Nother 196 Q? Back seat rudder access

[Killer]

I think I know what's up, but thought perhaps the ballers may have a trick?

 

Trying to access the rudder and speedo pickups from inside my '01 196. The gas tank appears to be in the way...

 

 

 

[mwetskier]

on the 2001 you have no choice but to pull the gas tank. you can also pull out the center board in front of the tank, which will greatly increase your elbow room down in that black, god forsaken hole. on the plus side it will also give you a great opportunity to clean out the 17 years of accumulated crud in the bottom of your tank.

[Killer]

Thanks @mwetskier might as well go full Monty and do steering cable too while I'm in there.

 

Think I have a leak from either speedo pickup/tube or muffler is cracked.

[Drago]

Is the water warm or cold?

[BrennanKMN]

You might be able to pull the center floor and get to it. I had a vertical tank in my 97 and that is how I got to the rudder. That tank looks like it makes the job much harder.

For sure try pulling the center floor piece and working under the tank before you remove it.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Cracked mufflers are very common, I would start there before pulling the tank. I patched the muffler in my ‘97 half a dozen times. It finally got beyond repair and I recently replaced it. Almost no water in the bilge now.

[mwetskier]

@BrennanKMN -you can check the muffler for leaks and if all you have to do is replace a steering cable you *might* be able to do that without pulling the tank by undoing the sleeve nut and the connection bolt. but i can tell you from experience on the 2001 theres no way you can address the rudder itself and the speedos without pulling the tank. unless you are a very little person with very skinny arms and tiny hands, the the opening left under tank and around the exhaust is far to small to do all that. it would be exactly like trying to perform throat surgery on someone by going in through their butt hole (all due respect).

[Killer]

@Drago I have to keep checking. Sometimes I feel it's warm others cold. Deoends on where im checking.

 

The factory speedo is long gone but the pilots and hose are still there which has me thinking it's a possibility.

 

I only get water when were underway too.

 

@Bruce_Butterfield I think I'm challenged by this fuel tank to take the muffler out too?? I assume the connection to the hull is interfered with as well by it?

 

I need to service the rudder anyways so might as well take it all out.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

You should be able to get the muffler without removing the tank (maybe). Squirt some WD40 inside the muffler hoses to help get them off.

[LeonL]

I replaced a muffler in a 2002 without removing the tank. As to whether things are the same on a 2001, I don't know. I do know there are lots of other changes.

[6balls]

Pull the tank n figure it out re: the leak. Do a new steering cable and new rudder grease packing at the same time. Put it back together and so, so bueno.

 

[Killer]

@6balls my thinking too. Got the boat last year with under 200hrs but it sat a lot. Spark plugs were original, as were just about every other wear item, except fluids and impeller.

 

I assume everything else is original too so might as well go all in!

 

@LeonL I think you likely can; I can grab the hose from muffler to exit, but would undoubtedly be easier with tank out.

 

Good thing is it looks like the tank is not that complicated to remove

[Jody_Seal]

A little hint about removing that tank.. take the starboard coaming pad off first..that will give you access to remove the carpeted tank cover.

[TEL]

Holy crap, do you have to take the tank out to grease the ruder?