Damaged Flywheel

[kiwi1]

Hi all i went to start my 4.3l omc in my 19ft sunbird cuddy, as you can see im very new into this game. Their were a few clunks and grinds which led me to look at the flywheel, i noticed there were some teeth missing which means it will have to be replaced. Where do i go from here does the motor have to come out or is their an eaiser way....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Ayuh,... You need a new Ring Gear, not the whole Flywheel...
And,..
Yes, the motor Has to come Out...

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

i was going through the same thing about 2 months ago, first you need to find out why it is having a problem spinning the motor over, mine was worst case, i had water in the cylinders and was creating hydrolock, and it was still loose, so it would spin the motor over some and then stop, take the teeth off the flywheel. but it could be as simple as the alignment on the starter. when it is out put the starter on and the new ring gear and when the bendix comes out, you should be able to get a paperclip between the teeth. if it is too tight, they sell a spacer kit at local auto parts store for 2 or 3 buck, and it has 3 different thickness spacers. as for the ring gear, i got mine from napa, i tried to figure out what kind of truck would match mine, mine is a 96 mercursier 5.7 so i got mine for a 96 pickup w/350, they only made 2 flywheels a 168 tooth and a 154, mine is a 168, when you pull it out tap the gear off the flywheel with a punch and hammer take it to the store and match it up. when you go put back on freeze the flywheel for a few hours to contract it and when ready put a torch on the new gear expanding it and they should almost just slid together with alittle bit of help from a 2x4 and hammer.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

when you go put back on freeze the flywheel for a few hours to contract it and when ready put a torch on the new gear expanding it and they should almost just slid together with alittle bit of help from a 2x4 and hammer.

Ayuh,... No need to freeze the flywheel,...
Just heat the ring gear to 350? in the wife's oven for a 1/2 hour,...
Pull it outa the oven,+ it'll literally Drop onto the flywheel...No beating necessary...

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

yeah that alot better way, never thought of that

 

[kiwi1]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Thanks for your help so far, Does the stern leg need to be removed first in this process of taking the motor out...

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

yes, first pull the shaft out for the trim rams, then disconnect the oil tube if you have it. oh and the very first thing you need to do and is very important, put your controlls in full forward WOT, then pull the 6 nuts off and pull the drive off. when you pull it out there is drive shaft about a foot and half long and that slides into the coupler that is mounted onto the flywheel, kind of like a slip yoke on a driveshaft on a car or truck. it has to be pulled so you can get the driveshaft out, kinda like you have to pull the driveshaft out of a car before you pull the tranny. while out, inspect the bellows, gimble bearing, and make sure you check alignment when going back together. it seems like a big deal when thinking about it, but when you go to do it, it takes about 5-10 min, and is a piece of cake. look on youtube and you will find a few videos on removing the drive. when you pull the motor DO NOT move the nuts under the motor mounts.also put some penetrating oil on the bolts in the back incase they are seezed on the bushings, you will see what i am talking about when you pull it out.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Depending on the clearance in the engine bay in front of the engine, you MIGHT get away with sliding the engine forwrd enough to pull the flywheel without lifting the entire engine out. Slide some blocking under the oil pan to support the engine as you move it forward. I was able to do that on my Sunrunner with a 5.0 Mercruiser, using a come-along connected to a chain which was wrapped around a 4"x4" laid across the sides of the boat. A long pry bar and a length of 2"x4" helped move the engine forward. Good luck. Hy

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

yes, first pull the shaft out for the trim rams, then disconnect the oil tube if you have it. oh and the very first thing you need to do and is very important, put your controlls in full forward WOT.

He has an OMC. You don't put the control in forward and you don't have to remove an oil tube becuase there isn't one.

Would be a good thing to get an OEM manual if you don't already have one.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Depending on the clearance in the engine bay in front of the engine, you MIGHT get away with sliding the engine forwrd enough to pull the flywheel without lifting the entire engine out.

I can't wait for you to explain how you would put the motor back in without pulling the drive!

This is BAD advice! Pull the drive like you are supposed to. It takes 15-20 minutes.

 

[kiwi1]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Thanks for your help guys the motor come out real easy, i did not need to take the leg of all that needed to be done was unplug all wires, remove about 10 bolts slide the motor forward and lift it out. It was more simple then what it looked

Happy Boating All..........

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

you need to take he drive off, there is no way your going to get the shaft back in the coupler, and you have got to check the alingment

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

kiwi, all I can add is that unless you follow the proper procedures to removing and installing a motor you`ll be doing it again to replace the engine coupler.

 

[Donzi18]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

Hey, Learn from my mistake. The same thing happened to my 350, I spent a whole lot of time pulling the motor putting on a new flywheel, reinstalling, only to learn that the engine had seized in the mean time. I had water in half my cylinders. Hydrolock from a coroded exhaust riser. Make sure you figure out why the teeth broke before you put it back to gether. The most common cause is hard starting due to water in cylinders...

take out the spark plugs and turn the motor. is water coming out? are the spark plugs red?

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Damaged Flywheel

And after the flywheel and ring gear are completely cool, take a BRASS punch and hammer and go around gear to make sure its completely seated against the shoulder of flywheel. 'nutcase