Removing Head Help on PSC 37

BirdBrain333 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009

Dear folks, at the end of the day, with all the hoses disconnected (ughh!), I started taking out the old head in our 1985 PSC 37. The bolts, which I assumed were lag bolts turned nicely but then just kept on turning. I fished around looking for access to get a wrench underneath and found no way in. Am I missing something?

MANY Thanks, Jay

PSC 37, Kenlanu

JohnRPollard · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009

Jay,

My hunch is those are screws rather than bolts, and they are turning without backing out because the plywood base/core under the fiberglass is not what it used to be.

You may be able to get a flat edge under the head of the screw/bolt and see if you can pry it up a bit. If it comes easily, then grab with a vice grip and complete the extraction.

I hope my hunch is wrong, but if not, you'll need at a minimum to pot those holes with a epoxy and re-tap them before remounting the toilet. Hopefully there is enough solid core left in there.

Good luck- John

arisatx · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009

Jay:

If memory serves me, I recall a fellow PSC owner having to cut access opening on the front face of the "base" on which the head sits to access the hardware and then later building a small access panel door to finish out the opening he had to cut...

....but as each year passes, "if memory serves me",

is becoming less reliable so I'd seek out the wisdom of the group here. I did a search to see if I could find that thread for ya, but no luck...

Good luck completing a tough project.

arisatx · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by arisatx

Jay:

If memory serves me...

I just remembered all the good info that was shared in the previous "message digest" format (email), and searched thru the archives on this site and found the thread from June:

here

Hope that helps.

BirdBrain333 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009

Thank you to everyone for the quick replies and the link to the archives which I had forgotten to check! I like the access door route but had certainly not figured that into the time allotment! I'll let you know how it comes out,

Jay

BirdBrain333 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009

Well, Ted was exactly right: After a couple of hours of trying alternatives, I finally cut an access door in the vertical face of the riser on which the toilet sits. I cut it 7/8" down from the top edge (which turned out to be exactly even with the bottom of the ply under the head) and 1 1/2" up from the bottom (so my Bosch sabre saw would be happy).

It was hard to cut in the area of the bolts (the ones that would not come out) but once done I discovered exactly what I suspected -- that the toilet was held on with four 3/16" bolts. The access door that I had cut was just big enought for my hand and a wrench and presto, they all came out relatively easily.

I must add, however, that the bolts had never been properly bedded so there was evident of water seeping everywhere -- including a bit of crumbly copper foil!!!!!! Anyone know what that was to or from? I suspect it was heading toward the ground plate which is on the opposite bilge. If so, it has been "toast" for a long time!

I am going to soak the ply in a couple of coats of CPES epoxy to seal it well before plugging the holes and installing the LAVAC. Pictures when done.

Again, thanks to everyone for their help, Jay

arisatx · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009

Jay:
Glad it worked out for you. This board has been a great source of knowledge and ideas. Let us know how the Lavac install goes & look forward to the pics.