Duvie
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2011
- Messages
- 341
Just dove into the bowels of the sailboat to fasten in the new fuel tank with 4, 5/16 stainless steel machine screws. The first two which are easiest to access went in just OK. The second two which are significantly harder to reach both "galled" up to the point the nuts could not be moved in either direction.
Had to crawl out of the bilge, down the ladder and over to the shop to grab the sawsall. Then back into the boat to cut the bolts out. Now of course since these are not fasteners I typically use I will need to go back to Hamilton Marine 30 miles away to pick up a new bolt (Probably will replace them all!).
After dealing with the back two bolts I was not super happy with the way the front two machine screws snugged up. So I broke out the bit brace and was able to turn the front nuts an additional two turns or so. From the feel of the bit brace it was obvious that the two front nuts started galling up as they they started taking on some load.
I have dealt with this issue before with stainless and have tried greases, oils, teflon tape and teflon plumbers dope. None of these cured the problem completely but the teflon dope seemed to help the most.
I have had crevice corrosion eat away and destroy the metal under a prop shaft taper on a stainless shaft, dealt with the galling issue before and no matter how much proper bedding and sealing you do with some stainless fittings they leach out iron stains. I have also seen stainless clamps fracture after only a year in service.
I'll take bronze fasters and fittings any day over Stainless but I could not use them on the aluminum fuell tank mounting tabs. I hate stainless!
Had to crawl out of the bilge, down the ladder and over to the shop to grab the sawsall. Then back into the boat to cut the bolts out. Now of course since these are not fasteners I typically use I will need to go back to Hamilton Marine 30 miles away to pick up a new bolt (Probably will replace them all!).
After dealing with the back two bolts I was not super happy with the way the front two machine screws snugged up. So I broke out the bit brace and was able to turn the front nuts an additional two turns or so. From the feel of the bit brace it was obvious that the two front nuts started galling up as they they started taking on some load.
I have dealt with this issue before with stainless and have tried greases, oils, teflon tape and teflon plumbers dope. None of these cured the problem completely but the teflon dope seemed to help the most.
I have had crevice corrosion eat away and destroy the metal under a prop shaft taper on a stainless shaft, dealt with the galling issue before and no matter how much proper bedding and sealing you do with some stainless fittings they leach out iron stains. I have also seen stainless clamps fracture after only a year in service.
I'll take bronze fasters and fittings any day over Stainless but I could not use them on the aluminum fuell tank mounting tabs. I hate stainless!