Steering Tension control bolt

[Gary Crichton]

I have a 30 horse Mariner tiller, that has lost it's steering tension control. I have tried to tighten down the bolt but seems warn out. The question I have is this a standard bolt with 1 hole or is there more connected to that hole.

[Gary Crichton]

No one has any answers for me. I am worried when I remove that bolt, that there is more attached to that bolt. This is a 1986 30 HP Mariner.

Thanks

[marine_man]

Can you describe the location of this steering tension bolt better?

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

I can try. As you are looking at the moter from inside the boat, On the right side at the begining of the upper lower unit. There is a bolt that you can tighten down, so your steering is not loose and your moter stays where you positioned it. Right now if you let go it swings on its own, whether its running or not. I have tightened it down but it is worn, and I want to replace the bolt. I just think there is something else that the bolt connects too inside, and that is what I am worried about. I am probally wrong but just trying to confirm b-4 I remove that bolt.

Thanks G.C.

[marine_man]

Do you have a serial number for your motor?

I can pull up a exploded view then and we can figure it out...

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

I can get that but not right now, so we shall have to wait until I get home around 6:00pm. I appreciate the effort and hopefully figure it out b-4 I remove that bolt.( I have a mechanical son in the automotive field. I hope he doesn't try to play with it.)He is good at it, but I just think there is something else attached inside that would have to be lined up again b-4 reinstalling the bolt. I could be over analyzing too. Like I said its a 86 Mariner 30 HP tiller. Great Great moter and has served me well for 22 years and counting. Starts on the second pull when cold and first pull after it warms. Just getting tired of holding on to it when trolling.

Thanks Double M

G.C.

[Gary Crichton]

OK we have now found the problem. My auto mechanic son took the bolt out or should I say half of the bolt. That is why it wasn't staying tight. The bolt is busted. It is a 3/8's bolt. Hopefully we can drill it out, or does anybody else have an idea how to get the other half out.

Thanks G.C.

[boatfixer]

left hand drill bits or easy outs

[Gary Crichton]

Funny that is what my kid said possibly might work. I guess dad has to trust 19 yr old son's ability more. Upon looking at it it could go either way. It is only a 3/16 bolt with a 5/16's head. To be sure I guess I need to find out how long this bolt is supposed to be. It could be worn or busted. It is a small hole. The bolt looks like its somewhat normal but it is hard to tell. It looks like there is more bolt inside, but.....

Marine Man or Boat Fixer the model # I got off the moter is 689 L 326967

I really Thank you for the info.

Thanks G.C.

[Gary Crichton]

Marine Man The bolt after looking at it more is on the very bottom of the moter side of the lower unit, or the very top of the steering column.

Thanks G.C.

[marine_man]

Does this answer any questions:

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

Thanks Marine Man this is great. To me it looks like bolt # 36 is the bolt in question. Is there a way to find out how long that bolt is supposed to be.

Thank You very much

G.C.

[marine_man]

Not off hand.. sorry.

You could print the picture out, measure something shown in the picture that you can measure the length on, figure out what scale the picture is, then measure the bolt length and figure out what the actual length is.

FYI - that item is called a "pin" by mercury. The P/N is 19109M

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

That is what I did and we shall check it when I get home tonite.

You said it was a "pin". Question, can a "pin" be a bolt.?

G.C.

[marine_man]

From my experiences, a bolt is usually a bolt in the merc parts catalog. I'm thinking it might be a bolt with a machined point at the end of it, or something along those lines...

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

That makes sense to me. There has to be something on the end of that bolt/pin. I will let you know when we get the other part of the bolt out.( I hope)

Thanks much

Gary C.

[Tom7227]

Hey Marine Man - just curious - you're giving info away almost constantly. Do you have a computer on a roll around cart next to what you're working on? Shop so big that you're the front man sitting in an office?

I have benefited a couple of times from extremely fast answers by pros like yourself on this HSOforum and I am just curious about how they can get any work done that pays the bills.

Thanks

Tom

[marine_man]

My computer spends a fair amount of time processing. While I wait I stop in from time to time...

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

Well you always have good info, from what I read, and you did well helping me out on my moter issue.

Can you make the rain go away to........

Thanks again for all your help.

G.C.

[Gary Crichton]

Good morning Marine Man, I stand corrected on the bolt #. I thought it was #36, and that is a pin. We now have determined it is 3 2-6 or 6-2, which is just to the right of 36. # 6 is a bolt, but is # 2 a bushing of some kind.

Thanks G.C.

[marine_man]

Here's a close-up from that area:

2 is listed as a seal, 6 is listed as a bolt.

marine_man

[Gary Crichton]

So # 2 is a seal, so we are back to the bolt thing. I still can't tell if the bolt is busted or just worn down. Going to see if we can get a new bolt and check out the size. The seal did not come out with the bolt,( I don't know if it is supposed to) and it does look a little shiney in the hole. The bolt on the close up version looks to be the same size.