Free Credit Report

Water pump woes

I bought a 1976 Johnson 35 on an old boat at what I thought was a good price. Several days deep into the restoration project, I find that I have a seized bolt in the water pump impeller housing. The other three came out fine, but that last one is extremely difficult to turn. I did get it up a couple of threads and tried to get some Liquid Wrench to run down, but I'm afraid it's (a) galled or (b) cross-threaded. What I REALLY don't want to do is break it off in the lower unit casting. Any suggestions for getting it out intact? Would heat from a propane torch (a) expand the aluminum casting enough to remove the bolt or (b) damage the lower unit casting?

Thanks in advance!

wingspan
Jul 1
2006
Drilling will be my absolute last resort. Using a handheld drill, I'm afraid the drill bit might slip from the stainless steel bolt into the softer aluminum and really mess up the hole. wingspan
Jul 3
It could just be corroded, or heat altered.... Josh
Jul 1
>get it up a couple of threads and tried to get some Liquid Wrench to >run down, but I'm afraid it's (a) galled or (b) cross-threaded. What I >REALLY don't want to do is break it off in the lower unit casting. Any >suggestions for getting it out intact?

Kroil and PB Blaster are both better penetrating oils than Liquid Wrench. Apply liberally, tap lightly with a hammer, turn back and forth, repeat...

Wayne.B
Jul 2
Thanks for the info. I've ordered a can of Kroil. wingspan
Jul 2
Heat will do what you suggested. But it will ruin the paint and it will soften the aluminum making it more likely for the threads to come out with the bolt. I'd use it as a last resort. jamesgangnc
Jul 3
Aluminum is very tricky to heat, can you drill it out? Adrianne wingspan wrote: Adrianne
Jul 3
   

Disclaimer: This is a computer-generated and formatted feed of current postings to a public
Internet forum. We do not control the information delivered, nor do we endorse or monitor its
content. Internet forums may carry offensive, harmful, inaccurate, and otherwise inappropriate material.
Click to see the RSS XML version of this page   Click to see the Atom XML version of this page