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Fishin Ran

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"Ok, here's what happened.

"Ok, here's what happened. I was draining the carb on the motor. I was going to put the drain screw back in the carb bowl but instead, I dropped it. It fell deep into the motor. A local machanic said to take the engine off the boat, turn it upside down and pour the bolt out. So I started to try and loosen the big bolts that mount the engine to the transom. They were tight. I put WD on them and one finally loosened up. The other....well it broke off. Now I got a big mounting bolt broke off and still tighter than the proverbial "Dick's Hat Band", and the drain screw that started the whole thing, well, it is lodged in there somewhere and will not fall out when the engine is turned upside down. I have big problems. Now the questions:

First, how do I get the big mounting bolt out of the bracket without breaking something else? Remember, it is still really tight in the bracket. Can I find a replacement bolt IF I can get it to loosen enough to remove?

Second, how can I retrieve the small drain bolt from deep in the engine? Will it hurt anything if I leave it in there? Can I get a replacement for the carb bowl drain bolt if I have to leave it in the engine?

LAWD!!! Somebody please help me...and Thanks in advance."
 
"First, penetrating oil. Is it

"First, penetrating oil. Is it still on the boat? Can you get at it with a drill, and use an ez-out or screw extractor? Is their enough to get onto with vise grips? Should be able to find a replacement w/o too much trouble. I would REALLY hate to resort to heat.
Second, I'm guessing you will be tearing the motor apart over the winter to get that little drain bolt out. It's gotta come outta there one way or another is my guess. But there are experts here, somebody will have a better idea, I'm sure. Good Luck!"
 
"Once you get the motor off tu

"Once you get the motor off turning it upside down should dislodge your screw. Penetrating oil, a little heat and an ez-out are your best bet as said above. Let it sit for a few days if you can.
Have fun!"
 
Use a penetrating oil like Kro

Use a penetrating oil like Kroil or P B Blaster.
WD40 doesnt penetrate good enough.
Good Luck!
 
"To begin with, it might be a

"To begin with, it might be a good idea to simply purchase another drain plug and washer than to try to retrieve the old one. To remove the mounting bolt you need a propane torch to heat the mounting bracket directly outside of where the bolt is broken off. Try to direct the heat on the bracket rather than the bolt. It will take several minutes of heating as the bracket absorbs alot of heat. Use a vise grip to grab the part of the bolt that still exists and gently(Don't Force it)move the vise grips back and forth after the heat has expanded the bracket. Protect the transom from the heat of the torch with a wet rag or any other method. You are trying to expand the bracket and not the bolt. If it doesn't work the first time, let the whole assembly cool down and try it again. When you put the new mounting bolts in, make sure you use marine grease to coat the bolts and bracket or this might happen again next year. Good Luck!"
 
You simply drill it till you a

You simply drill it till you are left with a " thinwall " bolt then collapse it till it falls out.I believe it is aluminum and this should be easy.
 
"Ok, Fishin Ran again. Thanks

"Ok, Fishin Ran again. Thanks for the tips. Let me clarify a few things if I could.

The engine is now off the boat and laying in the floor of my storage building. There is about 1" - 1.5" of the mounting bolt sticking out on each side of the bracket, so I should be able to grab the thing with a tool. Should I use a pipe wrench or would vise grips be preferrable? I know that whichever side of the bolt I grab, the threads are then gone, so should I try and saw off the excess of the bolt that I am not going to put the tool on? On second thought, maybe I will wait about the sawing until I see if I need the threads on the one side and then saw the stripped side if I screw up. Should I use any "cheater bar" to lengthen the handle of the tool for more leverage?

I've never had to apply heat to remove a stuck bolt, so could you try and explain the technique along the lines of how much heat to apply ( how close to hold the torch; how long to keep the flame moving along the bracket; etc.) Also, what are any problems, short of setting the engine on fire or melting the bracket, that are likely to occur?

Next, the little carb bowl drain bolt is LODGED down in the engine where it landed after I dropped it, so simply inverting the engine and pouring it out DOES NOT work. Will it hurt to leave it in there or does it HAVE to come out? If it does, how in the world, short of having someone tear the engine apart, can I get it out?

I guess laying the engine on the floor, on its side and possibly fouling the carb is the least of my worries at the moment huh?

Oh man, what a mess, and right here at prime fishing time in Alabama!

I really appreciate all you guys help.

Thanks, Fishin Ran"
 
Cut both ends off and drill it

Cut both ends off and drill it out to a thinwall and collapse it!!!Then retap the thread.Your way will likely ruin the thread in the bracket to create more work for your self.
 
"Still would try penetratating

"Still would try penetratating oil and vise grips first, try turning back and forth, if it moves a little it will come.
I REALLY think that drain bolt MUST come out before you run (ruin) the motor, but I could be wrong."
 
"If both sides of the bolt are

"If both sides of the bolt are still there,this should not be a major problem. The tip of the flame on the propane torch should be about 1/4 inch from the mounting bracket and the torch should be turned up all the way. Don't even try to move the bolt until the heat has been applied for at least 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to move the torch around the area surrounding the bolt. Use vise grips to grab the bolt and move it back and forth with only moderate pressure...do not use a cheater bar! Twist the vise grips back and forth and the bolt will start to move and creak. Continue heating the bracket and moving the bolt until it turns. Do not heat the bolt itself as this will cause it to expand...you want the bracket to expand. I have successfully used this technique dozens of times. If for any reason it doesn't work, you still have the option of drilling and tapping. If you are going to drill it out, you must be 100% accurate as far as finding the center and making sure the drill stays there. As to the drain plug...it does not have to be removed...it should fall out if you turn the motor upside down and tap the side of the housing with your hand but if it doesn't, it can stay where it is. It cannot enter any moving parts or do any damage if left where it is. Good luck Fishing!"
 
"If you guys dont mind, I'

"If you guys dont mind, I'll give it a shot at whipping this dead horse. A stuck bolt, no matter what metals, or combination of metals, is best approached in a calm and cool manner. When I break a bolt, the first thing I do is go get a cup of coffee, and take a break, before I leave it, I spray penatrant. I come back with a propane torch and heat carefuly for a couple of minutes. After getting it hot, I touch a candle to the hot bolt where the bolt meets the female threads. The wax soaks into the threads a lubes them. When you turn the bolt, it does not drag at all, no squeeks, no fuss, no muss. Works every time. Laugh if you like, but I've made beleivers out of the most sceptable mechanics. It's a bit back yardie, but like I said it works every time. Theres my two cents."
 
"The bolt is scrap, so the ide

"The bolt is scrap, so the idea is to save the bracket.Drill it out."
 
"I just use a candle, whatever

"I just use a candle, whatever is laying around the house. I've been in trouble more than once for using the wife's good candles for such endevors. Drilling it out is an option, but I try and stay away from compounding the problem by ruining another part. Thats just my own luck. If drilling has to be done, I would use a left handed twist drill, as you drill, if your lucky, the bolt will back out as you run the drill. Steping up the size of the drill helps keeping the threads from getting destroyed, that is, if you can get the drill started in the exact center of the bolt. There's always ten or fifteen ways to skin a cat."
 
"Oh yeah, I cant take the cred

"Oh yeah, I cant take the credit for coming up with this idea. I learned this in 9th grade metal shop class back in 1979 from a very practical shop teacher. We took a brass bolt out of a lavatory sink in the girls bathroom, true story."
 
"I really appreciate all the h

"I really appreciate all the help you guys have given me with this problem. I have just never had a bolt to break off like this, just a couple of times and they had nuts on the end so a replacement to fix those. Anyway, Thanks again for all the tips and I hope that if anyone else breaks a bolt they read this post. I think everything needed is given here. A candle huh? Sounds stange but I am going to try that one Paul. Thanks a ton everyone. You guys are what makes this board so great with all the helpful and informative stuff.

Fishin Ran"
 
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