Another hard to reach spot (M35 HX zinc access)

[Bill Asbury]

Just acquired our '05 MKII w/35hp engine this spring and haven't been able to inspect the HX pencil zinc  yet because it's too tight a space in which to turn a wrench.  Wonder if someone out there with a MKII can tell me how they do it.  Special wrench, perhaps?  

[Tom Clay]

Bill,

I use a short box end wrench and go through the access panel in the rear birth. You have to do it by feel, and only get about 1/4 turn at a time. Once it is loose enough I turn the rest by hand.

Good Luck

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Tom.  With your guidance and encouragement I was able to get the job done, tho it was a very tough nut to crack loose.  No zinc left, so don't know if it was ever replaced.   Will open and clean HX.
Bill 

[Ron Hill]

Bill : There are two straps that are bolted to the rear of the engine that hold the HX in place on a M35BC engine.  I found that by loosening those 2 bolts, I could slide the HX to one side and make easier access to the pencil Zn much easier.  A thought

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Ron.  Got the pencil zinc out with no zinc left, looking like it was just melted down into the nut, not broken off.  Removed paneling behind engine so have clear access to HX, etc.  Regards to Phyllis.
Bill

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Bill,
On my M25, I can reach over the engine from the front to get at the zinc, but I'm not familiar with the M35.
Have you tried this?

Mike

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Mike.  Traded a '91 C34 with M25XP engine for the MKII and had no problem getting to the HX zinc on the M25XP.  The M35 HX zinc is very hard to get at in comparison, which may be why it had never been changed out!
BTW, my 14 year old grandson Brian will be here from San Diego for two weeks in June so we'll be sailing, fishing, crabbing, swimming, etc.  Sending him to the Annapolis Sailing School for lessons as well.  He and my son have been kayaking out of La Jolla Shores for some time.
Bill 

[Hawk]

I can reach over my M35 engine and over/under the HX to get at the zinc. But it would be tough to get any significant leverage if the nut was really on there.

Hawk

[reedbr]

I go in from the bottom on my '97 MkII.  Remove the forward half of the aft cabin cushions, remove (or just lift and prop) the big board under the berth covering the stuffing box.  I can't see the zinc bolt, but I can feel it and stick a standard socket wrench up there and take it off easy.  I can't seem to find short zinc's, so I measure depth with a pencil, eraser end in first.  Hacksaw the new zinc to that length and assembly is the reverse of removal.  The first time it might be handy to look up there with a mirror first to get an idea what you are dealing with.  I keep an old compact mirror in my toolbox for this sort of job.  10 minutes including hacksaw time.  Every boat is different though.  If you have fuel or cooling lines hanging low, this method might not work.   

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Brian.  I was able to get at it from above and below with a 9/16" racheting wrench.  Was hard to break the nut loose because of not having been removed before.  Cleaned out the debris and installed the new zinc, but had to cut off some with the hacksaw as you did in order for the zinc to fit.