2002 GTX DI Battery Hold-down stripped

[lamajama]

Hey everyone,

I've got an issue with my 2002 GTX DI that I just got. I replaced the battery and it's held down by a
larger "harder plastic" strap that is bolted at each end of the strap into the bottom of the seadoo.
I noticed taking off one side that the bolt came off rather easily....and in trying to put it back on it appears it was already stripped (which is why of course it came off so easily...:ack.

EDIT: After looking at the parts manual it appears that there should be a bolt protruding from the
bottom of the seadoo and you unscrew a nut that is holding down the battery strap - not a bolt
as in the above description. One side currently has this bolt protruding out but the problem side
does not - so it appears the previous owner attempted already to repair this issue by screwing down a bolt instead of attaching a nut like it should be OEM.

So now the obvious issue is how do I either repair this side so I can rebolt down the OEM battery strap, or come up with a "fix" to secure the battery.

A bungy cord/strap will not work as there is nothing to attach the cord to to create any tension, and I have to be able
to remove this bolt in the future so that leaves out a permanent fix.

Any thoughts?

 

[bubbabursk]

Just throwing stones but you could try putting a hanger bolt in there (screw on one end bolt on the other) and that would leave you a post to put a nut on just like the oem. Im just not sure if youd be able to put a similar size in there or not.

 

[lamajama]

Just throwing stones but you could try putting a hanger bolt in there (screw on one end bolt on the other) and that would leave you a post to put a nut on just like the oem. Im just not sure if youd be able to put a similar size in there or not.

I've thought of something along those lines as you suggest but how would I get the bolt that would be "inside" the hull down
the existing hole without having to enlarge it? I'm also thinking of an anchor system that is usually used inside drywall in a
house - you know, the type that goes into the hole "folded" and expands flat as you apply a nut to the outside. That's about
all I can come up with so far. You'd just have to be cautious when removing the battery strap that the protruding bolt doesn't
fall inside the hull. As it is I suspect one is inside there now....

By the way, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Katdog]

Thanks for the question - curious if you found a fix that works ? We have the same issue with 2006 GTX--

 

[lamajama]

I tried a longer bolt and it caught the threads so I really lucked out. What I was down to next was using a stainless steel
anchor bolt - exactly like you use on drywall on a house wall - and pushing it through the stripped hole, putting a washer
and bolt on to cinch it up against the hull and then putting the battery hold down piece with another bolt on top. Thankfully
I didn't have to try that theory out! Good luck!

PS - if you try my idea let me know if it worked!