broken intake grate on Fx cruiser' 06

[pnkrckchiro]

The intake grate is gone on my Fx. I looked and the bolts were sheered off. I removed the second piece to the intake where the rear bolts go. I am pretty sure i can just drill them out. I am having a problem removing the top that the front piece of the intake screwed into. Have any hints or suggestions? Also When removing the second piece of intake one of those bolts sheered as well. Looks like I can just remove the top and replace like the more foreward intake grate. I am looking for a little advise. thanks in advance! -Casey

[mjh3ides]

The intake grate is gone on my Fx. I looked and the bolts were sheered off. I removed the second piece to the intake where the rear bolts go. I am pretty sure i can just drill them out. I am having a problem removing the top that the front piece of the intake screwed into. Have any hints or suggestions? Also When removing the second piece of intake one of those bolts sheered as well. Looks like I can just remove the top and replace like the more foreward intake grate. I am looking for a little advise. thanks in advance! -Casey

The easiest way to remove the brackets(backing plate that bolts screw into) is to use a heat gun to heat up the green epoxy. You'll know it's hot enough when it starts to turn color. Then get under the ski, put a long screwdriver into the empty bolt hole & give it a light wack with a mallet. The backing plate should come out cleanly with the epoxy attached. If the backing plates were damaged, it's best to just replace them.
only $12ea(part 64 in right pic - F1G-U8571-00-00)

For the '06 it looks like the front bolts on the grate have no backing plate & use brass inserts pressed into the hull, just like the GPR did. If that's the case they are probably still attached to the bolts that held the front of the grate & are at the bottom of the lake. If the brass inserts are still in the hull, you'll want to pound them out & replace it with the backing plate used in later models because it's probably what caused the failure. You can see the backing plate in the pic below taken from the '08 HO diagram...$18(part 63 in left pic - F1K-U8577-00-00) This part is tapped for M6 bolts but if you want some extra piece of mind you can drill & tap them larger & use M8 bolts.

When reinstalling the backing plates makes sure to use some marine silicone to seal them. Welcome to the forum!