Flywheel is hitting the timing pointer

[gwdaviseq]

Greetings,
I am new to outboard engines, not to mechanics having been a Construction Mechanic in the Seabees for 31 years. My Force 120 starting making a ticking sound yesterday afternoon on the Columbia River. We limped back to the marina and came home. This morning I removed the engine cover and this is what I found.

The flywheel is hitting the timing pointer and is resting on the block toward the top end. It is down far enough that the there is no clearance for the starter drive to engage... I'm wondering what might have failed to allow this to happen. In other words, what kind of damage will I likely find when I tear the engine down? I have attached a picture of what I see.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Flywheel is hitting the timing pointer

Hopefully it's just the ring gear that has come loose and slipped down, or possibly a bad flywheel. Worse case scenario maybe a broken crankshaft? Hard to tell. Does the flywheel wobble when you turn the motor, or does it turn straight and true?

 

[gwdaviseq]

Re: Flywheel is hitting the timing pointer

Hopefully it's just the ring gear that has come loose and slipped down, or possibly a bad flywheel. Worse case scenario maybe a broken crankshaft? Hard to tell. Does the flywheel wobble when you turn the motor, or does it turn straight and true?

Boy to do I feel like a fool. I wasn't looking closely enough this morning because, that is what has happened. The ring gear has slipped down the flywheel. I had not turned the engine over because the ring gear had jammed the starter drive... probably should have been the first clue I missed... guess I'm more out of practice than I thought.. Thanks so much for your assistance.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Flywheel is hitting the timing pointer

Inspect the ring gear very closely for a crack. They are pressed on and don't normally move unless something is wrong. If no crack, you should be able to fix it by putting the ring gear back into it's proper position and have a welder put a couple of spot welds to prevent it from moving. Replacing the flywheel itself is also an option...an expensive one, unless you look for a used one on line.

 

[gwdaviseq]

Re: Flywheel is hitting the timing pointer

Inspect the ring gear very closely for a crack. They are pressed on and don't normally move unless something is wrong. If no crack, you should be able to fix it by putting the ring gear back into it's proper position and have a welder put a couple of spot welds to prevent it from moving. Replacing the flywheel itself is also an option...an expensive one, unless you look for a used one on line.

pnwboat,
Concur. There must be a reason it came loose. I spent several hours yesterday on line looking for a ring gear or a complete flywheel, with no success, and I really hate to go to my local dealer because of the prices. My current plan is to remove the flywheel and take it to a local machine shop. I'll have him pop it off and inspect it for any cracks, if it's not cracked, he can then press it back on, spot weld it in place and re-balance it. If it is cracked, I'll deal with that when I get there. Thanks again for your help.