Tips on pulling engine?

[JASinIL2006]

Ok, in preparation of fixing my rotten transom, I'm getting ready to pull my engine. I have a '96 350 Mag in my Larson 186 SEI I/O. The outdrive is already pulled and sitting on a stand I built, so now it's time to start in on the engine. I've never pullued an engine in my life... I've got the Mercruiser service manual for my engine, and I pretty much understand it, although it is a bit cryptic. I'm building an A-frame to hold an engine hoist (chain drive block&tackle thing) and I'm making a stand for the engine while I work on the boat.

Are there any tips/additions/etc. that I should know about re: the Mercruiser instructions? My engine runs very well and I don't want to do anything that will mess it up. I plan to take reference photos of everything I disconnect or remove, so I'll have some record of how it should look when it goes back together.

Any tips before I get started? Any step-by-step directions (or videos) on disconnecting everything? (It cannot be TOO basic, trust me!). I'm really nervous about pulling this engine, but I need to get started on the transom while the weather will allow me to work outdoors.

I've watched/read many of the transom-replacing threads (esp. Friscoboater's two excellent threads) but I've not found many 'engine-pulling for Dummies' threads...

Thanks for your help!

Jim

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Good info in here http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Install/gas/86017211.pdf
remove all cables, fuel and control lines, wiring , bonding, etc.
remove 2 rear bolts, 4 front lags, lift up and out, make sure front mount nuts are able to move freely.clean, wirebrush, etc.
remove hyd lines from pump, remove steering assembly,remove exaust pipe.
remove bolts/nuts from inner plate and remove inner plate
remove outer transom housing.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Ok, in preparation of fixing my rotten transom, I'm getting ready to pull my engine. I have a '96 350 Mag in my Larson 186 SEI I/O. The outdrive is already pulled and sitting on a stand I built, so now it's time to start in on the engine. I've never pullued an engine in my life... I've got the Mercruiser service manual for my engine, and I pretty much understand it, although it is a bit cryptic. I'm building an A-frame to hold an engine hoist (chain drive block&tackle thing) and I'm making a stand for the engine while I work on the boat.

Are there any tips/additions/etc. that I should know about re: the Mercruiser instructions? My engine runs very well and I don't want to do anything that will mess it up. I plan to take reference photos of everything I disconnect or remove, so I'll have some record of how it should look when it goes back together.

Any tips before I get started? Any step-by-step directions (or videos) on disconnecting everything? (It cannot be TOO basic, trust me!). I'm really nervous about pulling this engine, but I need to get started on the transom while the weather will allow me to work outdoors.

I've watched/read many of the transom-replacing threads (esp. Friscoboater's two excellent threads) but I've not found many 'engine-pulling for Dummies' threads...

Thanks for your help!

Jim

Biggest hassle / messiest part is getting the Engine Oil / Power Steering Cooler (if you have one) off the port side of the engine. Everything else is pretty easy to get to or comes out with the engine.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

The cooler has to be removed, I assume? The removal instructions from the service manual have only this that looks like it might be what you're referring to:

12. Disconnect (and suitably plug) fluid hoses from
power steering control valve on transom.

Does that sound about right?

Also, both the fuel line and the power steering lines need to be "suitably" plugged... what exactly constitutes a suitable plug?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Failproof]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

A suitable plug is whatever you can find that keeps them from leakin but also will not damage the hose. I personally have an assortment of cap plugs.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

You really have two major steps to the process of getting at the transom . . .

Pulling the engine out

and

Removing the transom assembly.

The engine might be the easier part though.

Make sure to build/buy an adequate 'A' Frame for lifting the engine (figure 1,000 pounds) and use a chain hoist rather than block & tackle.

You will only need to disconnect the fuel line, power steering lines, water intake hose, exhaust pipes and the electrical harness and other wiring to get the engine out. The trim hydraulics will need to come off when you remove the transom assembly.

 

[Struc]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

I plan to take reference photos of everything I disconnect or remove, so I'll have some record of how it should look when it goes back together.

Saved my butt after a long winter break with the engine in my garage getting rebuilt. It is a GREAT idea. Digital photos on the computer are free. Take a bunch.

Overall, though, the engine is very easy to pull. Don't be too concerned about it.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Something I did on my engine rebuild, in addition to the several digital pics from numerous angles, was using an electronic label maker. I labeled some brackets and every wire I disconnected so that it made reassembly a breeze. The labels could be as detailed as needed, so it was easy to understand and always legible.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

http://youtu.be/VB4h8GVTuys

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

In the video, they say you can either remove the entire motor mount (i.e., remove the two lag screws and take out the entire mount) or just remove the top nut that holds the motor to the mount. Does it matter which I do?

I really appreciate all the help. This is seeming like a not-so-terrible job...

Jim

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

In the video, they say you can either remove the entire motor mount (i.e., remove the two lag screws and take out the entire mount) or just remove the top nut that holds the motor to the mount. Does it matter which I do?

I really appreciate all the help. This is seeming like a not-so-terrible job...

Jim

Ayuh,.... Pull the lags, 'n take the Whole mount,...

It makes it Easier to block up the motor on the floor, 'n ya get to see if the stringers/ motor mounts are Rotten....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

It doesn't matter which you do, but it's removing two nuts versus 4 lag bolts. I prefer to leave the mounts in place, especially since it's easy to strip out the lag bolts in the stringer if you aren't careful.

 

[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.

After this, I just have to disconnect the seawater inlet hose, the exhaust elbow hoses, the shift cables and the power steering lines. Those I think I can find, but this wiring is driving me nuts! Can anyone help me find this wiring?

Here are a couple pictures of what I'm looking at... maybe someone can see what I'm missing...



Also, on an slightly different note, when I pulled the cover off the arrestor, this is what I found:



I believe the hose are crankcase ventilation hoses... are the supposed to be connected like this? The manual looks like they should be connected to the arrestor. Is this something that needs to be corrected before I put the engine back in, or is it OK?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Ayuh,... The wires yer lookin' for are at the shift plate, where the cables come together....
For the shift switch...

Mounted inside the starboard-side riser...

Yer flame arrester has mountin' for 4 hoses, ya only need 2...

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

No don't move them, they just sit there outside the flame arrestor. Any vapors from the crankcase will waft out the hoses and get pulled down the carburetor throat.
There might not be sleeves, just remove the wires to the shift cutout switch. The shift cutout is on the starboard exhaust elbow, it's a microswitch on a panel with a little wheel that move up or down with shifter movement. It breaks the ignition signal temporarily to allow the gears to go to neutral, then once the gears are unloaded the switch goes back to the center and the ignition resumes. This all happens in well under a second, not enough time to stall the engine. Once you get it all back together if you listen really carefully you'll be able to hear the motor miss a beat when the switch actuates.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Pulling the engine is the easy part. having one of those adjustable engine load levelers is really nice to have. Repairing the transom is where it gets slow. Then, you'll have to remember how to reverse the process. Just be sure to take plenty of pictures and document yourself closely. Zip top plastic bags for nuts and bolts also help.

Glad your engine is without problems.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

I'm sure I'll take back these words, but I'm actually more looking forward to the transom work. I've at least done some stuff similar to that, but this engine/mechanical stuff is mostly new to me. I'm learning a lot, but I feel pretty clueless when I look at the motor, then the manual, then the motor, etc., and I still can't figure out where certain parts are. That's why I appreciate the help here so much.

I bought an engine lift chain last night, and as I was disconnecting things from the engine, I was wondering how it would lift without hitting other things on the motor. I looked online a bit into levelers and they seem to be a pretty good idea. I think I'll pick one up today.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

I bought an engine lift chain last night, and as I was disconnecting things from the engine, I was wondering how it would lift without hitting other things on the motor. I looked online a bit into levelers and they seem to be a pretty good idea. I think I'll pick one up today.

I bought the following one from my local Harbor Freight for about $40!

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-heavy-duty-load-leveler-5402.html

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

Got my leveler at Autozone for $39.99. Looks pretty rugged! It has two chains at each end, with L-shaped brackets at the end of each chain. (Pic is a different model than mine, but the L-shaped brackets look the same.)


Since I plan to lift my engine with the two (fore and aft) eye-brackets mounted to the engine, can I just to bolt the L-shaped brackets on the leveler to the eye brackets on the engine (sandwiching each engine bracket between the two leveler brackets)? I have some grade 8 bolts (7/16", I think) to fasten the leveler to the engine.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Tips on pulling engine?

You can pretty much bolt them anywhere on the engine. Just tighten the l-brackets to a flat place so you don't bend a bolt.

And that's not even a big deal if you use 4 bolt points. with 4, and an 800lb engine you only have about 200lbs on each bolt/chain.