hot off the press

TYC is very proud to have our Cooling Gill repair bushing kit featured in the latest issue of Red Alert Magazine. Since it went to press we’ve upgraded the product a little. Here’s a quick look at what has changed.

​The drill template still has a molded fence to ensure correct edge distance, but now three stations with drill bushings are provided, so adjacent damaged holes can now be repaired without repositioning the template.

After removing Gills, lock your template in position over the damaged areas.

Do this by pressing two of the drilled-head M4 Gill Vane Position Screws that you just removed (to release the Gill Vane) through the smaller holes in the template and into aligned holes in the ring beneath.

Using the ID of the drill bushing, you can still scribe an accurate circle around the true center of the damage - in preparation for filing by hand- but now instead, if you wish, you can simply pass a drill through the damaged area, saving a little time. 

These hardened drill bushings will keep your 5/16” diameter drill bit centered and on a true perpendicular axis. Remember to remove material with the least drill pressure required because the plastic template will soften if excess heat is generated.

​Additionally, you’ll see shallow holes have been molded into the inner curved face of the plastic template.

As you progress from one hole repair to the next,  these recesses fit the hex heads of repair bushings already installed ​.

No change to the kit price and three repair bushings with nuts are still included. Once you’ve installed one, the axles feel so solid you will want to continue!

Note that, although very thin, this additional thickness of the repair bushing’s hexagon head at the base of the gill vane has to be accounted for somewhere. If you need to make repairs that are diametrically opposite, be prepared to leave out washers, or file down the short stubs of tubing that protrude from both ends of the Gill vane.

As you remove the Gills, you will almost certainly find some of the Gill Vane Position Screws that have flats worn on them. 

A sample of the stainless ones Craig Payne used to make are shown at the top. Replacements for these Gill Vane Position Screws are now available from TYC but in hardened material. 

When it comes to removing wear in the Gills assembly, attending to sloppy Gill bearings is a good place to start. 

Keep an eye out for more TYC products to fight vibration and wear in the Gills Assembly during the coming weeks.