Mystery bolt-gctid379444

[Guest]

So I was cleaning my bilge to try and keep up with all of the OCD boat owners on here (I joke) and I found this mystery bolt. It's marked LE 9.8 - I know what that indicates, what I don't know is where it came from I have searched around with the flashlight, nothing.....Additional info:I'm second owner of boat - it "could" have been in there when i bought itIt may not be for the boatI found it on the port side - but it could have bounced from anywhere if it's been in there a while.

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/682923=27450-IMG00294-20120508-2159.jpg[/img]

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/682923=27451-IMG00295-20120508-2159.jpg[/img]

[Guest]

My guess is that it's an engine accessory bolt. I have no idea what it is meant to attach. Have you checked your engine pulleys? It looks about the right length.

[yachtman]

If its fine thread look at the inside of the engine pullys at the harmonic balancer .there are 3 fine thread bolts that hold the pulleys in conjuction with the center bolt that is what it looks like to me

[Guest]

Thank you guys - i'll check those places. It looks moderately "marine" so I do assume its from the boat, the threads are also sort of dull near the top - so that's a little weird.

anyway, my search continues.

[Guest]

Might well have been there since production. I've bought 2 new boats and both times found an assortment of screws, washers, grommets, even a socket, etc in the bilge area and other sections of the boats.

[Guest]

Threads are not rusted, so I would think it was used recently.

I agree it looks like an accessory bolt - alternator mount, ps mount, etc.

Does not look like fine threads - looks course thread.

[dktool]

9.8 is medium carbon and it looks to be a 1/2-13 N.C. or could possibly be a 12MM but not too likely in your application.

If you don't see an obvious missing bolt anywhere, I would chuck it and not loose any sleep over it.

Maybe it was a poor-mans fishing sinker.

[Guest]

Not rusted. Good point. That implies that it has been in service until recently.

[Guest]

captjmh wrote:
Might well have been there since production. I've bought 2 new boats and both times found an assortment of screws, washers, grommets, even a socket, etc in the bilge area and other sections of the boats.

Bayliner left me the gift of several razor blades they used for upholstery hidden behind some upholstered panels. Rusty razor blades are always fun to discover when you're not expecting them.

[Guest]

My previous boat had a combination wrench left in the Y pipe from the factory.

[dktool]

And then there was the story awhile back about Popsicle Sticks, an apparent Bayliner "special tool"

[bhawes]

Definitely looks like alternator or power steering attachment, or adjustment bolt. There is usually more than 1 bolt holding these items on, so it may appear well fastened until ran a bit. Have a really good look around these areas and try and find an empty orbit where a bolt should go.

[Guest]

Hello all!

It has been a long while since I've been around these parts, but here I am.

So I figured that because I found the answer to a question I posted a looong while ago, I should post it.

That mystery bolt? It's for the bracket that holds the power steering pump.

I have a slow leak and was running the engine with my head in the bilge looking for water when I noticed the hole. On the bright side, because i"m slightly OCD - I still had the bolt!

I'll be around the forum more often again.

Cheers!