hinge pin removal

[sheboyganjohn]

O.K. from what I have read you either must have the hinge pin tool, or you can use an allen wrench. The only problem is that where the hing pin is all I see is a round disc that is threaded on the inside and has a hole on the outer edge. Is this some sort of cap or is this a different model hinge pin? 1973 Merc. 888 drive.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: hinge pin removal

On my 74 140 the hinge pins can be removed using a 1/4" fine thread bolt. There are also some nail type pins holding it in place.<br />hope this helps.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: hinge pin removal

How exactly did you remove it with a bolt? Do you just keep screwing it in which pulls out the pin. Also what do you mean by nail pins?

 

[Alumarine]

Re: hinge pin removal

My hinge pins were quite loose so I put the bolt in and wiggled them out. If you are going to replace the belows you can drive them inwards.<br />this picture might help it's a pdf<br /> web page

 

[liner85]

Re: hinge pin removal

Similar to what marc c said…<br /><br />If your hinge pins have internal threads, you can thread a ¼” bolt/screw into the pin. Leave half an inch or more of the bolt hanging out of the pin. This will not pull the hinge pin out, but now you can use the bolt to pull/wiggle the pin out with a pair of pliers, your hands, or what have you. Like marc c said, make sure you have removed the ‘nail’, which holds the pin in similar to a cotter pin. I seem to remember using a ¼”-20 bolt which is actually coarse thread. ¼”-28 is fine thread. This procedure worked very well on a number of occasions on a ’71 merc outdrive I used to have. From your description, it sounds like your ’73 is the same. I am not familiar with the newer hinge pins, but from what I have read in this forum, I think those are the ones that require the hinge pin tool, or allen wrench.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: hinge pin removal

Thanks for the info, it helps a lot. I do have one more question, how do you remove the 'nail' pin. From what I can see it is a solid rod going in. Can it be punched straight through? That is what it looks like to me.

 

[74Silverline]

Re: hinge pin removal

Yep, that stainless "nail" should punch right out. Mine had a small bend in the end to hold it in. I bent it straight and it came right out. I also used a quarter inch bolt to pull the pins. I threaded a bolt in a ways, then held it with a plier as I tapped on the plier with a hammer. Pins came right out.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: hinge pin removal

On mine the "bend" in the nail was at the front of the gimbal. It was difficult to see and difficult to unbend. I pulled it out with side cutters after unbending it.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: hinge pin removal

I got them out tonight in about 3 minutes. It is amazing how easy some of this stuff is when you actually know what you are doing. Now one more question for you guys that have worked on this model. From what I have read, it keeps talking about trim level sensors and limit switches that need to be removed before removal of the gimbal ring. From what I can see there is nothing hooked up to this ring other then the bellows, shift cable, and water line. So all I should need to do is disconnect the shift cable and pull it out as far as needed (it was just changed a month ago with a new boot and all so I am not planning on changing it, or even removing the shift cable all the way if I don't need to). Or would I be better off removing everything from the inside shift cable and pulling it all the way out? I am planning on just cutting the bellows and water line for ease in removal.