Lifting the powerhead

[GatorMike]

I started my 3rd rebuild this morning all on a 115 Crossflow V4, no not the same one. I take that back it is the same one I rebuilt back in 2001. Anyway the last 2 rebuilds I did I didn't use a hoist to pull the powerhead, I'm a pretty big strong guy and I just removed the bolts, gave the powerhead a shake or two and lifted the powerheads right off. This one is being a bit of a booger though. I gave it a good shake and a tug and the front corner seems to be separating a hair but she isn't breaking loose. I may have to go out and rent a hoist but before I do I wanted to make sure I have all the bolts loose.

It is a 98 115 crossflow V4. I removed the 3 bolts on each side that come up through the exhaust housing. I removed one bolt and one nut from each side under the adapter plate at the front of the powerhead and I removed the two nuts at the rear of the powerhead that are such a pain in the ***** to get too. I also dropped the lower unit so I don't have to worry about the shift rod or drive shaft hanging up.

When I get off work tomorrow I'll go out and give it another bear hug and try to shake it lose, if not I'll have to rent a hoist or find me an oak tree to hoist it from.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Lifting the powerhead

Sometimes those rear studs hang up from corrosion etc. May only be that....

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Lifting the powerhead

Dhadley, I am glad you answered. You helped me through my first rebuild on this motor 8 years ago. I don't expect you to remember since you have helped so many but I bought the boat from a friend for almost nothing since it had a bad engine and you led me through the rebuild. I remember one of your main points of interest was determining the cause of the failure. You said you have to determine the cause or you are going to end up with the same problem.



Anyway this time I fear I may have some major problems and would like to ask your advice once I get into it. It may not be as bad as I suspect but once I open this thing up I may have to decide whether it is rebuildable. The motor still had great compression the last time I used it, all cylinders around 118 PSI. The problem is it sat for 9 months and the motor seized up. I don't think it is ring rust because I filled the cylinders with penetrating oils for 2 weeks and she was still locked up solid. There is no play at all in the flywheel. I pulled the heads and there was a little surface rust on the two lower cylinders but it was very little. I fear I may have got salt water in the crankcase and froze up some bearings. Is this possible? If so what might be the cause? I will know more when I get this powerhead off and opened up.

 

[capngregorus]

Re: Lifting the powerhead

I had the same prob trying to get one of those off.
Double check all your bolts are out, then get yourself a nut the same size as the one that hold the flywheel down, and with your new 'spare' bolt, weld a similar sized D shackle to it, swap nuts, and this will give you a nice safe point to lift from.
Just don't forget to torque that original nut back down once your done.

Mine was so stuck in place i had to strap the lower unit down to the engine hoist, when it finally came, she went with a mighty pop and bounced around like a pinjata.