1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

[muskrat808]

Are there any cheaper subsitutes for the Merc slide hammer puller ( part -C-91-34569A1 ) and Hinge pin puller ( part C-91-36060 ) to remove the hinge pins and bell housing on older Merc I/O s ? Thanks !

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Ayuh,.... 'bout Any slide hammer can be made to work, 'n I use a 1/2" allen key for the hinge pins....

So long as ya heat the pins, they usually come right out...

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

to remove the hinge pins and bell housing on older Merc I/O s ?

how old is old?
a mc-1 drive?
if so, and it's like mine with hinge pins w/nails bisecting the hinge pin to hold it in place. remove the nail then i used any ol' slide hammer puller w/1/4-28 (i think that's the proper screw threads) cap screw modded to fit the puller.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Bond-o is talking about the newer pins that screw in. Like Ziggy says, after removing the nail holding them in, you screw in your tool and pull them out. You might be able to simply screw a bolt in and pull them out with vice grips. If you are replacing the bellows, you can even push them in towards the center instead of pulling them. Unless there are corroded up, they should come out pretty easily.

Here's a couple of pics:

And this shows where the nail goes and how it goes through the pin:

 

[muskrat808]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Thanks guys I still have a problem though . How do you get the nails out ? ( It is a MC 1 I believe ( 1972 ). They are loose enough to move but not enough of the head sticking out to grab with pliers . Are they splayed in the back end like a regulat cotter pin ? I can feel and almost see a rough area in the gimbal ring where it appears the nail protrudes . Do I need to shear that off to pull the nail through ? Thanks

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Are they splayed in the back end like a regulat cotter pin ?

the pointy nail end protrudes just a shade past the fore side of the gimble ring. it's then bent over into a recess in the gimble ring to accept the end of the nail. ya gotta turn the drive full port and starboard to access the end of the nail and bend it straight (which may be difficult to do). then ya can remove the nail pulling it aft. probably try to save the nail. their are large and small nails. my '75 uses small nails. surely your '72 does too. the small nail is nla best i know.
see the warbled pointy end on fm's nails. that's where they were bent over at and he straightened them to get them out.

 

[muskrat808]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Thanks for the quick reply Ziggy . What tool or technique do you recommend to bend the nail straight ? Are these nails really no longer available even through Merc dealers ? Gotta say this is one funky attachment system . Wish I had a Bravo

 

[Don S]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

If you boat in salt or brackish water, don't expect any of the above to happen easily. The nails freeze in the hole, and the hinge pins do the same. Usually drilling gets the nail out, if that fails, then heat and a punch inside the puller hole and driving the hinge pin in towards the bellows will shear the nail and get the pin out. Do not use a large punch and flare the ends of the soft hinge pins over or you will never get them out.

 

[muskrat808]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Thanks everyone ,got the nails out and used Fishermarks suggestion on the bolt and vice grips to remove the pins -I didn't need no stinking special tools ! Now its decision time -continue on myself or take to dealer . I tore into this to check/replace all the bellows ( of unknown age , maybe 10 yrs , maybe less ) they looked pretty good and still flexible but I went ahead and commited myself and took them out . So- couple questions -1. Would you preventively replace shift cable and is it as complicated as the manual makes it look ? If gimbal bearing seems OK ( well greased , no binding or looseness ) would you replace since you are in there or leave alone ? 3. If yes to gimble replacement I will let a pro handle it and I am still debating on having the shop finish everythig ( bellows , shift cable etc.)

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Ayuh,.... Sorry for the confusion above,... Donno what I was thinkin'.....

#1,... Yes, Absolutely do the shaft cable,.... It's pretty easy....

All of the job, really ain't all that bad,.... You can do it yerself,.... We'll be here to help....

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Yes, I agree with Bond-o - absolutely on the shift cable. That's one of the only "specialty" tools you will need is the right tap. Your old cable, unless it has been changed, probably screws in from the fore side of the bellhousing. The newer cable will screw in from the aft side. You will need to buy the right tap to chase the threads all the way through.

If you do that be sure to buy a straight pipe thread tap - NOT tapered pipe thread tap. There is an official mercruiser tool, but you can also simply buy a tap with the right dimensions from a properly equipped hardware store. (You will probably not find the right tap in your local hardware store - I had to buy it online myself. Didn't cost much money, but it is simply one thing to be aware of).

The rest is not that difficult and you should be able to do it yourself.

Don't bother buying a new exhaust bellows. Simply reuse the old one. It will be easier to put back on than a new one, and it isn't a big deal if it develops leaks.

 

[muskrat808]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

Thanks guys ,What about the gimbal bearing ? If looks good leave alone ?

I guess what worries me about tackling the bellows/shift cable is the importance of it i.e.-keeping water out of boat and all those parts and why do shops charge so damn much ( $800 and up around here ) to do it ?

Too late on the exhaust bellows , cut it out like the rest of them . I understand an exhaust tube ( smooth sides ) is easier to install than the corregated bellows. Yes ? Thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1972 140 merc Bell housing removal

No sense in fixing something that's not broken. If the gimbal bearing is good and smooth, leave it alone.

And yes, the exhaust tube is easier - it only attaches on the transom side.