Front cover removal

[geo7]

Mercruiser 120 hp 4 cyl 1983 I have a light scraping noise coming from inside the front cover. I removed the belt to isolate the pump and alt. I want to remove the front cover to inspect. Does the oil pan have have to be removed to take the front cover off? Any idea what could be causing the noise?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Front cover removal

Does the oil pan have have to be removed to take the front cover off?

Ayuh,... The bottom lip of the timing cover is Under the oil pan...
So, the timing cover goes on 1st, then the pan...
Removal is the reverse...

 

[achris]

Re: Front cover removal

... Any idea what could be causing the noise?

Loose/worn timing chain?

 

[scoflaw]

Re: Front cover removal

Ayuh,... The bottom lip of the timing cover is Under the oil pan...
So, the timing cover goes on 1st, then the pan...
Removal is the reverse...

In a perfect world that is the correct way, but can still be done without removing oil pan. If you have oil pan issues as well, rusty or leaky, best to pull.

 

[Don S]

Re: Front cover removal

No timing chain on your engine, just 2 gears.

While you may be able to pull the timing cover off without removing the pan, it will bend the timing cover. The ends of the overhang inside the pan will have to be cut off to get it back together and you then have about a 50/50 chance of it leaking.

 

[achris]

Re: Front cover removal

No timing chain on your engine, just 2 gears....

:facepalm: quite right... Was thinking SBC... My bad.

 

[geo7]

Re: Front cover removal

Thanks for the answers. It was not what I wanted to hear. The motor was rebuilt and I could not install it at the time because of health. It sat for a year and when installed made the noise on start up. Everything else is good and runs very well. Maybe I will just put up with the noise.