Thread:

Intake grate R&R ?'s

Ive searched back-threads but still cant find an answer. Previous owner of my wreidt got something jammed in the stock grate so he just cut off the fins w a grinder and ran it like that for a year. Im prob gonna buy a loader but i cant get the old remnants off. i heated up the allen bolts, then stripped them out trying to remove. cut grooves in the head for a screwdriver, ripped the heads rt off the bolts. I'm gonna try a left handed drill bit for removal.

Question is this, are these bolts through bolted or threaded? and will the new loader need to be through bolted. Asking bc i cant see a thing, theyre directly underneath my oil pan (wide sump and an olds motor). Am i gonna have to pull the motor for the install??

This is my first jet and havnt even had it on the water yet, depressing

Good luck on that job. I have spent hours, many times drilling out broken loader bolts. In the stock form they are 1/4 x 20 and don't go thru the housing. If they are 5/16 x 18 they have been upgraded by some one before you. They may go thru the intake adapter and they may not. I would put a mirror under the pan and try to find out. Its going to be a bitch...Good luck. Jim

Alright!!! Thanks for the encouraging words!!!!
Looks like it's gonna be a fun week.

Come on 65 views and only one reply, help a new jet owner out!!!

Anyone else with some suggestions?

Personally, I'd raise up the boat. Center punch the loader bolts and carefully drill a pilot hole thru[small]. Then remove the motor[only takes about an hour] and drill and tap to 5/16th. Buy grade 8 thru bolts and install antiseize on threads and lucknuts on top. All this can be done on a Sat morning. Pat

Thanks for the info, gonna jump on this myself....

get a supply of left handed bits, as you progress in size you may get lucky and it remove the remains od the broken bolts. drill and tap for 5/16 also if doing this with the motor in place i would try to put some kindof barrier between the pump and oil pan as i have seen more than one bore thru the pan when they break thru the intake, just a percaution.

Originally Posted by johnray069

get a supply of left handed bits, as you progress in size you may get lucky and it remove the remains od the broken bolts. drill and tap for 5/16 also if doing this with the motor in place i would try to put some kindof barrier between the pump and oil pan as i have seen more than one bore thru the pan when they break thru the intake, just a percaution.

That was a concern of mine.

For the new loader thats through bolted, how do you install wo pulling the motor? Just very carefully with alot of cursing?!

thanks for all your replies

a flex head gear wrench with the nut taped or glued in will greatly help the installation of the nuts under the pan. also a double dose of patience wont hurt either.

Originally Posted by jetboatperformance

Schmiddy , Get the boat raised enough to work confortably, center punch the bad bolt heads an drill thru them ( buy a few high quality carbide bits ) then simply drill and tap the holes to oversize , 5/16 or even 3/8 if neccary Call if you have questions Tom

ps wear eye protection

Thanks tom

expect a call sometime this week!