Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

[cliffblue]

2001 aluminum Suntracker deckboat with a 4.3L Alpha 1. I had the plywood transom insert replaced spring before last. That stopped all leaks. Since then it started to leak a little more as time passed. It's probably up to 2-4 gallons in 4 hours lake time now. Well, some lazy mechanic in the boat shop left the right rear engine mount bolt loose with no nut on it or in the bilge. You know he had to know it and let me have it back that way. I found the loose mount recently and was able to work a nut into the slot and realign the engine. All that is in a previous post. Is it possible that the loose mount moved the assembly on the front and rear of the transom around enough to start the leak and can I check and tighten these nuts without pulling the engine? How many are there and where are they located around this assembly? Thanks, Cliff

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

2001 aluminum Suntracker deckboat with a 4.3L Alpha 1. I had the plywood transom insert replaced spring before last. That stopped all leaks. Since then it started to leak a little more as time passed. It's probably up to 2-4 gallons in 4 hours lake time now. Well, some lazy mechanic in the boat shop left the right rear engine mount bolt loose with no nut on it or in the bilge. You know he had to know it and let me have it back that way. I found the loose mount recently and was able to work a nut into the slot and realign the engine. All that is in a previous post. Is it possible that the loose mount moved the assembly on the front and rear of the transom around enough to start the leak and can I check and tighten these nuts without pulling the engine? How many are there and where are they located around this assembly? Thanks, Cliff

Ayuh,.... There oughta be 8, 'n the bottom 2 are aluminum,....

Donno if you can get at 'em or not,.... depends on yer boat, 'n yer toolbox,...

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

hope this helps... I think your pulling the engine

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

It was not too bad torquing the top four bolts. The other 4 were another story. All I can add to Bondo's advice is boat, toolbox and WANT TO. I guest I really wanted to get to those nuts. Ha! I will definitely build a wrench for those four nuts next time, but it can be done. Had a 3-4 inch long crack at the bottom of the transom tig welded a while back and finally made it to the lake yesterday. No leaks! Cliff

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

Hate to say it, but you got alot of problems if a motor mount was left loose then you ran the boat. In my opinion, the vibration of the motor has loosened your transom mount, caused undue wear on your coupler. When you say realign the engine, is that with an alignment bar through the coupler, or just eyeball? If it were me, I'd go back on the shop and describe what you found after service.

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

Yeah, I usually would, but the owner/partner that I dealt with is not even there any more. All this has forced me to learn a lot more about this boat than I originally intended. I did buy and use an alignment bar that I bought on eBay. I checked it against the dimensions of one I read about on here. I may have some coupler looseness, but I'll keep an eye on that. The front motor mounts are solid and I check the nuts there often. I really enjoy this boat. It does everything that I like to do very well. If I had known everything I know now when I went to look at it the first time, I would have ran away screaming. Ha! But it's mine now and with the help of this forum, I'll make the best of it.

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[jackd1023]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

Yeah, I usually would, but the owner/partner that I dealt with is not even there any more. All this has forced me to learn a lot more about this boat than I originally intended. I did buy and use an alignment bar that I bought on eBay. I checked it against the dimensions of one I read about on here. I may have some coupler looseness, but I'll keep an eye on that. The front motor mounts are solid and I check the nuts there often. I really enjoy this boat. It does everything that I like to do very well. If I had known everything I know now when I went to look at it the first time, I would have ran away screaming. Ha! But it's mine now and with the help of this forum, I'll make the best of it.

well said sir

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Can I check- tighten the through transom bolts?

Here she is. Finally!

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