steering shaft bolts seized up alpha 1 gen 1

[newtoboat101]

alpha 1 gen 1 gimbal ring port side steering shaft bolts not turning trying to replace ,i have a little play in steering shaft assembly was trying to tighten gimbal ring bolts ,but port side is not turning it is just twisting ,has anybody experienced this ,how to get bolt out to replace with out pulling motor out ,if i hack bolt off in middle or at bolt head i still do not think i have enough room to pull bolt out back (or bolt)side or boat side, could i drill it out ?not sure kind of last resort ,please help ,last thing i want is to pull motor out to fix how much play is okay ,mine is like click click not much ,but do not think should be any play at all thanx all

 

[Bt Doctur]

these

 

[harringtondav]

If your bolts are those shown above you need to get a back up wrench on the nuts behind the gimbal ring. Turn the steering to full stop each way to get a box end wrench on the nut. They are SS with SS lock nuts, so they shouldn't be frozen.

 

[newtoboat101]

Yes those are the bolts. The bolt.head is sticking out .About 1/4 inch from bolt head to gimbal ring i can get wrench on nut and turn about 1/8 turn but when i go to turn bolt i can see it just twisting the bolt head is turning but bolt shaft does not turn as much like it is twisting and gonna snap

 

[newtoboat101]

Bolt does. Not move at all in or out .And nut wont come off either

 

[newtoboat101]

[No message]

 

[newtoboat101]

now ,from ,picture you would think that tapping on bolt, it would move freely correct? its just stuck there

 

[harringtondav]

First I'd try soaking the nut with some panther pee Liquid Wrench fluid on the bolt and nut and let it soak. It sounds like it may be seized in the gimbal ring due to corrosion. So smacking the bolt head after the soak may drive it forward and break it loose.

Also loosen the other side. If it's clamped tight it may be distorting the top of the ring causing tight bolt to bind. The end game would be getting it to turn in the ring, and thread off, or break off the nut and replace both.
It's a std. SS bolt and lock nut available in a good hardware store.

Edit: The spec torque is 55 ft lb. It's recommended to check and re-torque annually.

 

[newtoboat101]

thank you harringtondav will try the panther pee ,and see how it goes ,will get back to you thanx