Tips on pulling engine?

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

OK, I'm disconnecting stuff and I'm stuck... the service manual wants me to:

6. Slide sleeves back on BLACK and WHITE/
GREEN (or gray) wires and disconnect engine
harness wires from shift cut-out switch harness.

I cannot figure out where these wires are (I don't see any that match the color or seem to have sleeves), and for that matter, I'm not sure what the cut-out switch harness looks like or where I might find it.

OK, I found the cut-off switch (first picture: small switch on the starboard riser that holds the throttle plate) and the two connectors (second picture) that would allow me to disconnect it. But tracing the wires back leads to another bundle of wires that are all attached to the engine. I don't see how disconnecting these wires will make any difference in the engine from being pulled... am I looking at the wrong thing?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Most of the wires should lead back to the main harness . . . and you just disconnect the harness.

When I pulled my engine (Mercruiser 454) there were a couple of wires that did not go back to the main connector . . . so I just cut those and re-fitted them with inline connectors for the re-install.

Of course, I did not read the manual when I took the engine out . . . so I did things my own way.

But literally, I disconnected the main power lead cable at the starter, 2 ground strap cables at the flywheel housing (also a couple of ground wires attached there), disconnected the main harness at the connector . . . and I cut 4 wires and re-terminated them with connectors.

Then, up the engine went.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Well, I'm finally back at this after a number of interruptions. I think I have everything disconnected from the engine except the elbows running from the exhaust manifold to the Y-pipe. I cannot for the life of me get the big rubber boots off the manifolds or the Y-pipe... I've completely removed the band clamps, but it seems like there is not enough flex in the boots to allow the elbows to slide off.

Is there some trick to getting them off. Is there any reason I can't pull them as I'm hoisting the engine, wiggling them as I lift?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Don S]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Is there some trick to getting them off. Is there any reason I can't pull them as I'm hoisting the engine, wiggling them as I lift?

I usually just run a screw driver around the lower hose and the elbow to break the hose loose from the elbow, then lift the engine up and it comes right out of the hose. The hose remains on the Y pipe.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

OK, thanks, Don, that makes sense and that's what I'll do.

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Got the frame for the hoist up, and everything that can be disconnected from the engine is pulled. Next, I'll position the boat below the hoist, pull the rear engine mount bolts and the forward mount lag screws and (with luck) the thing will be out of my boat and the real fun can start. Anything tricky about getting the rear mount bolts out?

My hoist frame:



Jim

P.S. Yes, I know the garage needs to be painted. I am reminded frequently by She Who Must Be Obeyed.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Well, I got the engine out of the boat.

I had a little excitement along the way. First, with the engine hoist as far up as it would go, the engine still needed three inches to clear the back of the boat.



So I let some air out of the tires...



and raised the trailer nose. The engine cleared by 1/2 of an inch!



Its new home for the next several months.



I'm very grateful to you guys for your help as I muddled through this for the first time. I couldn't have done it -- I wouldn't even have tried -- without your help. Thank you!

Now, time to pull the transom assembly and get at that transom.

Thanks again!

Jim

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Looks like you could have just shortened the chains from the engine to the lifting bar. Oh well it's out, that's all that matters. Now let the fun begin! Be sure to wear a dust mask when sanding the glass!