Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

[vandentr]

Sooooooooo, I've been systematically dismantling my boat because it's a 21 foot, '87 Sea Ray Sorrento and I have NO idea what kind of maintenance had been performed.

So far things have turned out OK considering the age, thanks in large part to the fact that she has been fed only fresh water.

My latest discovery is the Y-Pipe bolt pattern. The Y-Pipe has both the lower 2 bolts (3/8" - 12 point) and the upper two bolts equally spaced apart.

OK, fine.

The weird thing is that the transome plate matches the lower 2 bolts and the upper right ear, but there is no reciever for upper left ear??? This transom plate has 2 on the bottom, 1 atthe 1 o'clock position and 1 at the 9 o'clock position!?

My question: Is it normal for a V-8 Y-Pipe to be attached with 3 bolts instead of 4?

See attached images for a visual interpretation...



Thanks,
-TVB

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

Howdy,


You may have answered your own question. You have the wrong transom plate on the back!!

I need to rephrase this......Either wrong transom mount or wrong y-pipe.
I would want all 4 bolts to match up. You DO NOT want that thing leaking or you could sink the boat!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

Ayuh,... Merc uses more different Y-pipes than you'd think,...

Your Y-pipe don't match your transom assembley...
Find a Y-pipe that matches the transom, 'n has the right sized inlets for your application....

No,... it's not normal to leave a bolt out...

 

[vandentr]

Re: Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

Well I'll be,

Apparently Merc says the three bolt-match up is "acceptable".

Check out this thread.

Due to the fact that it wasn't leaking and showed no signs of leaking or stress I'm inclined to keep it the way it was. I assume the older cast iron y-pipe that matches up correctly was much heavier and required the 4th bolt.

Thanks for the responses guys!
-TVB

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

Yep - that's my post from a few years back. I'm still amazed that Mercruiser did (does) that. I guess if they have extra transom assemblies laying around and don't have enough of the correct ones, they will use whatever is handy.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Y-Pipe bolt pattern mystery...

Yep - that's my post from a few years back. I'm still amazed that Mercruiser did (does) that. I guess if they have extra transom assemblies laying around and don't have enough of the correct ones, they will use whatever is handy.

I am not convinced that makes it right though.....