I screwed up ground wire install

[kramerpage]

Can I drill and tap the gimbal ring on the outside cause I don't wanna take off the bell housing to screw in the screw? It's all about continuity.... Geeeee Whizz

 

[ESM-James]

You could drill and tap the gimbal ring but make sure the location you pick will not interfere with how the drive tilts and turns. Really thought that wire is only for corrosion it is not needed for any type of electrical circuit that operates electrical items on the engine. Unless you are using this boat in salt or really polluted water and leave the boat in the water all the time and you want your corrosion protection to be perfect I would leave the wire off. I am in the great lakes (fresh water) and lots of boats are missing this wire because the stainless screw will corroded into the aluminum bell and breaks off when removed to do a boot job. I would leave it off and not worry about it. Also making a mess of the gimbal ring by drilling and tapping it wrong could create an expensive problem or be a safety risk.

 

[kramerpage]

I have to tap it. No choice. I ain't Goin back. I can get clearance my concerns is the integrity of the gimbal ring. There's a 1 inch hole there now on the inside for a 10 32 screw. If I make another one they won't intersect but will be close. All I have left is the hydraulic distribution plate lines and rams and I'm finished.

I never could have done it without the forums support ... I gotta sleep on it. Lol. Thanks

"She's a beaut Clark"..... "She's a beaut"

 

[kramerpage]

Well well. I found out you can get that screw in with a flexible driver from the other side. I greased up the driver and went between all three bellows using two old wood drumsticks to help open up the passage way. Long hemostats from the wife who's a nurse to hold the screw and wire in place. Flashlight between my teeth and the wood end of a small tax hammer to guide the driver.

If I tried to make a living doing this work I would starve to death.....