Flywheel wrong???

[tunahuntr1]

I put a new 5.7 Mercruiser in my 1976 Mako 23 I/B.Went to start it and found that the flywheel (which is new and was part of the engine package)was too far from the starter drive.I am using the old Borg Warner 1:1 transmission and bellhousing.I suspect that the flywheel that I got with the engine is a later model???If it is do I need an earlier model flywheel to bring it closer to the starter.I do not have the old one and I really don't want to get one to find out that it is wrong.The engine is a post 1985 Mercruiser 5.7(brand new)4bbl carburator 4 bolt main.Please help as I completely restored this dream of a vessel and this is my last problem(I hope) Thank you for reading this and for any help..

Tunahuntr1@yahoo.com

 

[Don Crandol]

Re: Flywheel wrong???

Does your starter bolt up to the engine or the bell housing? The ring gear should be on the back of the flywheel if the starter bolts to the engine, on the front of the flywheel if it bolts through the bell housing. I'm not sure but I think that the ring gear can be moved. I may be wrong about this and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Flywheel wrong???

Sometime in the early '80's GM changed the crankshaft bolt pattern and flywheel size when they went to a single round rear main seal. That means you will have to do a bit of adapting and will need a later model starter. You may also have to grind a bit of the bellhousing to clear the new flywheel, if I remember correctly. It's been a lot of years since I had to do that kind of conversion.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Flywheel wrong???

Wouldn't it be easier to find out what starter the new engine uses and use it instead?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Flywheel wrong???

The problem is not the starter ,it`s the flywheel ring gear.Per don`s post where the starter goes in determines the ring gear position.Same thing happens when you buy an inboard motor and try using it in a I/O.The ring gear is not where it`s supposed to be to engage the bendix.

 

[tunahuntr1]

Re: Flywheel wrong???

Hi Don Crandol and Bt Doctur ,I do believe you both have it hit on the head.If I could turn the flywheel around so the ring gear was closer to the bellhousing it would be very very close(obviously I can,t)butTo let you know Don,the starter is mounted on top starboard of bellhousing.The ring gear is 2 3/4" away from the furthest travel of the bendix and that travel is 2 1/2". I do have a late model high torque starter .If I could remove the ring gear and put it on the other side of the flywheel it might actually make it?????Does the old early model flywheel have the ring gear aft of the engine block???,and is it the same flywheel?? The flywheel I have now has the gear on the forward side of flywheel toward the engine. Well once again thank everyone for the input and I will keep you posted...Tuna