Clean Out Port Day 3

[kgower]

@kgower I understand you are in a bit of shitty situation, but those things happen and this not the end of the world. Maybe a couple of lost boating weekends and a few hundred dollars. I wanted to added a couple of items on the cacophony.

1. Whatever you do please do not have a child holding a camera right above the plug while you are using a Jack. Your boats plug will not come out smoothly like the one shown on the video. His plug is probably swollen while yours is stuck. Your has a much higher potential to “ explode” upwards so please make sure that if you do whatever you do you don’t have anyone looking down the plug.
2. I do not have any good advice as I am not familiar with those plugs. I do believe that you will be successful on removing thought, so my concern is on happens after you are successful. There is the potential that you damage either the male or female part of the entire assembly. The male part ( the plug itself ) it should be fairly Wally to see if there is any damage by comparing it to the other plug of the same style. You might have an i viable crack on it but still you can look at it. The female ( in tube) I doubt you will be able to see much. So when it is all done , I would say take the boat out for slow ride and increase speed gradually until you get to WOT for 19 minutes or so. Make sure you don’t go far out in case things go real bad.


To finalize and summarize, things will be okay at the end of the day, so please make sure you don’t cause any bodily damage to anyone. Boats are just part numbers ....

Explode upward from water pressure? Don't believe there is any water trapped. I have poured water in the port to rinse ant possible sand and I also put ice in both seemed to drain fine, ice after melting of course.

 

[kgower]

This is from the underneath side. Someone suggested push from the bottom.

 

[Weeb]

As you can see by the attached photo the set arrow is pointing to about 11:30 instead of about 7:00. The high side is where the cable is and low is where the K in unlock is. Don't know how it got partially seated, with this rotation but can't remove it. I'm 6'2" 190 reasonably fit, pushing down as hard as I can. Getting about an1/8"-1/4" inch movement in either direction still no luck.

Any suggestions?

I mad this tool From a water shut off tool.

 

[kgower]

I mad this tool From a water shut off tool.

Had similar thoughts.

 

[anmut]

Consider getting some rubber material (floor mat or mud flap) fold it up, then get a 2x2 and smack it upwards with a mallet, maybe it'll pop out?

 

[kgower]

Consider getting some rubber material (floor mat or mud flap) fold it up, then get a 2x2 and smack it upwards with a mallet, maybe it'll pop out?

Would you pop it on the low side or the high side?

 

[anmut]

Would you pop it on the low side or the high side?

I think center to get the most even push up is what I'd want.

 

[the MfM]

I keep seeing the alerts to this thread and hope @kgower has gotten it done... you just got to get mad enough that your willing to break things, then it’ll pop free like nothing was wrong!



(Or stuff will break)

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Explode upward from water pressure? Don't believe there is any water trapped. I have poured water in the port to rinse ant possible sand and I also put ice in both seemed to drain fine, ice after melting of course.

Explode upward when a floor jack is placed across the top and the jack is used to pull the plug out.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I mad this tool From a water shut off tool.

Great idea! That’s probably what our OP needs to get some leverage. @kgower

 

[kgower]

I keep seeing the alerts to this thread and hope @kgower has gotten it done... you just got to get mad enough that your willing to break things, then it’ll pop free like nothing was wrong!



(Or stuff will break)

It's the later I'm worried about. Waiting to talk to the local dealer. Uploaded photos, hoping for input.

 

[TimW451]

@kgower Looking at this disassembly by @drewkaree , the disassemble approach @Babin Farms suggested may be well worth trying before using force. It looks like the plastic disc with the tab can be separated from the plug body. In which case you may be able to disassemble the plug in the tube and pull it out piece by piece.

Take your plug apart. EITHER something isn't assembled correctly, or you need to replace that rubber seal. It's been a few months since I've touched mine, but I guarantee yours have some issue, because mine are darn near "2 fingers" easy. I'm always baffled when I see guys on here with those type of plugs that are having issues, because mine are seriously dead nuts simple to get them in. The ONLY issue I've ever had is when the metal ear shifts out of position (from unlock to lock) before I actually have a chance to turn them. Julian's videos that others have posted in this thread are AWESOME for showing just how easy these plugs should be.

They're super simple to disassemble, you might see what's up with them right off the bat. For whatever reason, I can't find where I posted about disassembling my plugs. Mebbe I never did, so here's the pics of what you'll need to do to disassemble those plugs and inspect those rings. At the very least, you'll have to remove the ring to replace it with a good one, MAYBE you'll see what the issue is with yours. It's entirely possible that they botched the assembly of your cleanout plugs. If they could get them in, there's no telling what someone at the dealership could have done (some jabroni who was having problems and once his pushing and shoving got it in place, it damaged the rubber as it sat pinched or whatever)...who knows.

Mebbe add your location to your profile. No idea where you're at, but if you were near me in Wisconsin, I'd come over and help you out.

First pic (well, all of them, to be precise) is my plug. See how the skirt tapers towards the plug? Yours doesn't, mine does, mine is easy to twist in, yours isn't. Conclusion: Yours is damaged, cockeyed, or backwards/upside down somehow (although highly improbable. It needs a-fixin'.

View attachment 147026


This is what a plug looks like disassembled, and this is the only tool you will need for this project. If you need more than a screwdriver...

View attachment 147027


Step one is to remove your plugs from the boat. Undo these 4 screws (one already removed to demonstrate) and remove the stretchy tether to allow removal. You don't have to completely remove them just yet, do that later at an area where you can lay the parts out so you don't EASILY lose a small screw:

View attachment 147030

After all the screws are removed at your safeR location, remove the handle. You'll be looking at this (next step is to remove that screw in the middle):

View attachment 147031

Pull the washer off, set it aside with the rest of your parts - notice that bolt isn't all that long. Remove that metal plate carefully. You should have two pieces underneath that plate that can come out and easily disappear into the ether, never to be seen again:

View attachment 147032


Here's what's underneath that metal piece. Those two white "nubs" have springs under/inside them, and those are the pieces that may fall out. MAYBE something is missing from your plug that you've noticed by this point, maybe something is cockeyed due to all of this, maybe the bottom of that black "plate" could have been molded for crap (and ANY rubber ring will NEVER sit correctly), only way to tell is to disassemble it. Remove those six screws:

View attachment 147033

The white nubs simply pulls out. Spring may or may not come with it. Mine didn't, as shown in the pic after this one. The rubber ring maintained its position for mine, yours may simply fall off. I'd say that would be one indicator it needs replacement. Pull the spring along with the white nubs too:

View attachment 147034

View attachment 147035

View attachment 147036

By this point, if your rubber ring hasn't fallen off your plug, pull it off. Here's what you should have. I haven't looked at these since last fall, but off the top of my head, it'll be noticeable if the ring is on upside down. I don't believe that to be your problem, but compare yours to how mine looks. If yours looks beat up or wonky in some way, look at the rest of the plug, how it's molded, etc to see if something OTHER than poor assembly could have caused this. If the rubber ring slid off the plug when they were screwing it down, they could have pinched it, making it fold or bow out somehow, and the first person who was able to screw that cleanout plug into place sealed the fate of that plug until parts get replaced and that plug is remade back to the way it should properly work with a minimum of effort.

View attachment 147037


Assembly with suitable undamaged parts is the reverse. Really, Julian's video shows just how easily these should be going in for you. The Yamaha rep seems to be able to do this from an odd angle, even. I'll even admit, and you can probably tell from the pics, I've N-E-V-E-R lubed that rubber ring with ANYTHING, and it still works perfectly.

I want to thank you all for forcing me to do this (of my own free will), and forever damaging my cleanout plug by not being able to leave well enough alone! ?

 

[Ozark]

It's the later I'm worried about. Waiting to talk to the local dealer. Uploaded photos, hoping for input.

You’re unlikely to get a better answer from the dealer than the folks on here. The dealer is going to give a very CYA response, such as, “follow the instructions in the owners manual for removal” or “set up an appointment to bring it in and let our technician fix it”. If you choose the latter, the technician will most likely use some combo of the suggestions on here, and if he breaks it in the process will charge you for a new one, saying it was not removable without breaking.

 

[drewkaree]

In addition to pulling straight up and possibly breaking the plastic set tab should I worry about damaging anything else?

I'm going backwards through this thread and spotted this - I WOULD NOT DO THIS! If the metal tabs are in any way contributing to the issue, with your type of cleanout plug, you risk destroying the metal lips that the plug seats/screws into, which would require replacement of those parts, and possible fiberglass work, in addition to possibly damaging/destroying the cleanout tray cover, again, more replacement parts, and potential fiberglass work.

I'll keep working my way backwards through this thread. I saw the pic of the underside of the boat, and the position of the cleanout plug. Holy CRAP that looks boogered up!

 

[drewkaree]

Okay, it's likely stuck in there because the "set" tab is bent all to hell, leading to an absolute shit ton of force you're fighting against to turn it. If you can get to that plastic piece, the rest of the plug should STILL be easily removable, unless there's more danger lurking beneath parts we can't see. You're going to definitely need a new plug, because that plastic notch that's most likely the entire cause of the problem is going to be shot, and they don't just sell the individual pieces to the plugs.

Without being there to look at it, I can only go on your pic, so I'm giving you the LEAST likely info to damage your boat. It LOOKS like the plug is in position to simply pull straight up. DO NOT DO THAT. That plastic piece, and however you got it into that position, seems to be the whole reason you can't get it out. If you spin your plug 180 degrees, the plastic "SET" tab would slot right into the proper place, and the handle should be pretty close to the position it's already in - this is why I'm guessing it should be easily removable, again, without actually being there to look at it in the wild.

IF I'm correct, disassemble all the parts of the plug that you can from the topside, through the cleanout port. This will be a pain in the ass considering the position it's in, and if you have to reverse this, it will also be a pain in the ass, but this should not damage your boat in any way. Look at the breakdown linked to by @TimW451

You'll need a Phillips screwdriver. Take off the 4 screws for the handle, and remove it. Undo the bolt in the center and remove it along with the washer underneath that bolt head.

IF I AM CORRECT, the metal piece with "UNLOCK <----> LOCK" and "SET" stamped on it should be able to be easily pulled up with your fingers. If you cannot get a good grip on it, two vice grips can be used to grab some protrusion of that metal piece for you to try pulling it up. You DON'T want to use much force to pull on that metal piece. If it won't come up with ease, you will have to completely destroy the plug to remove it without damaging the cleanout port.

IF that metal piece comes up with ease, you should see that plastic tab (all bent to hell and smashed up, if my hunch is correct). Don't do anything with it yet. Lemme look some more to see how I'd consider proceeding if this were my FUBAR.

 

[Wishfull1]

I went out to the boat a took a picture of mine in the same orientation as yours. Looking at your pic compared to mine, it doesn't look like the metal tangs? are engaged in the slots at all and simply resting in the vertical slots. I think you are getting hung up by the plastic set locator, as well as binding at the 5 o'clock by the lock, unlock markings.

I would not turn it. I believe it will come out straight vertically, by lifting straight up with something, or hitting up from the bottom with a rubber mallet. Might have to get that shaft out of the way though.

You'll probably break or deform the plastic set tab. But, I don't think it really serves any purpose other than making sure the plug is oriented correctly with the taper in the tunnel. It stays were it is at and the metal engages in the slots.

 

[drewkaree]

Okay, the plastic piece that is probably causing you this headache should be the ONLY thing that is holding the rest of the plug in place. You should be able to see the 6 screws. Remove them, if possible. That ring is probably boogered up enough that you're going to have a heck of a time getting one or more of those screws out. If you have an impact drill, add an extension onto it along with a phillips bit, and buzz as many of those screws out as possible. The bottom part of your plug SHOULD simply fall out onto the ground if you can get all the screws out, leaving that rat bastage ring in the way.

IF the bottom of the plug fell out, look from underneath the boat at what you have. Take a cutting tool and cut that ring. I would use a reciprocating saw (Sawzall) with a long blade, but I'm not telling you what to use - this is the only part that may damage your boat, you use what you're comfortable with.

Cut chunks out of the ring, and keep trying to bend the outer part into the center, until it's destroyed/loose enough to remove it.

If/when it's removed, take a good long look at the cleanout port, the lips around everything, and the underside. Take MANY GOOD PICS to show us here - we can help you look for issues that you might HAVE to take the boat to the dealer for.

Right now, it looks like you just need a new plug, and you'll be back on the water. Keep us posted.

 

[RobbieO]

No cutting!!

 

[Wishfull1]

In addition, when properly seated, it sits much lower than yours. So again, I don't think the metal tabs are engaged at all and it will come straight up. Don't know how much brute force though.

 

[drewkaree]

I went out to the boat a took a picture of mine in the same orientation as yours. Looking at your pic compared to mine, it doesn't look like the metal tangs? are engaged in the slots at all and simply resting in the vertical slots. I think you are getting hung up by the plastic set locator, as well as binding at the 5 o'clock by the lock, unlock markings.

I would not turn it. I believe it will come out straight vertically, by lifting straight up with something, or hitting up from the bottom with a rubber mallet. Might have to get that shaft out of the way though.

You'll probably break or deform the plastic set tab. But, I don't think it really serves any purpose other than making sure the plug is oriented correctly with the taper in the tunnel. It stays were it is at and the metal engages in the slots.

That's a great shot, seems to confirm my thoughts. I'm guessing that SET tab is already broken or deformed, which would mean the entire rest of the plug is fine, or at least should be able to be disassembled in order to cause the least amount of damage to the boat - there may be some damage already, best not to make things worse until they NEED to be made worse.

I don't think there's enough room available to beat it out with a hammer, and lifting it from the bottom or top may cause damage as the piece is being forced out. If the plug can be saved at all, the only way to determine that will be to disassemble it right in the cleanout hole.