Removing interior side panel....questions....

[Lou C]

Hello all,
I need to install a new throttle/shift control on my 88 FW H-200 because the old OMC control is getting really sloppy. The side panel has to come off, its is held to the inside lip of the top cap by a series of studs that are screwed into a fastener inside the wood backing. The panel is held to the 'glass by a 3/8th nut screwed onto the threaded stud. The problem that the studs are spinning and the nuts are rusted to the studs. I tried to use an offset box ratcheting wrench to turn the nut but since the studs are spinning in the wood backing panel they won't loosen. I tried holding the studs with a vicegrips but access inside this panel is very difficult. It seems they chose the most difficult possible way to secure these panels. Any ideas from those who have done this before? Some years back I was able to remove the front bow cushions up that are up against the consoles because the access was much easier under the console/dashboard. This job is a lot more difficult....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

Post up some pictures of what you have going on, the clearer the better to let us see what you see and be better able to give you some advice...
Off the top of my head, it sounds like the fasteners holding the control box on are spinning...If that's the case, you might have to get a bit drastic and use a reciprocating saw, very carefully between the box and the gunwale to cut off the offending fasteners, or maybe you can grind the heads off the fasteners using a rotary tool with a carbide bit...then you have several options for reattaching...

 

[cedarlattice]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

I ended up taking a hack saw blade in a pair of vice grips and sawing them off between the cap and wood. It was time consuming, but worked.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

Thanks, that will probably work in my case.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

Hi Lou:

A pic or two would help, but . . . my thought would be to let the nut(s) pull the studs out and then replace the nut/stud with just a bolt/washer of the proper size. Might work :noidea:

 

[britisher]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

If the side panels are made of plywood, it sounds like you have rot. I have an 97 SR 180BR and I'm working my way round the boat refurbishing the upholstery. Right now I'm doing the side panels. You will find the bolts are attached to the wooden side panels by tee nuts. The nut end is round and has bent barbs which pull into the wood when the bolt tightens up against it. Unfortunately, when the wood rots, the grip of the barbs goes and the tee nut will just spin around. Sea Ray in their wisdom used SS bolts (screws actually) and tee nuts bit fitted plain steel washers which rusted and attached themselves to the screw thread, making them unusable. I have put on all SS fittings.
When you cut through the screws and remove the side panel, you may well find you are going to have to replace the side panel. Last year getting hold of reasonably priced tee nuts was a nightmare as Lowe's wanted nearly $5.00 EACH for them. I found them reasonably priced 99c at Jamestown Distributors, who carry a great range of SS fittings. They know their stuff. You can find them on the web. West Marine also carry the SS tee nuts but price them just below Lowe's. You can buy plain steel tee nuts from Lowe's for 29c if you want to repeat the job in a year or so! Good luck

 

[Lou C]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

OK here is a crude cross section drawing of how the panels are retained, I don't know for sure what kind of retainer is inside the interior panel, but it could be a tee nut, the wood is not rotted because I can see it clearly from the backside. However the retainer was secured, it has loosened so all l am doing is spinning these studs by trying to loosen the nut. I tried holding the stud with a visegrips but as I said access is very difficult. If I can get a thin hacksaw blade between the interior panel and the top cap, I might be able to cut them off...what do you all think?

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

Another idea I just came up with is to get some wood shims and slide them in between the control and the gunwale...maybe the added pressure might allow you to loosen them...
You can also use the shims to help separate the control from the gunwale to give you a little more clearance for the blade...

 

[britisher]

Re: Removing interior side panel....questions....

Lou,
How many of the studs are surrounded by rotten wood? If all of them are, then I would simply wiggle, push, pull the side panel until the tee nut with bolt separate from the ply panel. You will then be able to move the side panel out of the way enough to allow you to saw the rusted connectors on the side that faces into the boat rather then the hard to get opposite side. On my panels, I was fortunate, that there are 7 fasteners and 5 unscrewed. The other 2 were in the most rotted part of the panel and simply pulled away from panel itself. The grinder with the cutting blade made short work on getting them off. Also check you haven't fasteners on the bottom of the side panel. Mine have 3 fasteners which attach to a wooden shelf that's glassed to the hull. That shelf too is showing signs of rot after 20+ years. Good luck