Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

[Paintman1960]

This bolt?

 

[Rivergator]

Thanks guys. Yeah, that's the bolt. The reason I was asking is that I will be installing new rear mounts in a week or so and I wanted to chase a drill through the holes to make sure that they are absolutely clean and clear of all corrosion. I had the most horrible time removing the old mounts because everything was solidly seized and frozen. I want to make sure that this is not going to happen again so I guess running a 9/16" drill through it will probably keep the hole within factory tolerance but that 1/16" clearance will allow for a good coat of paint inside and a nice layer of grease around the bolt to keep everything slipping and sliding.

 

[Paintman1960]

You do realize there is a captured nut in the bottom, right ?
Captured might be the wrong word

 

[achris]

... and I wanted to chase a drill through the holes to make sure that they are absolutely clean and clear of all corrosion. ...

Probably the worse way to do the job. Too much risk of opening the hole up and sending all the tolerances out. You'll end up being unable to properly align the engine.

Best way would be a small round file. Use it gently and it'll only remove the built up corrosion. I like throwing lots of grease on those bolts, so I know they're going to come out years in the future.

Chris......

 

[Rivergator]

I hear you, Chris. Precisely, that was the reason why I asked the question in the first place. If the factory spec for instance would say that the hole is 9/16", then using a 9/16" drill bit would respect the original tolerance, I reason. But you are absolutely right. Unintentionally making this hole larger than what it is supposed to be could mess with the engine alignment. If nobody knows the proper size of the hole I will clean it out manually with a file, like you said, before I screw up a good inner transom plate.
On a different and somewhat personal note: I noticed in your profile that you are from Down Under. Are you still living in Australia or are you now living in the States and are from Australia originally? Just curious!

 

[nola mike]

I hear you, Chris. Precisely, that was the reason why I asked the question in the first place. If the factory spec for instance would say that the hole is 9/16", then using a 9/16" drill bit would respect the original tolerance, I reason. But you are absolutely right. Unintentionally making this hole larger than what it is supposed to be could mess with the engine alignment. If nobody knows the proper size of the hole I will clean it out manually with a file, like you said, before I screw up a good inner transom plate.

I have a few circular brass brushes for this kind of thing. Typically used for cleaning gun bores.

 

[Rivergator]

Yeah Nola, I have those too. They come in very handy and do a great job. I usually use those to give it a final touch before painting or putting grease on

 

[Rivergator]

I am inspecting and servicing my entire exhaust system and I am looking at this hole here on the exhaust elbow. Can anybody tell me what this hole is for. Should there be water flowing from it or is it something that is done during casting and just looks like a hole (see picture).

 

[achris]

That's normal. It's a drain hole...

 

[Rivergator]

Thanks Chris. So the normal is that water comes out of this hole. One of the elbows does and the other one doesn't. I need to poke around in there and see if I can unplug it. If I can't unplug it how important is that hole? The other passages on this elbow are clean, open and water flows freely.

 

[achris]

It's a drain hole, it needs to be clear...

 

[Rivergator]

Ok. Thanks Chris. I will work on it and unplug it.

 

[Rivergator]

I need to replace the steering cable, which is almost frozen solid and therefore shot, since I have not figured out yet a way to service, clean or lubricate them. The original cable is a Teleflex SSC12418. The online offerings a rather meager and are around $200 +/-. There is a replacement cable available from Uflex M86X18 that is supposed to be a direct replacement and perfect fit for the Teleflex SSC series cables. Has anybody ever used these Uflex cables and what is your opinion on it? They are quite a bit less expensive.