Leg cover

[SweeperForce]

I was working on my rectifer and I dropped a socket down inside the leg cover. I removed the screws and took the cover off. After finding my socket I put the cover back on and even though I didn't over torque one it the heads on the bolt snapped off. There are six bolts on the bottom of the cover(one snapped, one was missing when I got the boat) So now ther are only 4 bolts holding the cover on, plus the are 3 bolts in the engine compartment. Is there any harm taking it out on the water like this? I only drilled out a handful of broken screws amd bolts. I never tapped and died before.

Tom

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Leg cover

Won't hurt.J

 

[1983rinker]

Re: Leg cover

plenty of bolts to hold it on.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Leg cover

Depending upon the location of the bolts, it should not be a problem.

However: The rear cover and lower pan are an integral unit that support the midleg and keep it from traveling too far backward under acceleration loads. Right back by the hood latch you can see the bent steel stop held by four 5/16 bolts.

Therefore, it is a good winter project to drill out the broken bolts and replace them. It is also possible that the heads snapped with a bit sticking out so you can grab them with a Vice-Grip when you remove the cover.

There should be six bolts holding it to the lower pan also Unless it is the plastic cover with only 4. The bolt bosses on the rear cover go well into the casting (unless it is a newer Force with the plastic cover) so you can drill out the bolts and not worry about the enlarged hole. You can simply drill a 3/16 hole deeper and retap to 1/4 X 20.