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.

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

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

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.