broken trim tab

[OLDIRON]

Hi all. Noticed that the trim tab on my "new" 55el78s is broken. Actually almost half the top round plate of it is compleatly gone, not just the tab.I have the FSM for my motor specific on order but I won't have it for atleast another 2 weeks . I tried to unbolt it to get a new one on order and after spraying and soaking, I snapped a 7/16 socket in two. The bolt will not budge. I plan on dropping the LU after I get the manual anyway to do a water pump service.My question is do I need to get this trim tab bolt out first? According to the BRP parts breakdown, there are two long bolts on each side and one long bolt just infront of the trim tab. The tab bolt looks to be short. Is that one small bolt going to prevent me from dropping the LU? I know on some motors you have to remove the tab to get to the fifth bolt, but that's not the case here. If that tab bolt has to come out before the LU can come off...I guess I'm screwed. . It would be so much easier for me to get that bolt out after the LU is off. Then I could turn it upside down, apply some PB and heat it with my ox/acy torch. Even drill it out if I have to. Has anyone had any experience with this? You all know the answer I want to hear. Thanks.

 

[jonesg]

Re: broken trim tab

O/A might be a tad hot , its only cast alum and you might toast the seals.
I find an impact driver helps with stubburn bolts.
I use a cheap elec impacter, from autozone, you just have allow time for it to work.bangbangbang....

 

[OLDIRON]

Re: broken trim tab

O/A might be a tad hot , its only cast alum and you might toast the seals.
I find an impact driver helps with stubburn bolts.
I use a cheap elec impacter, from autozone, you just have allow time for it to work.bangbangbang....

Your correct on the o/a method, usually I don't resort to that unless absolutly necessary. If I can get the LU off without removing the trim tab bolt I don't think I'll have too much trouble getting it out once it's on the bench. It's that "if" part that worries me.

 

[OLDIRON]

Re: broken trim tab

Well, on looking closer at the BRP parts breakdown, appears that the trim tab bolt is about 4" long. That's more then enough to go into the leg. Looks like I will have to somehow get that bolt out to drop the LU. Bummer. Now I may as well wait for the manual to arrive and do the job. Heat, soak, bang, heat , soak, bang! The age old story. I'll probably have to break what's left of the tab to get this guy out.

 

[jonesg]

Re: broken trim tab

Well, on looking closer at the BRP parts breakdown, appears that the trim tab bolt is about 4" long. That's more then enough to go into the leg. Looks like I will have to somehow get that bolt out to drop the LU. Bummer. Now I may as well wait for the manual to arrive and do the job. Heat, soak, bang, heat , soak, bang! The age old story. I'll probably have to break what's left of the tab to get this guy out.

Yeh cut the remnant off to access the bolt under the trim tab.
I'd try a grinder.

 

[OLDIRON]

Re: broken trim tab

Yeh cut the remnant off to access the bolt under the trim tab.
I'd try a grinder.

Thanks jones, On this motor there's no bolt under the tab,just one directly forward of it and I can get a six point socket on it.Today I put some heat to the tab bolt head,my 7/16" six point on it with a 1/2" breakerbar and actually got it to move. Maybe just the bolt head moved and the threads are froze I don't know yet.Just got it to move a bit. If the head snaps and leaves atleast an inch or two of bolt...all the better.I can deal with that. I still want to wait for my manual to arrive before I drop the LU. Not that the FSM will go into detail on how to remove stuck bolts, LOL. I just what to have it before I start really tearing into it. I'm just a big fan of FSM's. Whenever I aquire a motor, it's the very first thing I try to get, nomatter if is an outboard or a car. Absolutly invaluable IMO.

 

[jonesg]

Re: broken trim tab

I find stainless fasteners tend be soft as cheddar cheese.

The 3/4'' bolts on my truck front end must be hardened,
I used a breaker bar + 24 inch pipe for leverage and they slowly unscrew, squeaking all the way out.