Please Help...I broke the transom plate

[watermellonI]

I found and repaired a leak in the stern of my boat and was re torqing the transom plate bolts when the lower left side of the plate cracked, thats the bad news, the good news is the rest seems fine, with all bolts torqed to spec
this is on an alpha one with a 3.0 in front my question is can I go ahead and run this, there are seven other bolts holding fine

and just so you know transom itself is ok.

thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

Are you talking inner or outer transom plate? What year?

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

1990 inside, it broke when I torqued the lower left bolt (as you look at it from inside the boat) I cut the transom hole a little shy when I redid the transom and didn t realize there wasn t enought support behind the plate. It broke under the bolt where the bolt seats into the plate taking half the seat out.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

what is spec on a transom bolt????
I though ya turned em till the glass started creaking....
It's been awhile since i've had my nose in a sterndrive rigging manual.

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

book says 20 to 25 ft/lb

 

[JCF350]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

1990 inside, it broke when I torqued the lower left bolt (as you look at it from inside the boat) I cut the transom hole a little shy when I redid the transom and didn t realize there wasn t enought support behind the plate. It broke under the bolt where the bolt seats into the plate taking half the seat out.

Time to "re-repair" the transom, at least in that area

 

[Don S]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

If it broke when you torqued it, the transom is obviously not flat within spec, I have no way of telling if you have a high spot somewhere in the center or a low spot at that corner. There inner surface of the transom must be flat and parallel to the outside surface. if not, the motor mounts will not be in the correct place.
Look at page 2A-1 HERE

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

thanks Don, I dont think thats the problem had everything together had a pro align and install the oudrive when he water tested outdrive he found a leak, I pulled outdrive and engine to repair leak, I did not remove plate, when I retorqed the lower left bolt inside as your lookin at it the corner of the plate cracked and fell off.

Will the other seven bolts hold the plate and bell housing assembly solidly enough?

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

Lookin at this whole problem from a distance I think I ll just replace it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

Lookin at this whole problem from a distance I think I ll just replace it.

Ayuh,..........

Probably a very Wise decision............ Good Luck.......

I cut the transom hole a little shy when I redid the transom and didn t realize there wasn t enought support behind the plate.

Probably otto deal with That issue while you're there,.......
And,.....
Make Sure that it's Flat,+ parallel where the plate meets the transom....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

You know,

This smells of a rotten area under the bolt you torqued. You're sure that it's ok in that area? You could use marine epoxy and powdered glass filler to re-enforce that area.....If it's "mush" under that part of the plate you may have to do a little transom work when you get everything out of there. 20-25 ft-lbs is really not a lot of torque. but it needs to be pretty even across the whole transom plate to keep from warping and breaking it. That aluminum plate won't take much uneven pressure at all (as you found out).


Regards,


Rick

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Please Help...I broke the transom plate

Transom is fine, just wasn t enough to get under that part of the plate to keep the plate from flexing, and yes I will be dealing with that when the plate gets here, 10 bucks ebay
thanx all