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!

It could just be corroded, or heat altered....
use LOTS of penetrating oil, and turn it back in & out a few times... if it
turns a bit; wel; it should turn more.

Cross threading is usually a problem going in - once in, it's already created
new block threads... Slow, and in & out....

On 1 Jul 2006 16:26:45 -0700, "wingspan" wrote:

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!


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On 1 Jul 2006 16:26:45 -0700, "wingspan"
wrote:

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?

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

Thanks for the info. I've ordered a can of Kroil.

Wayne.B wrote:
On 1 Jul 2006 16:26:45 -0700, "wingspan"
wrote:

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?

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

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.

wingspan wrote:
Thanks for the info. I've ordered a can of Kroil.

Wayne.B wrote:
On 1 Jul 2006 16:26:45 -0700, "wingspan"
wrote:

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?

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

Aluminum is very tricky to heat, can you drill it out?
Adrianne
wingspan wrote:
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!

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.

Adrianne wrote:
Aluminum is very tricky to heat, can you drill it out?
Adrianne
wingspan wrote:
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!