[Help] tow bar tie down latch.

[mrcapi937]

Ski bar tie down screw not working. Brand new boat Used maybe five times. The screw on latch on the passenger side is not laching on to bolt. Any ideas? The right side is working and tight. The left side has been a pain from the beginning. Was hoping with use it would get better but now not latching at all.

 

[BigAbe75]

Cross-threaded too many times?

 

[Ronnie]

Any pics?

 

[Tigger]

It’s not lining up left to right. Undo the right side and do the left side first if the left side is the trouble side. It’s a two person job. One person has to lift the bar up. The person with the strong hands has to force the tower mount to the left or the right so it lines up with the the mount on the boat. It’s much easier to do if the boat is on land and you are standing on the pavement. That way you can get the leverage to force the tower mount left or right.
And don’t use grease.

 

[Tigger]

here’s a pic. As viewed from the rear the red metal tower needs to line up with the white plastic mount on the boat. Force the rear of the tower mount left or right to line it up - then it will thread right in. Again if your left side is your trouble side it will always be your trouble side and you will always want to get the left side in first.

 

[jetboatjay]

Yeah, we have been fighting ours since day one as well. We have to push/pull on the port side to line it up while a second person screws in the screw. Once its in its secure, just a bear to get it started.

If you store it where you don't have to lower the tower, you can buy a moring cover that fits with the top up. This way you only have to raise it once in the beginning of the season.

 

[mrcapi937]

Looks like my ski bar is slightly off. I removed the screw knob and can clearly see the nut where it screws into. Should be able to screw in but will not screw down with the ski bar in place. Looks like I will need to take to the dealer for repair. I store in the garage and need to raise and lower the bar each time to go to the lake. At this point that side simply will not screw in no matter how hard I push and pull. Wondering if anyone has some alternate hacks to use for the tie down to get around using a screw knob?

 

[mrcapi937]

Seems the nut on the knob was off just slightly. This was resulting in the bolt being slightly shorter than it needed to latch on. Simply fix really. Dealer fixed for free. Special thanks to Lonnie at Black Bird Marine