loose play in pylon

[gphayes]

My '97 SNOB pylon has about 1/2" - 1" of center to back play. I can literally push the pylon aft that distance - but it is tight side-to-side and center to front.

I have tightened the two u-bolts down as much as I can - but it seemed to have no effect.

What else should I be looking for or trying? Or do others ski with this much play in their pylons (I am primarily skiing slalom in-course)?

[TRBenj]

My '97 SNOB pylon has about 1/2" - 1" of center to back play. I can literally push the pylon aft that distance - but it is tight side-to-side and center to front.

I have tightened the two u-bolts down as much as I can - but it seemed to have no effect.

What else should I be looking for or trying? Or do others ski with this much play in their pylons (I am primarily skiing slalom in-course)?

I strongly suspect that your aluminum engine cradle is broken. It is the only thing that would allow front to back flex, but none side to side.

I have a cradle that came out of a parts boat that has a broken weld, so it does happen. You'll need to pull the engine to get the cradle out, then find someone who can weld aluminum.

[teamseal]

A broken engine cradle would be very rare and I have never herd of one breaking but it is plausable. On the other hand I have seen a number of pylon feet come loose from the bottom of the boat and have re-glassed a few back in I would ge a flash light and have some one reef on the pylon while you look at the pylon base/foot and see if it is brokien away from the hull bottom.
Good luck!
Jody

[DanielC]

There are three "U" bolts that hold the pylon in the boat. The "U" bolts have six 1/2 nuts on them, a 3/4 wench or socket fits these nuts. These nuts must be tight. If they get loose, it allows the pylon to move, and to "hammer" against the mount in the bottom of the boat, and the engine frame.

You said you tightened two "U" bolts. Tighten the third one. One "U" bolt is up high, pretty much just under the floorboard. the second one is about an inch and a half below that, and the third one is through the mount on the hull.
There is also some 3/8 bolts, or lag screws on each side of the engine frame. These have 9/16 heads. Make sure these are tight, also.

[gphayes]

I'll try to locate the third u-bolt the next time I am at the lake.

I didn't realize there was a third one lower down, but based on the symptom, I suspect (and hope) that this is the issue.

The challenge will be getting a wrench and my arm in there...

[TRBenj]

There are three "U" bolts that hold the pylon in the boat.

the third one is through the mount on the hull.

Perhaps the newest Nautiques have a 3rd u-bolt, but all of the cradles Ive handled only have 2. The 1987+ pylons do have a bolt through the cup and the base, but Ive never seen a u-bolt here.

Regardless, if the 2 u-bolts are tight, that 3rd bolt at the cup really isnt doing much. The pre-1987 pylons did not have this bolt. The cup is not that tight a fit on the base of the pylon anyways- I suspect its main function is to keep the pylon from rotating if the u-bolts were to work themselves loose.

If those u-bolts are tight the only possible explanation for the pylon deflecting 1" by hand is if the cradle is broken. I know of one other person who has described this same symptom, and they are pulling their engine this winter to see what the cause is. My advice to them is the same as Im giving to you.

Like I said, I had a cradle re-welded this spring/summer. It was broken when I purchased it, and do not know why it broke- but apparently it can happen.

[gphayes]

Ok - thanks for all the input.

I am hoping for an easy fix...but taking a close look at the cradle. Stay tuned.

[WA-H2O-SKI]

Know a guy who had a BAD thing happen......

I have a buddy who didn't take care of this issue and kept skiing......... until the pylon was no longer in the boat.... neith was some of the floor, engine dog house, lucky no one got hurt. I'd make sure I took care of the problem before you have a bigger problem. Lots of stress on that pylon when skiing.

[DanielC]

I have a 1997 Ski Nautique. I use it for show skiing, so I put the "Air" or as it was previously known the "Barefoot" pylon in it. The pylon is about 18 inches taller than the normal Ski Nautique pylon.
My 1997 Ski Nautique has three u bolts holding the pylon.
In 1997, when I joined Portland Water Spectacular show ski team, the them promo boat, a 1997 Ski Nautique had three U bolts holding the pylon.
When we went to Show Ski Nationals, in 1997, the Ski Nautique we borrowed, had three U bolts holding the pylon.
In 2000, one of our team members got a 2000 Ski Nautique. It had three U bolts holding the pylon. I know there were three U bolts in the boats mentioned, because all the boats we used for the team had the taller "Air" pylon put into them
I had to repair the bottom bracket that is fiberglassed into the hull of a 2002 Ski Nautique. It had three U bolts holding the pylon.

Based on my past experience, and what I have seen, and felt with my own eyes, and fingers, I am pretty sure there are three U bolts holding the pylon in this boat. Two are in the motor frame, and one, slightly smaller, that fits a groove in bottom of the pylon, that goes through a bracket fiberglassed in to the hull.

[TRBenj]

one, slightly smaller, that fits a groove in bottom of the pylon, that goes through a bracket fiberglassed in to the hull.

Ahh, now I know what youre talking about. I havent removed a pylon from a boat that new- but I have seen the pylons with the groove at the base. They must have replaced the through bolt with a u-bolt.

I still dont think that smaller bolt at the base is going to cause the issue described if its loose (assuming the others are tight) as the older (1980-1987) boats didnt have anything securing the base of the pylon, but I guess we shall see what he finds!

[gphayes]

Thanks for all the comments - so it WAS the 3rd u-bolt. It is located so close to the bottom of the hull that I could barely get my ratchet on it. Once I did, the play went away - I am going to keep a close eye on it from now on.

Anyone have any tricks/tools to getting a lot of torque on those bolts? It is so awkward to reach them.

[DanielC]

I use a six point socket, on a breaker bar. You may need a deep socket. With a six point socket, it would seem you need to be able to get 60 degrees of swing on the breaker bar handle, but if you remove the socket from the breaker bar, and turn it 90 degrees, and then put it back on the breaker bar, you only need 30 degrees of rotation.

With the right tools, and if you are strong, or determined, it is possible to overtighten the nuts, but you would have to work at it.

You can usually reach the nuts from the port side of the engine compartment. You could also gain some access, by removing the raw water pump, if you have the GT-40 engine.

Now that your pylon is tight, you can bump the top of the pylon with the heel of your hand, and it should vibrate. When it is loose, the pylon won't vibrate, it will just move.

[TRBenj]

Thanks for all the comments - so it WAS the 3rd u-bolt.

Glad to hear it was something simple and not a broken cradle... that wouldnt have been such an easy fix.

I dont see how your other u-bolts could possibly be tight if you were getting 1" of play though. When mocking up the location of the hull cup in our BFN before we glassed it down, we installed the pylon in the cradle. I can assure you there was NO play with the 2 cradle u-bolts tightened down, even with zero support at the bottom (hull) or at the floor. I would put a wrench on them one more time just to be safe.

[behindpropellers]

Glad to hear it was something simple and not a broken cradle... that wouldnt have been such an easy fix.

I dont see how your other u-bolts could possibly be tight if you were getting 1" of play though. When mocking up the location of the hull cup in our BFN before we glassed it down, we installed the pylon in the cradle. I can assure you there was NO play with the 2 cradle u-bolts tightened down, even with zero support at the bottom (hull) or at the floor. I would put a wrench on them one more time just to be safe.

Tim B-

All of our U bolts are tight and we are having this problem, FYI.

CC says to check where it is glassed into the hull.

Tim

[bambamjr]

Perhaps the newest Nautiques have a 3rd u-bolt, but all of the cradles Ive handled only have 2. The 1987+ pylons do have a bolt through the cup and the base, but Ive never seen a u-bolt here.

Regardless, if the 2 u-bolts are tight, that 3rd bolt at the cup really isnt doing much. The pre-1987 pylons did not have this bolt. The cup is not that tight a fit on the base of the pylon anyways- I suspect its main function is to keep the pylon from rotating if the u-bolts were to work themselves loose.

If those u-bolts are tight the only possible explanation for the pylon deflecting 1" by hand is if the cradle is broken. I know of one other person who has described this same symptom, and they are pulling their engine this winter to see what the cause is. My advice to them is the same as Im giving to you.

Like I said, I had a cradle re-welded this spring/summer. It was broken when I purchased it, and do not know why it broke- but apparently it can happen.

I'm having a similar issue with my '96 SNOB except the play in my ski pylon is 1/2" to 1" left to right, not front to back. I only see two U-bolts...wondering if I have a broken bracket but I can't find a good picture of what it looks like when it was installed. Do you have any better pictures? Or a site to look at a new one?