Broken Oil Pump Support 3 liter

[Alumarine]

Hi there. Just removed the oil pan on my mercruiser 3 liter and noticed the Oil Pump Support is broken.
Is there a common reason it would break or is it just a fluke?

The pipe is tight. Is that bracket even needed?

I noticed that part is NLA. Is there a chevy equivalent for that part?

thanks

 

[fishrdan]

My 140HP Mercruiser had that oil pump strainer bracket stress fractured when I rebuilt it. I welded it back together and crossed my fingers...

 

[GA_Boater]

4 cylinder motors have a a lot of inherent vibration. The broken support pieces kinda bear that out. Without that support, the tube and pick-up strainer might end up on the bottom of the oil pan along with the loss of oil pressure.

Marc - Dan's welding sounds good if you can't find or fab one.

 

[Alumarine]

Thanks guys.
Looks like I'll get it welded if I can't find one somewhere.
Glad I took the pan off to paint it.

 

[Silvertip]

Have it welded and then have the welder add another piece of flat stock on the back of it to provide additional support across the bolt hole.

 

[Alumarine]

Have it welded and then have the welder add another piece of flat stock on the back of it to provide additional support across the bolt hole.

Good idea. You mean beefing up the bolt hole where it broke right?
Is that the spot they usually break? Not where it's attached to the pump?

 

[fishrdan]

You mean beefing up the bolt hole where it broke right?
Is that the spot they usually break? Not where it's attached to the pump?

FWIW, my bracket was fractured on the tube end like yours, not the pump end.

ST's suggestion of beefing up the bracket is a good one. Now that he mentioned it, I seem to remember welding a flat washer to the tube's mounting hole of the bracket, once the fracture was welded. Though ST's suggestion of adding a piece of flat stock would be better - stronger.

 

[Alumarine]

Ok, got it.
Thanks guys.

ps Glad I took the pan off. The bolt that clamps the bracket to the tube was of course loose now because of the break.
it might have turned out of the nut, although hopefully it just would have ended up in the bottom of the pan.