Recommended Pylon Torque 1997 Ski Nautique

[JC McCavit]

Does anyone know the recommended torque for the 6 u-bolt nuts that hold the pylon in place on a 1997 Ski Nautique?

[Jody_Seal]

50 foot pounds should work ok on 1/2" SS u-bolts. I just tighten them down to Stephen foot pounds!! Ever see his arms.

Make sure and check the Stainless Steel pylon foot glassed in the bottom of the boat and see if it is still glassed to the bottom of the boat! you can tighten down the u-bolts all you want but if that foot has broken loose ( and they have) the pylon will still feel loose when skiing and deflect quite a bit..

[JC McCavit]

Thanks Jody, I Just wanted to make sure I didn't over due it with a big cheater bar. It is also nice to know the approx. torque so you do not try to continue tightening the pylon u-bolts if you have another problem. My phylon is not noticably loose but I want to check it. It does make some strange noises with a big skier really reefing on it.

[ScaredOfCorbets]

So, is this something that boat owners should check once awhile? That is, every 5 or 10 years? I noticed that some boats I've driven are much looser than others.

[ForrestGump]

I'd do a cursory check every year. Won't hurt. It wasn't that long ago that a brand spanking new Malibu lost it's pylon at a tournament. Oopsie! Someone forgot to tighten the bolts!

[JC McCavit]

@ShaneH Do you a Torque Wrench or do you go by feel?

[ForrestGump]

I'm a longtime mechanic and race car fabricator. I have a feel for the difference in 50ft lbs and 100ft lbs. So no, on something like this I wouldn't use a torque spec.

[Jody_Seal]

Like I said Steve-o foot pounds! You can utilize a breaker bar to tighten just don't lay into it! You can rent torque wrenches at most any parts stores now a day's and for what you are trying to accomplish the calibration of the tool is not a big deal..