Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

[dnitzh]

I'm pulling my 1969 120hp mercruser. I'm doing a restoration on it and want to check the transom really good and rebuild the moter mounts. What i don't know how to do is to disconnect the lower unit from the engine but i want to leave the lower unit in if possable any help would be great thanks Derek

dnitzh@Comcast.net

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

The Outdrive Has to come off First,..........

Pull the 6 Nuts you see on each side of the top of the Drive,.......
Then the 2 ends of the Trim Rams,.........
Shift it to Forward,.........

Pull the Drive Off..........

Then you can Pull the Motor..........

 

[MJ76]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

If you have enough room forward of the motor, it is possible (depending on your lifting rig) to take the weight off the mounts, slide the motor forward and free of the shaft and then pull it out. I'll do this if the boat is staying in the water. But for what you're doing, just pull the drive. It only takes a few minutes, and will make pulling the motor easier.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

If you have enough room forward of the motor, it is possible (depending on your lifting rig) to take the weight off the mounts, slide the motor forward and free of the shaft and then pull it out. I'll do this if the boat is staying in the water. But for what you're doing, just pull the drive. It only takes a few minutes, and will make pulling the motor easier.

You might be lucky enough to take an engine out that way without damaging the coupler or something else, but don't even think about trying to put one back in like that. For that you MUST pull the drive.
Not sure what the beg deal is about pulling the drive, it's a 5 to 10 minute job.

 

[dnitzh]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

hey guys thaks thats what i'll do i just wasnt shure how to properly pull the drive off with out messing anything up

thanks Derek

 

[shelikesit]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

I have someone really close as in a neighbor that I quoted you guys from the forum about pulling the drive.

They took out their 4 cylinder last year and put it back and left the drive in the whole time, no alignment tool nothing. I tried to tell them what the forum said and he still to this day hasnt talked to me. He's rightfully pissed of at me for not minding my own business.

No big deal, his boat hasn't seen water since either.

When someone in the know says "MUST" I'd venture to say it should be done.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

I tried to tell them what the forum said and he still to this day hasnt talked to me. He's rightfully pissed of at me for not minding my own business.

Why should he be so mad at you that he doesn't talk to you anymore? ??? That doesn't make sense.

For what it is worth, my dad used to do the same thing - he has a four cylinder mercruiser and he would pull and replace the engine with the outdrive still on. Yes, he eventually had to replace his coupler.

CAN you do it without pulling off the outdrive? Obviously it is possible in some cases, but as Don points out - why would you want to??

 

[shelikesit]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

His problem lies within manuals and doign things right. When he bolted the head on without the manual nor a torque wrench I almost broke down in tears laghing so hard.

I made the comment only an idiot would do something like that.............. he's a doctor, not a mechanic.... he watched me buy the merc manual for my boat as per Don...

Your boat is beautiful fishermark, I have a 91 Galaxy Walkaround that I gave up on. The previous owner left way to many underlying circumstances for me to follow. I just listed the boat for sale locally. It needs the motor rebuilt, and exhaust manifolds and a good electrician, and someone will have a nice sturdy boat.

It was cheaper to keep her for awhile but I'm learning people will sell nice boats just to come off them. I'm going to lurk until I find a newer walkaround from someone that needs the money more than they need the boat.

the cuddy I just bought isn't walkaround, but I got a great price for a cuddy cabin boat thats for sure.

I'm learning alot.............

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

Thanks for the comments on my boat - It's actually for sale - check your messages as I just sent you a private message

 

[mkast]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

I tried to tell them what the forum said and he still to this day hasnt talked to me. He's rightfully pissed of at me for not minding my own business.

When you argue with a beagle (yes the dog type of "beagle") who wins?

 

[MJ76]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

No wish to lead anyone astray with my previous post. It is possible to pull the motor without pulling the drive, and it's possible to put it back in without damaging anything, provided you have the right equipment, and you are careful. The alignment will be no better or worse than it was before.

But... it is always best, and much easier, to pull the drive first, before pulling the motor. If the boat is on a trailer, there is NO reason to do otherwise. As I said, the only situation where I would consider doing so is to R&R a motor in a boat while it was in the water.

That said, the only way to be sure the motor is aligned with the drive is to install the motor, check and adjust the alignment using the proper tool, then install the drive. So that's my attempt at a disclaimer, I guess...

 

[Don S]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

and it's possible to put it back in without damaging anything, provided you have the right equipment, and you are careful.

NO, it is not possible to put it back in without damaging someing or getting it right. Here is why.
If you look at the top picture below. If you notice the double wound washer, and the fiber washer just sit on the inner transom shield,, with the drive installed there is pressure on that double wound washer (Like a short spring) and squeezes it flat. In order to take the engine out, you can slide it forward off of those, but you can't slide it back in, if you lift the engine higher, the shaft from the drive will not move, It's solid. so the rubber in the coupler must compress on one side, and stretch a long way on the other side. NOT Good. The coupler was never meant to have that happen.
That is why couplers fail after someone put the engine in without pulling the drive. Either they damage the coupler by ripping the rubber out to get the fiber washer and double wound washer in properly, or they push them out of the way and don't have them installed.
You may have gotten lucky, or you just haven't run it enough to loose the coupler yet, but don't suggest it's possible to do "WITHOUT DAMAGE" because it is not.

 

[dnitzh]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

hey guys thanks alot for all of you're help i'm just gonna pull drive and proly re greas it an lube it all good... but its in the back yeard so that sounds like the best way thanks agen Derek

 

[Mystic Dragon]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

OMCs do not have the washer problem so they are easy to replace. I am putting a OMC bellhousing and coupler on my Merc 120 tomorrow to install on a Cobra outdrive (mounts are different).

As for the bolts and washers, they arewhat they are. slipping the motor in and onto the spline and then lifting the engine and positioning the washers etc should do fine.

The problem with pulling the outdrive is that once you have done so you have to realign the drive and motor. If you don't pull the drive and leave the motor mounts the same, it will go in without the need for alignment.

By now you have probably pulled the drive so I guess it is a moot point.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

The problem with pulling the outdrive is that once you have done so you have to realign the drive and motor. If you don't pull the drive and leave the motor mounts the same, it will go in without the need for alignment.

Boy are You confused,...............

You've got this scenario Just about Backwards.........

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

Boy are You confused,...............

I've gotta go with Bondo on this one. :^

 

[dnitzh]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

i havent done it yet i'm doin it this weekend. i do also wnat to look athe the trtansom on it to make shure that that is in tack but idk. the stringrs were gone. thanks god they were only 1-10s

 

[dnitzh]

Re: Pulling an motor HELP!!!!

hey guys i pulled the moter and lower unit today and it went smooth. and foundout that the lower halp of the transom is pretty much shot... but thats my next project but um thanks for everyones advice..\ Derek