I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

[airshot]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

As a toolmaker, I make pullers all the time however I have not had the opportunity to see this particular application. Typically we take a small pc of steel and put two threaded holes mabey 1 1/2
apart then drill a center hole that the 1/4 - 28 bolt will go thru. By tightening the 1/4 - 28 and screwing in the two outer bolts we jack the dowel pin out. If you do not have room for that then a homade slide hammer is required, just a pc of steel rod with a 1/4 -28 thread in one end, screw a long 1/4 - 28 bolt into the end and cut off the head so threads are left sticking out ( threaded rod works well also) tap the opposite end with a much larger thread and install bolt with a large washer then find something heavy that will slide over the rod and stop at the larger bolt end and you have a homemade slide hammer. Hope this helps

Airshot

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Thanks airshot!

While you were typing that, I was hitting hardware stores looking for all-thread to make a ghetto slide hammer and finding out that 1/4 - 20 is easy to find, 1/4 - 28, not so much. Finally found an Ace Hardware that had a 6" long bolt with 1/4 - 28 threads on it. Gave up my 99 cents and went home to see what I could build with it.

Grabbed a couple washers and a spark plug socket and presto - the worlds wimpiest slide hammer ever!

Absolutely certain that I needed something ten times beefier, I got in the car to go to Harbor Freight and at the last second figured I may as well run over to the boat and try this first, I still had time to get to the store when (not if) it failed.

Here's what I'm looking at - the pull dowel is just friction-fitted into the hole. The nail goes through the gimbal housing and through the pull dowel to keep it in place. The inner part of the gimbal housing pivots on two of these pull dowels. Pull the nail, pull the dowel and you're in.

I stuck a flat head screwdriver against the bent point of the nail and hit it with a wrench to bend it straight enough that I could then use the end of the screw driver to kinda push it back towards the nail head. Grabbed the nail head with a vise grips and yanked it out.

Then came the moment I'd been dreading. This thing has probably been stuck in there for 36 years. I shoulda brought a blow torch. I shoulda given up and taken this thing to a mechanic. I'll never get this thing outta here, who the hell do I think I am tackling a project like this?

Well the picture sez it all:

One good whack with the ghetto slide hammer and the dowel literally slid right out with no resistance at all. The other side was actually a little easier.

:facepalm:

I'd built this up to be such a big debacle that I'm quite embarrassed that I didn't try to tackle this last fall when I first found the leak in the shift bellows. I was SO SURE that this would be my Waterloo. Now I just feel like a fool for letting it freak me out for so long.

I used to teach a beginner-level class to the customer service people at my last job about the Internet and computers and networking in general. The first 10 minutes of the class was devoted to my theory that the biggest problem people have with computers is that they allow computers to intimidate them. Sure it's complicated, but it doesn't require any extra-special genius kinda brain to handle it. It's absolutely logical and anyone with average intelligence can do whatever they want with them - if they'll just allow themselves to get over the intimidation factor.

So why do I keep letting stoopid little things like pull dowels intimidate me? Oh well.

The big drive bellows and exhaust bellows actually appeared to be in good shape, the shift bellows is definitely trashed, but I have the whole kit so I'm replacing everything in there anyway.

I also picked up a new thermostat/gasket kit and exhaust water flapper thingy today at my favorite local boat part shop so barring any bouts of intimidation, those will go in this weekend too and we'll fire it up just to make sure she survived her winter nap.

Maybe - just maybe, we'll get this boat floating very, very soon.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

PR - 1

Pull Dowel - 0

Nice work man!

 

[yooperangler]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Nice work PR glad to see You won. If it's any consolation I have similar feelings about tearing apart My lower unit to replace the impeller despite an extremely strong mechanichal background and having 2 repair manuals I keep putting it off.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Very creative and awesome tool fabrication... Im gonna put that one in the memory banks in case I need a tool like that

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Thanks fellas. I'm still embarrassed but also very relieved to have it out of the way now.

Last night I started applying power to certain components that were on the boat when I bought it. 5 out of 6 lights in the gauges still work, the volt gauge works, the depthfinder works, the stern spot light works. Yay!

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

AWWWW...MAN....

Got the gimbal housing apart last night. Removed all three bellows and water hose and found the jacket on the shift cable is split wide open. So back to the forums I go looking for info on replacing that and I find that the "old style" (mine's a pre-R) shift cables are simply not available anymore. The hole where the end of shift cable threads into the housing must be tapped so it will accept the newer style cable fitting. And guess what? It doesn't use a regular tap like you can go buy at Sears, it's some unique thing that must be ordered online.

Crap crap crap. I can feel the intimidation seeping back in.

Maybe it's not too late to convert this thing to outboard?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Poop.

Maybe it's not too late to convert this thing to outboard?

Nope not really. I have been considering that route on my Islander.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

poop indeed. I'm gonna go install the new thermostat, pull the motor, install the exhaust pipe water flapper dealy and start working on the front motor mount issue.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

PR - have you seen this about the shift cable business? http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/6/6A4R3.PDF

It's always something, isn't it? You'll get it sorted out - good luck, buddy.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

That's some tough luck PR you are due to catch a break sooner or later...but to answer your question, it's never too late to convert to an outboard.

 

[yooperangler]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Sorry to hear about the shift cable troubles. What is special about the tap ? Maybe a machine shop would have one nearby? or find one on ebay ? doesn't sound like something a person would use more than once . I have a couple wierd ones somewhere post up the specs and I'll dig around in the dreaded junk drawers.

 

[losdinspace]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

I know a local machinist that can do almost anything you need for very reasonable prices. Send me a PM and I can give you his number.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

I run the the machining/CNC areas in my shop. Let me know what you needsoze & pitch), I might have one laying around.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

PR - have you seen this about the shift cable business? http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/6/6A4R3.PDF

It's always something, isn't it? You'll get it sorted out - good luck, buddy.

Hey GA - that link's timing out for me on three different computers. Is it the Mercruiser manual showing how to do it? If so, already got that and read it (Manual #6 section 4A - looks like that's in the link so I'm assuming that's what you're trying to show me). If it's something showing an easier way, by all means, transcribe it!

Either way - thanks for looking out for a brutha!

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

I run the the machining/CNC areas in my shop. Let me know what you needsoze & pitch), I might have one laying around.

Hey Don -

It's a 1/4-18 NPSF. And you're right - it's not something I would ever use more than once. Unless my next boat happens to be pre-R as well.

Here's one on the Bay that *appears* to be correct to my untrained eye.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-4-18-4F-Tap-Replaces-Mercruiser-Quicksilver-91-95639-/250826147459

And here's the thread where Don refers to not using a tapered tap and also posted what looks like the exact same link that GA posted above.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=289019&page=1

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Well PR - it's timing out for me as well. I swear I opened it up when I posted that link, but I open so much stuff I might be confused. I'm old.

How about this, use the Manual #6, sec 4A instructions. For the tap, post a plea in the M/C forums for a tap lend/borrow. This is a one time use tool, you only have to convert to the new style once. That until Merc changes to the new, new style. DIY peeps have bought one and it's way in the back of a tool box drawer gathering dust. Just a thought, PR

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

PR - here's a link to the Merc service bulletin http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/83/83_27.pdf

It does open. I don't know if it's what's in Manual #6, but looks straight forward.

I looked at tap prices, low $20's and up. Way up $.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Hey that one works - and there is some stuff in that PDF that is not in Manual #6. Cool. Thanks.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Hey PR - these old gals need help to stay on the water. No prob. Any luck finding that tap?