How to torque down 6 outdrive nuts without marring paint?

[scooper77515]

Just painted my outdrive, did winter maintenance, and reinstalled, and mess the paint up while torquing the 6 nuts that hold the outdrive on.

Will have to sand down and repaint the upper half.

Does anyone have a method for torquing it down without the universal socket joint marring the paint up?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How to torque down 6 outdrive nuts without marring paint?

is it really worth all that trouble? Perhaps a little touch up in places as needed . . .

 

[caverdan]

Re: How to torque down 6 outdrive nuts without marring paint?

Try wrapping the universal joint with electrical tape or duct tape to pad it and make it softer on the finish. I've also had luck protecting paint from tools by using leather and placing it between the two. Leather works really well for holding things in a vise and not marking the surface. Hope this helps.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: How to torque down 6 outdrive nuts without marring paint?

Cool! Leather sounds like it would work.

I am not going to repaint entire top half, but need to sand and smooth out the mars and repaint them. May as well paint over the nuts as well, for an extra layer of protection from the elements.