R25 BOW THRUSTER SHEAR PIN REPLACEMENT

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L

Lobo

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Messages
290
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2562J708
Vessel Name
Lobo
MMSI Number
316013957
Finally managed to break the shear pin on my bow thruster. The manual gives me a part number and one shear pin came with the boat, but nowhere can I find either a schematic showing the pin or replacement instructions.

Can it be replaced while still in the water? I'm one of the trailerless-truckless types and Lobo lives in the water all year.

Has anybody done this?

Dave
"Lobo"
 
Yes Dave you can replace it while you are in the water. You will need a 6mm allen wrench to remove the two bolts and the rest will reveal itself as you open it up. It is pretty easy on my 29. I would think they would be the same. Once you pull it apart it will be clear on what you need to do. You will need to remove a locking ring first, then put in the new pin, and replace the locking ring.
Go here and click on the first one, The pdf http://www.google.com/search?q=side+pow ... =firefox-a
Call me if you have any questions.
Stuart 970-946-3156
 
I would like to flag this as the all-time most helpfull/best response to a posted question. Shows why Tugnuts is such a valuable website
 
As Commander Bill says -- very valuable information. Thanks for the link -- I was crawling around the Side Power area on the web last night and didn't stumble across the instructions, so I thank you again for the link. I'll be replacing the pin in the next day or two and will let you know how it went. I was reasonably sure that this could be an inside job so the confirmation is very well received.

I had to replace the gear leg @ 18 months ago, so have taken the thruster apart -- right to the hole in the tube!

Thanks again!!

Dave
 
Lobo":21e6hjop said:
As Commander Bill says -- very valuable information. Thanks for the link -- I was crawling around the Side Power area on the web last night and didn't stumble across the instructions, so I thank you again for the link. I'll be replacing the pin in the next day or two and will let you know how it went. I was reasonably sure that this could be an inside job so the confirmation is very well received.

I had to replace the gear leg @ 18 months ago, so have taken the thruster apart -- right to the hole in the tube!

Thanks again!!

Dave
Click to expand...
You are most welcome sir! 🙂
 
That was easy! Takes about 15 minutes, a 6 mm allen wrench, a tiny allen wrench and a pair of pliers for removing and replacing snap shackles. Oh, yes -- paper towels, too.

OK, 15 minutes to do the job -- another 2 hours to clear out the V-Berth and repack it after doing a sort and discard.

I have photos and will put them in an email for anybody who wants them. Better yet -- somebody who is smarter than me can post them.

In the Spirit Of Gratitude -- I thank you!

Dave
 
Bet you had to hold your breath for awhile too.... If you can e-mail them, you can post them. But if not, send them here and I'll put them up.


Charlie
 
This PDF document should be a sticky in the tech section...
 
For those of us that have had to replace a shear pin I would like to hear feedback on why they think the OEM pin failed. Any ideas???
 
The shear pin is DESIGNED TO FAIL. If you switch from one direction to the other too quickly (that's what I did), if you run the thruster when out of the water or if debris gets caught in the tube and props, the shear pin fails protecting the expensive parts.
 
I don't see Sheer Pin on the parts list/order form.
Andrew? Bill? Anyone?
 
You can get extra shear pins,fuses,and locking rings here. http://www.marinewarehouse.net/ Go to docking, then thrusters. The shear pin is #32050

I Keep extra of all these in my spare parts kit that on board. It is also good to have extra fuel filters,impellers, belts,zinc's,bulbs, and so on. I feel it is good to take the time to get familiar with the parts of your boat that I call easy fixes. Make sure you have the right tool to get to lets say the water pump impeller. When I first got my boat I spent time making sure my tools could get to the bolts on the water pump and other things on the engine. I also pulled my thruster apart (two bolts... no big deal) to get familiar with that. I would rather fix something knowing a little bit about it so if I am out at sea and the boat is rocking, at least I am not staring blind with a failure.
Most things that will cause you to go dead in the water or anything like that are easy fixes. Having a good spear parts box is wise. It does help to be a little mechanically inclined to take some of this on. None of it is rocket science and if you can change a car tire then one could most likely do this kind of repair work.
I am speaking generally and not at you directly Sparky when I talk about this stuff. Just sharing what I do in case someone out their is interested.
P.S. Spend lots of time docking your boat without thrusters. Then when they fail, and they will, you will have that experience also. 😎

Stuart.... Spirit of Gratitude R-29
 
Well people I just completed replacing the shear pin on my stern thruster model R-29. Trust me it is a 4 hour job. You must remove the generator fuel tank, cut out the floor board, remove the fresh water pump and then with a modified allen wrench remove the 2 bolts. Now in my case there was considerable corrosion and a lot of "adjustments" necessary prior to removing motor and reinstalling pin. I would love to meet the guy or gal that says it is easy and can be done in less time. Jerry Geisenheimer "Joint Venture" PS I should add this was the first time and certainly would be much easier next go round.
 
I will be the first one to agree that the rear thruster on the 29 is much harder to get to. I am not sure why the fuel tank and water pump had to be removed except to maybe help give you a better angle at it. I did not remove any of that stuff. I used a long but with a stubby angle on my 6mm allen wrench. I am not a real big guy so I was able to reach back to it and do most of it by feel. Yes I got bloody knuckles during the process but had it done in just under a hour.
I am not sure what hull # you have but I think that Ranger had started making the floor board cut out area back there a bit larger after some point in production. I feel mine fell into that adjustment. One bolt was easy to get to and the other was by feel and small turns at a time. Not fun at all! I am trying to come up with a ratchet tool to make it much faster.
So I guess I am the guy that you said you wanted to meet that could do it in less time. I am not trying to brag but I just want to share what has worked for me and pass it along.
Again, I am not trying to ruffle any feathers. I am just a very driven,solution oriented, get it done kind of person. I AM NOT NORMAL by any means.

Stuart... Spirit of Gratitude R-29
 
Thanks for the link Stuart. I have every spare part you mentioned, plus a lot more, all except a shear pin. Until next week that is....
 
Glad you found it helpful.
I wish I had more time, I would come over to Virginia Beach and see where you guys like to boat. I am only a few hours away. We are at VT visiting my son in collage. Going to see the Hokies play today. We are flying out Monday morning to go back to Colorado. Maybe next time.
I will be towing the Spirit of Gratitude out to Channel Islands Ca next week. Just got my permits and I am chomping at the bit to get back out to the ocean.
I will be posting on my travels next week!
 
Thanks for the instructions.

I had occasion to replace the bow thruster shear pin on Wolf Pack (2011 R29) yesterday. For the bow, I heartily agree with the earlier post that said the hard part is undoing the bed, unpacking and then repacking, and then remaking the bed. Of course Mrs. Wolf Pack will most likely remake the bed when she sees how I did that. <smile>

Some notes:
1. The instructions recently posted are very good.
2. I found a spare shear pin mounted/attached on the outside surface of the thruster motor, plus another was provided when the boat was delivered (along with the little special 6mm wrench that was also provided on delivery).
3. I did not even need to remove the thruster fuse, just turned the main thruster battery switch off--very easy!!!
4. I did check out the stern thruster location yesterday as well. On the 2011 models (Wolf Pack is hull #6 for 2011) it is located right next to the aux fuel tank on the port side of the tank. Access does not look too traumatic, except that it is set back a bit and is enclosed in a casing with many bolts that needs to be removed to get to the motor (Kenny Marr of Ranger Tugs says this enclosed casing is to keep the motor dry if water should fill the compartment). I still suspect the stern shear pin would likely take me 4 hours or so because I am not a contortionist, but the unit IS visible with the engine door open. Note that Wolf Pack does not have the factory-installed air conditioner--don't need it in the PNW--so that may make it easier for Wolf Pack than for some others that do have the AC.

Gene R
Wolf Pack
 
You do not remove all those bolts around the casing. You need to be skinny. (I am). There are two 6mm bolts behind that casing.( See pic below) Those are what you are looking for. The left one as you face it will be easy to get at. The right one is a bit more troublesome. As I have said before in my other post, you will need a long handle 6mm allen wrench with a stubby 90.(See pic below) It takes a small turn each time and you will get bloody knuckles, but I can have it all done in around a hour or less. ( The full repair)
If one is not skinny enough to get back there and see it, then you may want to find someone that is.


Stuart..... Spirit of Gratitude R-29
 
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