nothing,... Which means Replacing them with another set of the Same Bolts,......
Steel, or SSteel aren't an Option,...
These bolts are a part of the Boat's Bonding System(Ground path),.... That's the Reason that they Are, what they Are.....
And, Why the Anodes are on the Outside end.......

B),.... The Transom Wood is Rotted,+ It needs Replacement.........

Neither are Easy Fixes,........

Good Luck........

 

[rtmt91]

Re: outdrive transom mount bolts loose merc/alpha 1

So it is not possible to get to these, without pulling the motor? Even if I removed the exhaust piping? It looks like the bolts would be accesible if this was removed.

I may have to just silicone around it on the outside to at least slow it down for now.

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive transom mount bolts loose merc/alpha 1

"Even if I removed the exhaust piping? It looks like the bolts would be accesible if this was removed."

That Y-pipe Ain't coming out of there,...... Without pulling the Motor 1st.........
Possibly,.. You Might be able to lay it alittle out of the way,.... But I Doubt it......

The Point I need to make is;
Those Broken/ Rotten Bolts are just an Indicator of Other, More Serious Issues..........

 

[Fishermark]

Re: outdrive transom mount bolts loose merc/alpha 1

Been there... done that.

What Bondo describes is exactly what happened to mine. I ended up needing to rebuild the transom and new bolts. Yes, the engine needs to be pulled to do it. No getting around it.

If you decide to delay it, don't use silicone, use some 3M 5200.