Re: OMC water pump belt
As to your question, it's not that hard to do anyway. If you look at the two thru-bolts on the port side of the mount, you'll notice a little "block" of aluminum that you remove so as to slip the belt into and around the pully. You'll need to support the engine anyway, no-matter how you do this job... ..... I usually just remove the front mount assy as it's ez'iest to just do it and usually there's just not quite enough clearence with only the "block" removed ... Anyways, If you have a long 4x4, lay it across the sides of the boat on each gunnal. Take a fairly beefy rope and run it around the 4x4 and into the lifting eye located on the block or cylinder head at the front of the engine and back up to the 4x4. . Now, make sure that you have a rope not too thick but one that you can stick a long pry-bar into and tension up the slack of the rope and there-by support the weight of the front of the engine. Make sure you can secure the pry-bar after you get the tension/weight of the engine supported (you don't want it spinning out of control and droppping the engine OR hitting you.... LOL .. After you get the belts on, but not necessarirly adjusted (you can always do that later), put the mount, bolts and that spacer, back on and tighten... If you've found that the weight has streatched the rope (remember, you want to be able to support the engine weight, and be able to twist (and there-by shorten) the rope. Rotating the pry-bar gives you the small amount of adjustment you'll need to go up or down. The longer the pry-bar the ez'ier it is to rotate, don't go too short! Makes sense?? This is how I've done it many times if I find myself with-out the abillity to use an over-head hoist. Just be sure of what you are attempting to do and that it'll work for your application. Don't be whimpy on using a cheap, small thin rope either. I've been told that this method of raising and lowering is called using a "Chinese pulley". May not be politicly correct or accurate but.... it usually works for me. BTW, any attempt to do it my way is at your own risk, so have half a brain or don't do it at all. !!!!!
