All:
Not sure if this should be moved to the HOW TO section, I'll let the administrator (Matt?) decide. Here are some tips I learned installing my new FAE over the weekend to our 2007 24ve
1. Larry from FAE is a great guy. I found out too late for the the group buy (RATS--NOTE TO SELF-WATCH TIGE BOARD OVER WINTER for GROUP BUYS!!) but I bought Tuesday, he shipped Wednesday and it arrived Fri afternoon. I guess I got to help the economy (STIMULUS!) by paying the non-group buy rate.
2. The package came and was nicely wrapped. The installation instructions were general for all boats, and could use some help. I've sent some more detailed instx to FAE--He should hire some nice UT student/intern to create a more graphical instx manual. I also saw the post with pics from HD? guy and they were helpful to see how the square tube is mounted.
3. Because of the confusion from the instructions, I had to call on Saturday morning to ask some questions. I thought I'd get an answering machine at 8:30AM, but Larry cheerfully answered the phone, and enthusiastically helped clear up my confusion. I was able to install rapidly after that.
4. The key things I learned.
-You need to take the swim platform OFF to properly install the square bar that the all thread goes through. That was the key to understanding the process, and my version of the instx lacked that basic instruction.
-I marked where the platform went with masking tape so I could put it back on later at same place. Use your biggest phillips head bit to remove the screws. Used my regular on and almost stripped the thread of the first screw. Put in bigger bit and it was easy to remove/install.
-Buy a new hacksaw blade to cut down the square tube to size to fit under your swim platform. You will also need to cut down the all-thread that goes from the FAE up to the square tube to size, and cut the "Sleves" that go over the the all-thread from the FAE up to the tube. The square tube was 64", my measurement under the swim platform supports was 61.5". It cut easily with a new hacksaw blade.
-Buy the "Step Bit"/drill bit from him (or hardware store), it drills holes thru the square tube AND down thru the supports for the swim platform easily. (looks like a mini triangle/pyramid)
-After you figure out where to mount the square tube from where the all-thread comes up from the FAE, drill the holes thru the swim platform supports first while the bit is sharp. It's the thickest material you'll drill thru. I used a combo of my 18v drill/driver, then borrowed a powered drill for last holes since the bit was not as sharp and needed the torque.
-There are 4 places where the bolts go completely thru the square tube, so you'll drill 8 times: you'll drill the top and bottom of the tube so the all thread and lag bolt can pass thru. When you drill the holes on both sides of the square bar, put masking tape around the square tube so you can drill at the same place on each side. I didn't do that for first holes and they were off centered. Had to um... widen? the holes. Worked, not graceful,but ok. Masking tape with a line in the middle made it much easier.
-When you trial install, don't tighten down the bolts holding square tube or the bolts on all thread because you'll need the wiggle room to get everything "giggy". I tightened the bolts holding the square bar at first and nothing fit. Once loosened, I got it to fit THEN tightened.
-To get the FAE to fit my exhaust outlets, I had to adjust/widen the FAE itself to fit my exhaust. It was easy to adjust while not clamped tight, then had to fiddle to get the downward-T that the exahust comes out of directly even between the two exhaust ports. It was easy--then tightened the clamps on the FAE when it was ready.
-While the FAE is on (and clamps loose) make ure the clamps on the FAE that you'll need to tighten are at thh bottom of the FAE (closest to the ground) so you can adjust/tighten them. At first the place where the clamps screw were up top under the exhaust flange (and ultimately would have been under the swim platform), so I rotated them down so I could get to them easily. Then tighten.
Once I got it all installed, reinstalled the swim platform--didn't countersink where the bolts were on top of the swim platform--didn't seem to make that much difference.
Took boat to our lake (Hillsdale reservoir here in south Kansas City) she fired up right after it's winter slumber, and I could tell immediately trolling out from the ramp that it was much quieter at low speeds. Could put the stereo on at low volume and talk with my wife.
Looking forward to the less CO and better stereo.
Picture on left shows the FAE before the all thread is in, and a hole through both sides of the square tube. Pic on right shows it completed.
Not sure if this should be moved to the HOW TO section, I'll let the administrator (Matt?) decide. Here are some tips I learned installing my new FAE over the weekend to our 2007 24ve
1. Larry from FAE is a great guy. I found out too late for the the group buy (RATS--NOTE TO SELF-WATCH TIGE BOARD OVER WINTER for GROUP BUYS!!) but I bought Tuesday, he shipped Wednesday and it arrived Fri afternoon. I guess I got to help the economy (STIMULUS!) by paying the non-group buy rate.
2. The package came and was nicely wrapped. The installation instructions were general for all boats, and could use some help. I've sent some more detailed instx to FAE--He should hire some nice UT student/intern to create a more graphical instx manual. I also saw the post with pics from HD? guy and they were helpful to see how the square tube is mounted.
3. Because of the confusion from the instructions, I had to call on Saturday morning to ask some questions. I thought I'd get an answering machine at 8:30AM, but Larry cheerfully answered the phone, and enthusiastically helped clear up my confusion. I was able to install rapidly after that.
4. The key things I learned.
-You need to take the swim platform OFF to properly install the square bar that the all thread goes through. That was the key to understanding the process, and my version of the instx lacked that basic instruction.
-I marked where the platform went with masking tape so I could put it back on later at same place. Use your biggest phillips head bit to remove the screws. Used my regular on and almost stripped the thread of the first screw. Put in bigger bit and it was easy to remove/install.
-Buy a new hacksaw blade to cut down the square tube to size to fit under your swim platform. You will also need to cut down the all-thread that goes from the FAE up to the square tube to size, and cut the "Sleves" that go over the the all-thread from the FAE up to the tube. The square tube was 64", my measurement under the swim platform supports was 61.5". It cut easily with a new hacksaw blade.
-Buy the "Step Bit"/drill bit from him (or hardware store), it drills holes thru the square tube AND down thru the supports for the swim platform easily. (looks like a mini triangle/pyramid)
-After you figure out where to mount the square tube from where the all-thread comes up from the FAE, drill the holes thru the swim platform supports first while the bit is sharp. It's the thickest material you'll drill thru. I used a combo of my 18v drill/driver, then borrowed a powered drill for last holes since the bit was not as sharp and needed the torque.
-There are 4 places where the bolts go completely thru the square tube, so you'll drill 8 times: you'll drill the top and bottom of the tube so the all thread and lag bolt can pass thru. When you drill the holes on both sides of the square bar, put masking tape around the square tube so you can drill at the same place on each side. I didn't do that for first holes and they were off centered. Had to um... widen? the holes. Worked, not graceful,but ok. Masking tape with a line in the middle made it much easier.
-When you trial install, don't tighten down the bolts holding square tube or the bolts on all thread because you'll need the wiggle room to get everything "giggy". I tightened the bolts holding the square bar at first and nothing fit. Once loosened, I got it to fit THEN tightened.
-To get the FAE to fit my exhaust outlets, I had to adjust/widen the FAE itself to fit my exhaust. It was easy to adjust while not clamped tight, then had to fiddle to get the downward-T that the exahust comes out of directly even between the two exhaust ports. It was easy--then tightened the clamps on the FAE when it was ready.
-While the FAE is on (and clamps loose) make ure the clamps on the FAE that you'll need to tighten are at thh bottom of the FAE (closest to the ground) so you can adjust/tighten them. At first the place where the clamps screw were up top under the exhaust flange (and ultimately would have been under the swim platform), so I rotated them down so I could get to them easily. Then tighten.
Once I got it all installed, reinstalled the swim platform--didn't countersink where the bolts were on top of the swim platform--didn't seem to make that much difference.
Took boat to our lake (Hillsdale reservoir here in south Kansas City) she fired up right after it's winter slumber, and I could tell immediately trolling out from the ramp that it was much quieter at low speeds. Could put the stereo on at low volume and talk with my wife.
Looking forward to the less CO and better stereo.
Picture on left shows the FAE before the all thread is in, and a hole through both sides of the square tube. Pic on right shows it completed.
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