1979 Mariner 140 HP

[madlad]

Can some one tell me what I need to be on the look out for that may fall out when I remove the lower unit to replace the water pump. I purchased a shop manual for the boat but it show a range of engines. It's not really clear on my model. The boat has been sitting for a few years when I purchased it and I have not had it on the water. I was told that I would want to replace the water pump before doing so. Also would you replace the impeller or get the complete kit with the housing?

Thanks

 

[madlad]

Re: 1979 Mariner 140 HP

I have the lower end off and it looks pretty good, nothing fell out like someone told it would. Came off pretty easy. To be on the safe side I purchased the kit that came with every this except the lower housing of the water pump. The kit had several gaskets in it that didn?t look like it fit my pump and also allot of ?O? ring that I didn?t need. I?m assuming that kit could have fit several models. Everything that matched I put back in the pump. Now I?m trying to put the lower end back on and can?t seem to get it lined up to slide in. I can get the long bolt in the front in hole but still have several inches to go. Tried tuning the propeller to move the shaft, but it just don?t want to go back in. Is there some type of a trick to that, do I need the motor all the way down or should it be in the locked up position?

Thanks

 

[madlad]

1979 Mariner 140 HP Lower end/ water pump

1979 Mariner 140 HP Lower end/ water pump

Okay anyone here had this issue before? I can't get the lower end back in after swapping the water pump. I have worked on it all afternoon, had a friend stop by and help me hold it up and we shook, pushed with no luck. I have the water line in the correct place and one time we had it far enough that when turned the propeller, I could tell that it was turning against the engine. I tried put it in without the water line and the exsuast gasket in place just to see if I could get the shaft to go it all the way, no luck.

Anyone have any suggestions or idea's I'm open. I ran tonight and picked up some wd-40 tonight to clean the shaft with and try it again tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[emckelvy]

Re: 1979 Mariner 140 HP

OK, I'd bet you're having a problem with the preload on the shifting mechanism. Sometimes when you pull the lower unit down, it'll just slide back up lickity-split.

Other times, if there's a lot of preload on the shifter cable, as soon as you drop the lower unit the shift cable pushes the shifting arm about 1/2-tooth out-of-alignment with the lower unit's shift shaft. So, when you attempt to reinstall the lower unit, the shift shaft won't engage into the upper shift rod.

The only thing to do in that case is to undo the shift cable from the shift arm, then you can jiggle the shift arm a wee bit fore and aft until the shift rod lines up perfectly with the shift shaft.

You'll have to undo the throttle cable as well, to get at the shift cable. There is a black plastic "lock" at the front of the 'shift guide' assy, undo this to release the cables from the rack. The cable ends each have a 7/16" nut securing them to their respective arm.

Note: it's very important to know what gear the lower unit's in, and that the shift shaft is in the correct position for reassembly.

Sounds like you're in Fwd, since you're turning the prop and moving the crankshaft as well. Or maybe you're in Reverse.

I'll assume you're in Fwd since that's most common. You have to make sure the L/U shift shaft is rotated as far CCW as possible and still be in Fwd gear. In other words, it's just about to shift to Neutral.

There's about 270 degrees of free play in the rotation of the shift shaft when you're in Fwd. But only one place where it'll shift right once you're put it all back together.

If you have any doubt as to where the shift shaft is, just grab hold of the splines with a pair of Vise Grips (carefully and cushion them with tape or a shop rag so you don't damage the splines). If you're in Fwd gear, turn the shift shaft CCW until you get resistance, further CCW rotation gets you to Neutral. Then turn the shift shaft Clockwise only enough to 'pop' back to Fwd gear and leave the shift shaft in that position.

The shift arm in the powerhead should be just about all the way to the front of the motor for Fwd gear. And all the way aft for Reverse, with Neutral somewhere in between.

So, with the L/U correctly shifted to Fwd gear, and the shift arm properly positioned, you should be able to reinstall the L/U. Having your friend help with the shift arm, and turning the flywheel until driveshaft engages crankshaft.

Well, this is what works for me when I have a cranky one, I like the ones that slide back together lickity-split much better!

I expect you'll just be glad to get it all back together and shifting well !

HTH & G'luck........ed

 

[madlad]

Re: 1979 Mariner 140 HP

Is the shifting gear you are talking about slide up in the the power head part along with the drive shaft? Mine is at the bottom of the foot, I'm not get that far up, I can move that connection point (the cable coming down from the shifting arm) with my hand. I just rework the transom this week and reconnected those cables and I noticed when I put in gear before starting the water pump the shifting was really hard. I thought it was because I had the motor in the full up postion. I will look at after church and my 4 yr old b-bay party tomorrow afternoon. Will post back.

Thanks for your reply, I have built car engines and other things my first boat.

 

[madlad]

Re: 1979 Mariner 140 HP

Okay, I have removed the cable from the shifting arm. I see what you are talking about with the play in the shifting shaft at the lower end. So I want to put it in forward and make sure I have turned as close to neutral as I can get it. Then in the power head place the shifting arm just slightly in front of the neutral postion.

Okay I will see if I can get someone to help me with it this afternoon and post back how things go.

Thanks

 

[madlad]

1979 Mariner 140 HP Lower end/ water pump

1979 Mariner 140 HP Lower end/ water pump

emckelvy,

Thanks for the info, had a friend come by today to help me lift the lower end, and unlike the friend that help me yesterday that didn't understand that the lower end had to go in straight, not just lift up on it rear of it, we got it in. I did pull the cables out, and use your tip on the lower end. I will put the cables back in tomorrow, but have the shift cable pin in the middle in the power house and the lower end in the netural postion. So with a little time lubing the cable and ajusting correctly I should be good to go on that. Now I can start on the next thing I need to complete before I take the boat to the water.

Thanks for you input and advice.

Tony