Bravo 1 Question
 

I'm in the process of removing my transon assemble to repair loose steering. I had noticed one of the hinge pin's that screw into the bellhousing is stripped. Do I need to replace the bellhousing or can I heli-coil the threads? The threads on the hinge pin are damaged as well and I intend to replace them with the gimbal ring bushings to tighten the assemble.

bell housing
 

I would think you could find a good used bell housing cheap/ I personally would not use a heli-coil (especially on something with so much stress on it like this ,I would weld the housing up using a tig welder and someone that know's how to use it good and have a machine shop tap new threads? just a idea.

I heli coiled mine last winter and bought new pins and thrust washers from BAM. Worked out very well. Didn't even have to remove the bell housing. Did it right on the boat. Just take care when drilling and tapping for the heli coil that you don't go through the bellows. Ouch.

If you do a search on hinge pins you should find the thread were the oso knowledge base walked me through the process. Great bunch o guys here!

BTW, are you sure this isn't your steering looseness problem?

BT :cool:

Re: bell housing
 

sound's like Blue THUNDER HAS THE ANSWER YOU NEED GOOD LUCK/ SEE THIS IS WHY THE SITE IS SO GREAT!!!!!! HE HAS BEEN THRU IT AND WALKED YOU THRU IT.

Read the post from last year. There were people describing Houstonprop's way too. I believe that way may be better if you are going to have the bell housing off anyway. Either way you go will work I think. I really put my to the romp test this year and it is still rock solid.

Good luck,

BT :cool:

Rambunctious and I did the heli-coil method on one of his drives this spring....ran it all summer, hard!! No problems. Took the two of us about 3 hours to do the whole thing.

If you don't want to do this method, I have a used bravo transom assembly I'd sell cheap.....gimbal ring is broken, but the bell housing is fine as far as I know. If you're interested, I'll take a better look at it.

Mike

WOW, This web site is out of this world. Only been here for a month and cant believe the responce in just a short time. I can stay on this site for hours.
Getting back to the subject, the heli-coil method looks very promissing. I will try that to avoid the price of a used/new one. I really appreciate all the feedback!!!
Waterfoul... I'm going back to the shop to pull the engine. I should have a parts evaluation by early next week. Perhaps I may need something from you. I will let you know.

I have never tried to do this repair. I am also not a machinist but I have heard that this attached link is a better product than Heli-Coil. Maybe some guys here have used them before and can give some advise.

http://www.timesert.com/

What a great looking product that 'Timesert''.

A helicoil in aluminum is stronger than a plain threaded hole. I would think the timesert is also. I would not hestitate to use either, but the helicoil is more common. I can lend you the special tap if you need it, or send us the bell housing and we can do it in the milling machine to make sure it is 100% straight.

So many options. hard to decide. The timesert looks like a way to go. I was looking for some kind of picture in the site but did not see anything. Does anyone know what size the treads on the bellhousing is?

I think it is 5/8x18 thread

contact Rambunctious from this board (his email is [email protected]). He has the tap you need, and may even have a helicoil he'll let you have cheap! LOL!! I talked to him about it today, and his first statement to me was "I have the tap he needs if he want's to borrow it." Send him an email.

Mike

Thanks Mike. I appreciate it.

cig..

you got mail

Ram... YOU HAVE MAIL, TAG YOUR IT.

Tag???? Can I play? Can I huh?? Please?? LOL!!

Glad I could help.

Mike

wanted your prop rambunctious
 

:D :cool:

Everybody has mail now..... including "PUDER". Wher eis hew when you n eded him? come on down puder, we're waiting ony ou. hehehehehe

Darin

pm me you remail address and I will send YOU mail with the

.gif file. I have another .gif that is a 3d view of a prop too

better yet. you can right click this, then save it on your hard drive

cig1988
send me your address and i will get the helicoil kit to you.


here darin:

Ram,

Did you get it?

love it /4/bld prop
 

GREAT:D :D :D Iwant it I love it ,Iam going to have my sixteen year old do it ,my computer is junk,and the hard drive won't open,but he will figure something out as soon as he walk's in the door tonight/THANK'S a lot Rambunctions/Darin THATS :cool:

got it cig

i' ll try to get it out this week. you wont be boating before then will you;)

how about this avatar

home security

Great "home security". I wish I knew how to do that. I'm limited with the time in my buddies shop. Both engines are out, and most everything is stripped from the transom. Got alot of imron to do on everything. I have another 2 weeks in the shop so as soon as you can I would appreciate it. I'm going broke fast!

I fixed one of mine with the Helicoil also...ran a lot of power though them and so far so good.

Cig, you have mail..................no!! real snail mail!!!!!

package should arrive Thursday, Airborn Express

I forgot the drill guide I made out of a delron block. you can either drill one from some wood, or since the drive is off, use a drill press or your calibrated eyeball. should be a lot easier off than how I did it on the transom.

good luck

Thanks Ram. I will get this right back to you. Should'nt be a problem using a drill press. I'll let you know how I make out with this. Thanks a million!

Could this be another OSO happy ending?? :D :D

What a group of people we have here. Somthing to be honestly proud of.

Mike

Waterfoul.... thanks for hookin me up! You duh man!

Cig1988,

I had the same problem in my drive. The problem was that it was salt corroded pretty bad. I used a heli-coil, lasted about 1 run. Keep in mind it was stripped pretty bad. I did not want to spend $400 on a new bell-housing as it was mid summer and I also did not want to disassemble the entire drive. Tooltime here: I used a 1/2 inch drill bit and drilled the bellhousing (careful not to reach the boot). I tapped it with a coarse tap, I also used a coarse thread bolt that I had to hacksaw down so it would not reach the boot. As you will see the outside hole is larger than the inside hole. I went to Home Depot and found a steel spacer large enough to fit a 1/2 bolt through and the exact same size as the large opening. I also had to hacksaw the spacer down to size. I also had to chisel out the small plastic ring inside the large hole. Drove the bolt it, smooth fit and solid as a rock. I know this is a crude merthod, however I have ran about 25 hard water hours on the drive, and absolutely not movement. It saved me $400 and down time this summer. Let me know if the heli-coil does not work and you are interested in trying this method. I will be more detailed than little hole, big hole, sounds like a XXX movie.........:D

mleslie951,
I may have caught this in time. Seems that there is plenty material left and do believe this will work. "Rambunctious" had loaned me his heli-coil kit that he had sent from Michigan. Real nice of him to do that. I am new to this site and am impressed with it. Being that it's winter may be a good time for you to replace that bellhousing of yours. If you need any help/questions, let me know. It's really not a difficult task. I actually have everything stripped from the transom to replace worn steering parts etc.