FIXED: Livescope Perspective Mount Shoulder Screw

[gte331r]

Posted this in case it helps someone else who loses their shoulder screw mount.

WHAT YOU NEED:
M6-1.00 x 20 Socket Head Cap Stainless Screw (Need 1 - nice thing here is same allen wrench can be used to tighten as other manufacturer suppled screw)
1/4 x 1 Stainless Fender Washer (Need 1)
1/4 x 1" x 1/16 Rubber Washer (Need 3)

*Note my Lowe's did not sell the 1" diameter rubber washer and only had the 1-1/4". Can easily cut with scissors to trim down to ~1" in diameter. This matters because while it fits with no overhang on the transducer at 1-1/4", that extra 1/4" covers the white marker you need to see position indicator alignment for down, forward, etc. Also note the original Garmin rubber washer is thicker than what I could find at any "typical" hardware store... so I just stacked 3 of the above off-shelf thinner washers and it worked perfect.

BACKGROUND:
I went to dunk my TM right before blastoff in a tourney and noticed my livescope transducer was dangling at the end. I have a Perspective Mount and evidently the shoulder screw had come off and fell into the lake. Electrical tape to the rescue and I survived. I notice I have to retighten more than most screws, so I am willing to bet this will happen to someone else. Had some rough water in my previous tourney and most likely loosened enough to come off.

Also, I wasn't able to find many specifics in the instruction manual (thread type, length, etc). So if you want to see what the shoulder screw, rubber washer, and stainless washer look like... the exact same ones are used to hold the transducer to the mount are used to hold the mount to the trolling motor shaft. Just take them off on that end to take a look at the hardware you need. After doing that, I made the replacement "parts list" above. Note the exact match geometry of the screw and washers are not common enough to just go to Lowes or Home Depot or wherever for an exact match... but workable replacement parts can be found at both and noted in the list above.
In some ways the above is actually better as more surface area to compress the holder using the 1" diameter washers, which is larger than the original Garmin washer.

There you go - fixed.

And I can assure you - I now carry an extra one of these in my boat.

**Note - I never called Garmin. I am sure they would send, but if you need a relatively low cost option you can fix today - see the above**

[MaverickPro201]

I was told to put Blue Lock Tight on the screws and problem is fixed.

[gte331r]

Thanks Maverick - I’ll give it a try. I am having to re-tighten these fairly often torqued to spec. Beyond my rough water comment above, I’ve since experienced the problem with nothing special with regards to unusual waves or long travel (vibration from road) either (i.e. “occurs also in typical / standard conditions”)

Ironically the fix above has worked better on the one bolt assembly I replaced. The replacement rubber washers are more compliant (less stiff and thick, as well as larger surface area contact) than the factory supplied one. Hence when tighten it holds the assembly better in place.

[ridge_runner91]

I have noticed that mine always seems loose. Probably just a matter of time before I lose one. I'll try the blue lock-tite but I might grab a set of washers/bolt to have on the boat just in case! Being able to replace it on the water could save the day. for a couple bucks worth of parts it's cheap insurance. Thanks for posting.