TOPIC: Stupid trim questions

Two stupid trim questions:

The hole in the top of the cylinders that mounts to the bracket is 7/16 right? Seems a bit loose, but 1/2 just doesn't go. Just want to make sure I'm not missin sumpin.

How does one move the grommets on new trim hoses without screwing the grommets and/or the trim hoses up. Between arthritic hands and a bad back, I'm in a quandary here!

I'll be checking back in later. Off to do some honey does. Thanks for any help!

Frank

You lost me on the: 'The hole in the top of the cylinders that mounts to the bracket is 7/16 right?'

Fogging oil or something similar will help slide those gromlets along the hoses & will also aid in installing them in the metal boot in the splash well.
Thom

Morning Doc,

There is a hole in the top of the trim cylinders where they mount to the brackets with like a 4" cap screw. Yes? No? Where does that hole on the top of the trim cylinder mount if not there? That's where it looks like it mounts from the instructions, but they do not give the size of the hole. 7/16 seems loose, but that's is what I'm getting. I'm trying to get it together for a test on the stand. Gotta run, won't be back for 3-4 hours.

Frank

frank, your spending way too much time on the honey-do's. get back to the boat, will ya. hehe

Ron, a lot of time was spent on the old hot rod today, and getting ready for the temporary paint booth in my garage. Had a nice run in the hot rod, got lots of errands done, but also could have had a great run in a boat today if I had one ready to go. Man o man, what a beautiful day!

Hope you and Sue are doing okay.

Frank

Frank,
See the attached picture.
I think I'm following you now & the picture holds the answer.

And,...Another one of my 'creations' is headed for a new home very soon. Mounted her and lit her off today.
Nothing quite as cool as the sound of a Stack-6 on the muffs.
I was actually able to stand and walk around most of the day today. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Thom

I figured seeing I hadn't heard from anybody I was just going with 7/16 anyways Doc. I was just checking to be sure, as it's a bit loose, but I would have to drill out more than paint to get 1/2" in. 7/16 just seems odd. Even so, I have a bunch of 7/16 stuff, but of course, nothing 4"!

I'm going to see if I can get enough plain steel stuff today to mount all the cylinders & brackets. All this fine threaded 1/2" stuff may be hard to find on the weekend. I got a buddy who works at an industrial supply here I get all my stainless from. I'll call tomorrow and see how I make out. Otherwise I'll order off the net.

Thanks,

Frank

I was actually able to stand and walk around most of the day today.

What happened to Dr. Thom? Didn't know he was having "issues", sorry to hear that!

Gee, I missed that. Too bad. I knew Thom had something going on, but never knew exactly what. Get better quick Doc!

Frank

Paging Dr. Frankenmerc, paging Dr. Frankenmerc, please call the Merc Outpost.

(I'd better behave, don't want bad karma with Sandi!)

Thom, good to hear you are moving around again. We take our mobility for granted till we are benched.

First of all to answer Frank's statement regarding the 7/16" and extra slop in the related holes. The rams and brackets get worn over time. It shouldn't really bother anthing to leave 'em sloppy, but you certainly can drill everything out to 1/2".
Just make sure to use the correct length cab-screws and the short nyloc nuts so that they will clear the swivel housing as you trim up the motor.
You may also need to trim off the extension on the tilt locks if they are the original manual type or they will catch on the aforementioned nyloc nut.

As for my health,...I believe I am having a rather severe bout with Siatica, based on my symtoms. It makes mobility rather limited and painful.
Fortunately I've been able to make it to my 'day job' most days, but leaves me quite exhausted and rarely able to go out and monkey with Mercs.
I am scheduled for a specialist near the end of the month and I expect MRIs will be part of the investigation.
Since I fell 60 feet in 1971 and landed on a crushed rock road pretty well thrashing my spine as well as a few other parts of my carcass, life has had periods of extreme pain from time to time as bone spurs tried to weasel their way into my nerves, etc so maybe that is the original cause of my discomfort - don't know yet.
I've always managed to 'work through the pain' in the past, but whatever is going on these days is just too overwhelming.
Since I had completed about 24 hours relatively pain free Friday, I committed to a Mercury Project for yesterday - Saturday.
I actually survived without numbness or the feeling of rusty knives being shoved in my back & legs so I was feeling pretty good about the possibility that maybe I was recovering.
Today changed my mind - so I'm back to being very uncomfortable.
I have some serious pain reliever at hand, but rarely bow to the use of them since they only make me think I feel okay and the next thing I know I'm doing my best to thrash myself further.
I still count my blessings though as some many folks are struggling with far greater issues or limitations.
Thanks for the concern guys.
Thom

Well, if you'd quit carrying around outboards on your shoulders that would probably help! Seriously, Thom, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Thom - We must be related.

As you know, sciatica (right side) is my problem as well, caused by what the doc calls moderate to severe spinal stenosis. I feel for ya buddy.

I ordered all the hardware today from a buddy who works at an industrial supply. They have about anything in stainless you could possibly imagine (well, maybe not some weird merc stuff...). I'm not gonna drill the brackets out - the cylinders are right on 7/16.

I took the little end swivel piece out of the tilt lock pin, installed it at the bottom, and put a stainless washer on it with a small cotter pin through the hole the pin was in that held that little end swivel piece. Should work, or I can cut it off.

Take care of your self Doc. If ya get bored, just get on FG, or email me!

Frank

Hey Thom, when you are sitting in the "day job mobile" roll up a towel or something just under your thigh on the bad side. It will help keep the periformus muscle from tensing and pulling on the sciatic nerve. I had to switch to a truck after my surgery since I cannot get down into a car anymore ( well not every day anyway).

Thanks guys.
Hate to continue 'off topic', but sadly it isn't limited to the right side and I can either be sitting, standing, or walking and 'out of the blue' I start loosing feeling in either my left or my right leg. It progressively get worse until it feels like I am standing on bare bones covered with nerves, or my legs just plain won't respond and I'm kinda stuck wherever or whatever position I find my self in.
If I can move a bit like the old 'twist' dance I usually start feeling things returning to normal and I can get going again.
If I'm 100 feet or so from where I can sit I kinda hang onto something until things settle down. Otherwise and if I need to walk, I feel like I'm draggin' a dead leg that barely holds its half of the load up.
Kinda tough to look serious and be a protector with this BS haunting me.
It is kinda spooky, but I'm trying to keep it positive until the specialist figures out whats cooking.
Okay - okay,...NUFF of that. I'll try the towel under the leg tomorrow AM.
Bring on the Mercs,...The 'doc' is in the house.

Thom

Good luck with it Doc. Sou8ns exactly like my chronic problem, but only on the right. I got a handicap tag for that same reason - when my back is bad, I can barely walk. One of my predictors is severe and chronic right Achilles tendinitis. When it's killing me, generally it's a sign to beware, my back is in trouble. It's bothering me tonight, but what has me up at 2:30 in the morning is what I believe is another torn rotator cuff, this time in mt left shoulder. Makes it hard to sleep. I'm determined to get at least the boat done first though, before I sign up for more surgery. I know it's coming and can fix my shoulder, it's just no fun for many, many months after the surgery. On the other hand, things could always be worse, and there are a lot of people much worse off.

Good luck with the specialist. All I can tell you is physical therapy has worked for me, and if surgery is recommended, get a 2nd opinion.

Frank