Alpha one, Gen 1 trim wire retainer bolts?

[Fiat4Fun]

Replacing the trim wire sensors on my 1986 Mercruiser. Got it all apart, and was running the new trim wire sensors. On the wire retainer, I can get the bolt on the bottom easily, but the top one is not wanting to thread in. I have tried it with the bottom loose, tight and in-between, and I can't get it started on the threads. I did a bit of a search, and look like the Gen 2 only uses one bolt. Can I just use on bolt on my Gen 1? Would save a bit of time or does anyone have any suggestions? I have a 1/4" swivel socket that I used to get it out, but can get the bolt started so the socket is no help. The retainer seems flat when I tighten the bottom bolt.


Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Grub54891]

If it had two bolts, it's wise to put both back in. I know how frustrated you can get doing that job. I have a box of sacrifical tools that I heat, bend, configure to get at those hard to get at places.

 

[nola mike]

Replacing the trim wire sensors on my 1986 Mercruiser. Got it all apart, and was running the new trim wire sensors. On the wire retainer, I can get the bolt on the bottom easily, but the top one is not wanting to thread in. I have tried it with the bottom loose, tight and in-between, and I can't get it started on the threads. I did a bit of a search, and look like the Gen 2 only uses one bolt. Can I just use on bolt on my Gen 1? Would save a bit of time or does anyone have any suggestions? I have a 1/4" swivel socket that I used to get it out, but can get the bolt started so the socket is no help. The retainer seems flat when I tighten the bottom bolt.


Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks

This is why I have replaced these exactly one time, and haven't had working trim gizmos for years. Things I remember trying: bending a wrench, wobble extensions, 12g Romex wire wrapped around it, drinking, cursing. Some combination of the above worked

 

[Alumarine]

On my MC1 I used the 54-12078 clamp from a Gen 2 and the one bolt which was 10-28636 (1/4-20 3/4" long).
It's working fine. Not sure about using one bolt with original style clamp.

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. I got it in, using\a right angle screw driver to align the top bolt, tighten the bottom one a bit and used my fingers to get it started. Then I used my 1/4 flex socket to put it in.... Next step coming up.......