Bolt Found in Hull ???

[swankster]

Anybody know what this bolt (5/8" by 4") is for? I found it in the hull of my G23.

[AirTool]

It looks like a GM bolt for sure...almost like a manifold bolt.

What is that gasket looking thing...is that a rubber gasket?

[crobi2]

To small for the center crank/harmonic balancer bolt ha ha.

Probably fell off some hoist or something at the factory.

[Nautiquehunter]

Drive shaft coupler bolt?

[swankster]

Thanks guys. I have looked everywhere and still cannot find it. Boat runs great but has me worried. Will call the dealer and factory today and see if they know.

[swankster]

Buxton doesn't know what it is for either. I beginning to believe "Probably fell off some hoist or something at the factory." or something used for the install.

[swankster]

Nautique rep said it probably fell out of someone's tool box. Not for this boat.

[scottb7]

On the one hand I would say of course they said that. On the other hand I would suggest not worrying about it.

[swankster]

On the one hand I would say of course they said that. On the other hand I would suggest not worrying about it.

Your right, I have 5 years.

[jkallen21]

Mine's an 06 and last month I had the pleasure of being able to feel around most of the hull. I found 2 small flat head screwdrivers (I assume lost on the upside-down ballast pumps), a ballast pump screw (that I had been looking for), three various size screws, a handful of washers, and a small 8MM fixed wrench, and a beer bottle cap. In 5 more years let's see what you find

[Miljack]

A little OT, but it's funny (and makes a little fun of Malibu), a friend w/an '07 'BU VTX shows me a big (3/8" x 3" or so) SS bolt and asks "what do you think this came from?", and I responded, "I don't know, but you better find out!"

Well a couple of weeks go by, and he calls me, and says, "remember that bolt I showed you? Well I found another so now I'm getting worried!" He calls me an hour later and links a page from the Malibu crew, turns out Malibu had a rash of bolts falling out of the couplers between the Vdrive and the prop shaft! His boat had two left out of the four holding the propshaft onto the Vdrive unit!
It turns out Malibu had some units which used 7/16" dia bolts, and some 3/8" bolts...

Ok, carry on...

[swankster]

Luckily one of the sales guys who originally said not to worry, sent the picture to PCM. It was the crank pulley bolt!!!! Lesson learned, talk to maintenance first.

[ers906]

That is a good "sales guy" to follow up with PCM. Likely saved a headache in the future

[TxJole]

I bought mine used and found 2 wake surf fins, extra plug, screwdriver and a coozie mostly under the rear tanks and side panel on the driver side. No money yet!

[jonsquatch]

Luckily one of the sales guys who originally said not to worry, sent the picture to PCM. It was the crank pulley bolt!!!! Lesson learned, talk to maintenance first.

The dimensions are just about right for a crank pulley bolt on a LS motor as they are 16mm (0.629921 in 5/8 is .625)x 4.055 in. although I haven't seen one threaded all the way up, usually the last 1.5" before the head aren't threaded. Also it shouldn't have any kind of washer on it but they did have some locking compound on the underneath side of the head, although based on the condition that could just be grease on the back side of it.

If thats what it is then it is a torque-to-yield fastener so you are supposed to replace them when they get loose or you have them out the torque spec is like tighten the old bolt to 240 lb foot or until the pulley is on to a specific measurement from the end of the crank then throw that bolt away and tighten the new one to ~40 lb ft of torque then go another 140 degrees or something like that (don't have it memorized).

That bolt looks way to greasy to be from a less than 1 year old engine unless you have a massive leak on the front main or front cover / oil pan gasket though. Maybe someone put it in there as a joke? Easy enough to look and see if your's is in there.