Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Metcraft tower bolt breaking

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Metcraft tower bolt breaking

    While out this weekend, the bolt holding the rear leg of my tower snaaped off. This has also happened before as I was folding the tower up in my driveway. I tighten the bolts each time out and do not understand how this can happen. This time occurred with two people sitting on that side.

    IS there something else I should be doing? The tower is 2001 Tige 21 V model, the four legs that fold down.
    Tags: None
    #2
    That sounds pretty scary.. I hope no one was hurt.

    I have lots of weight on my tower (4 speakers, 7 light bar and bimini top) and I often wonder what the damage would be if the tower came loose on the bottom where it connects to the boat. On rough water, that baby shakes to the point it scares me, but so far it's held on.

    Do you have any pictures?

    Comment

      #3
      No pictures, I forgot to take them before I fixed it. It was on the water and raining when it broke, so we did not take pictures then. My gallery has pictures of the boat and the model tower that I am talking about.

      It was scary when it snapped. The other three legs kept it upright, so nothing fell on anyone. the tower does have speakers and had three boards in the racks. It would have been much worse if the tower twisted and the front leg busted too, but it held. About the only damage is some scratches in the gel coat where the tower leg slid down after it snapped.

      Since this is the second time, I have to wonder if it is something I am doing? Does everyone loosen the tower bolts when they fold it down, or just fold it down? I tighten the bolts right after I put it up each time. It is always the port side that has to be tightened about a 1/4 turn, the starboard is always tight and has never broken.

      Comment

        #4
        I usually loosen the rear mounts (where the tower pivots) and the two for the front strut before folding.
        If you're not backing off the screw before collapsing the tower, it's probably over-tightening/stressing it when you fold it back. This would only happen on the left side since the right side loosens itself when you fold it back.
        Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

        Comment

          #5
          Definitely loosen them before folding. I only folded my tower down a few times, but when I did I had the bolts so tight it wouldn't fold with out loosening them first. It was like it was tightening them more as I tried to fold it down.

          Also, when the tower is tightened properly everywhere, the shaking is minimal.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by smendez
            That sounds pretty scary.. I hope no one was hurt.

            I have lots of weight on my tower (4 speakers, 7 light bar and bimini top) and I often wonder what the damage would be if the tower came loose on the bottom where it connects to the boat. On rough water, that baby shakes to the point it scares me, but so far it's held on.

            Do you have any pictures?
            What year boat and tower do you have? I have the same set up and mine shakes really bad. Drivers me nuts...

            Comment

              #7
              We have a 2003 22V.

              Our tower is probably more loose than it should be because we have to take it down every time we store the boat. I'll definitely follow up and tighten it as it's been sugested in this post.

              Comment

                #8
                I have a 2004 22V and never take the tower down. It shakes pretty bad. I have noticed some are taller than others. My tower is approx. 10" taller than a friend of mind has. His is sturdy.

                Comment

                  #9
                  I have a Titan tower on mine and there is absolutely no shake. I also fold it down every time and never have to loosen nor tighten any bolts.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Well. this weekend I may have found the culprit of the broken bolt (or the broken bolt caused this issue). On the 2001 tower, there are support arms welded to the tower to give it added strength (looks like arm hold coming down). The support has one spot at the top and two on the side where it is welded to the tower. The bottom port side weld broke, so the support arm was unattached at that point.

                    I could stand on the boat and rock the tower with the spot busted, so I think it may have been enough to snap the bolt. I am just hoping the tower is not warped now. When we tried to put it up, the starboard front leg was tough to get in (it was always tight, but not like this.)

                    Oh, well, off to the welder now.

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X