How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

[Bueller420th]

Hey guys, I was trying to get off the lake as a storm rolled in. As I got the front hooked up to the pulley the wind and waves pushed the rear of the boat over the wood and the side went toward the ramp and the lower unit hit the ramp a few times before i was able to jump in and keep it from hitting.

So now the very bottom fin below the prop has a slight bend/warp and I didn't know if there was an easy way to bend it back. I started to use a tie down ratchet system to hook to it and keep slowly cranking it tighter while tapping the metal and its kind of came back a little bit, but not near the amount it needs to.

Then I thought maybe I could get a heat gun or torch and heat it slowly while slowly using the ratchet to pull it back. But didn't know if that was a good idea or not. As I don't want to ruin it beyond repair, if it isn't already since id probably have to get a whole new lower unit.


You ideas/answers are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[12vMan]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

If it's only slightly bent at the bottom of the skeg, you can take 2 pieces of heavier gauge metal and sandwich it with a bar clamp to straighten it out.
Some have even been successful with a block of wood and a mallet but I wouldn't recommend it.
If the bend is too much for the bar clamp approach you may have to remove the housing and put it in a vise.
If the bend is pretty bad and over 1/2 way up towards the thicker section at the top you may have to cut it off and straighten it, or replace it, and re-weld it back on, or have it done.

Heating it up without knowing what you're doing could ruin the seals and you would have a much bigger problem on your hands.

BTW - welcome to the club

 

[F_R]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

Attempting to straighten it puts you at great risk of suddenly breaking it off. My advice to you---leave it alone. It looks funky, but really won't hurt anything.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

Cast aluminum straightening = leave it alone to me. Especially if it is causing no issues.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

OK thanks guys, I'll probably just leave it alone.

I didn't know if it would really cause any issues or not. Figured maybe just steering one direction would be a little hard now? I guess I will find out this weekend.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

It's only there to protect the prop ... nothing else.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

Alright, that's good news, thanks everyone.

 

[dish]

Re: How to straighten bend in lower unit bottom fin

Clamp it with steel flat bar both sides or similar,heat it up with oxy and straighten it out.Shouldnt take it long to get to get to bent temp.If it cracks just bent straight and get the crack welded.Grind smooth,repaint,no worries.Depending on how long you have to heat it undo the top screw in the gear case a few turns to stop pressure build up and if it has a nylon washer in bottom drain screw i would check that for melting.I have done it a few times like that.