1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

[basstracker1970]

Can anyone please tell me how to get the power head off. I have all the bolts or nuts removed it is just stuck. I dont know if its the bolts or the gasket but it wont budge. Thank you in advance for any help you guys can give me....

PS: This is a 1983 4-cylinder 80hp sn= 6234303

 

[jimdd810]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

Usually they need a little persuasion. Get a leather faced hammer and hit in a place that wont break. There is a gasket with gasket sealer mounting that motor.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

Did you already drop the gearcase? That will make it easier to rock it loose. Some of those inline motors have 2 nuts under the very front of the motor, near the steering arm. The nuts won't even come off the studs until the powerhead is lifted a bit.

 

[basstracker1970]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

Ok guys I got it off pretty easy after reading one thread on here where they used the nuts threaded back on and placed washers under it and then trurned the nut working it back off to make like a jacking deal. It worked awesome and my lower unit is still on. That idea is the way to go It pushed the block straight up and I just bear hugged it and pulled it off. Thanks alot for all the ideas.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

Great. Now do yourself a favor and drop the gearcase. If you leave the gearcase on, and go to reinstall the powerhead in that fashion, you will need to line up the driveshaft splines, while lowering the powerhead onto the midsection. You will likey strip the end of the crank.....

 

[basstracker1970]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

Ok thanks for all the tips. I have the intake removed now and all the connecting rod caps but I cant get the reed cages to budge. What is the trick to getting them out so I can remove the crank. I dont want to rush and damage anything. Thank you in advance.....

 

[k dogg]

Re: 1983 Mercury 80hp power head removal help !!!

the reed blocks have a dowel pin that align them in place
i get 2 flat blade screwdrivers and lightly pry up on them from both sides at the same time