Re: Mercruiser outdrive specs.
Tighten it until it drags and back off?
no.
you need to go read the service manual on the proper method of tightening this nut. briefly. if the assy. has the small spacer in the brg. pack. it is a torqued down bolt. 70-80 ft. lbs. my guess is you don't have the small spacer. without the spacer, put a hose clamp around the stack of brgs. tighten the pinion nut down until the preload of the bearings starts to go up just slightly and remove the hose clamp. while holding the bearings, rotate the pinion nut at least 2 full revolutions. check the preload by rotating the pinion nut very slowly a third time and , while rotating, take a reading of the preload. if the preload is under the specification of 6-10
in. lbs. torque the pinion nut slightly more and recheck the preoad again. continue this sequence until proper preload is achieved. that's pretty much out of the manual. but you really need to get the manual and see this for your self. service manual #6, pp3A-19. there is also a note about if you exceed the limit of 6-10
in. lbs. that you must totally separate the gear and reassemble.
from memory, i think i've read that there is even a lower torque value on this nut if new brgs. are being used. once installed once though, they are considered used and the above torque value applies. can't prove that, but think i read it somewhere..
