Spring Tab on Flywheel Housing Cover Plate?

[myoldboat2]

1974 Mercruiser 140
Late Model I sterndrive (120/140 s/n 390xxxx)

What is this spring tab thing on my flywheel housing cover plate p/n 358641? It protrudes aft toward the inner portion of the flywheel, right next to the rear mounting disk portion of the crankshaft. The edge of the spring tab thing is worn shiny. It looks like it's been rubbed by the turning flywheel inner face, and also a small arc has been worn into the top of the spring tab thing by the outer edge of the crankshaft mounting disk. It looks like this spring tab thing either preloads the crank or preloads the cover plate to keep it from rubbing against the flywheel. Neither one makes much sense to me. What is it for? I'm tempted to just cut it off.

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[myoldboat2]

Re: Spring Tab on Flywheel Housing Cover Plate?

I see now that the stamped cut lines that make the sides of the tab are cracked further, going down into the plate. So the tab is probably extending slightly more aft than it did originally. I'd like to know what the tab is for before I cut it off. Thanks.

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Spring Tab on Flywheel Housing Cover Plate?

Cut it off. Repainted and remounted cover.