1963 Mercury 350

[Fabreezai]

Hi guys/gals-
Rescued this engine from FB, guy said he could not get it to run.
just looking for some conformation. I took the lower unit off, to replace water pump as a standard practice, and was going to replace seals as well. when I removed the prop it came off in the order shown, lock nut, thin splined washer, thick splined washer, then prop.
The damage to the bearing carrier was caused by improper assembly of the prop?

it should have been assembled thin washer first, then prop, thick splined washer, then lock nut, am I correct in this assumption?

 

[Chris1956]

Normally props have a thrust washer under the prop to keep it from hitting the gearcase. It appears that you need one.

 

[merc850]

I think it's thick splined washer, prop, castle front thrust washer, then nut, there should be no play in the prop, unfortunately the seals in the casing have been damaged so exhaust could leak out around the prop - PO was a real loser!

 

[racerone]

Thrust washer was missing !

 

[Fabreezai]

Thanks for replies!
I guess now, my question is:
Is the thin splined washer the thrust washer that should go on first so it bottoms out on splines, then prop, then thick splined washer, locking tab (missing from the get go), then lock nut?

 

[racerone]

no the thrust washer is big and is / was missing on your lower unit.

 

[Fabreezai]

would this be the thrust bearing? if so, seems to be stuck in the back of the prop.

 

[Fabreezai]

Ah, found this doing some searching.
you're talking about #68 in pic. on the hunt for that now. thank all of you for all your input!

 

[racerone]

Perhaps it is the wrong thrust bearing for that particular prop.----Hurry and visit a shop.

 

[1960 Starflite]

I have three old Mercs, 1960 (300) 1965 (650) and 1975 (850). They all seem to have different Thrust washers. OP definitely had wrong one. You should be able to tighten the prop nut completely without locking up.

 

[Fabreezai]

Thanks again guys. Here is what I think is going on from what I found. #67 (what im calling thin splined washer) goes on first, then the thrust bearing (#68) and lipped washer(#69), then prop, then crown washer, then lock nut.

the key is the splined washer that goes on first, bottoms out on splines and prevents the thrust bearing from sliding past them. I realized this when I looked up a new thrust bearing and found it is splined in the center so it cannot slide past splines and the one I have is not, and needs the washer!



thanks again for all your input!

 

[Texasmark]

The thrust washer is there for the prop to have something to push against rather than the engine casting. Thrust washer is easily identified as it is thick and has a tapered inner diameter made to fit against the tapered part of the prop shaft. Tapering helps to ensure that it is centered, reducing any possible out of alignment vibrations. You need to pay attention to the direction in which you mount it.....mimicing the slope of the prop shaft.