'64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

[timmeraw]

Is this really that bad of an engineering design? I am restoring a '64 Merc 350 2cyl Merc shorty. Had no spark. Pulled the plugs to make diagnosis easy ....pulled the flywheel and replaced the points and condensors and got good spark. All good right? Wrong.....as soon as I put the plugs back in and started using the electric start the poor starter is too tired to turn it over fast. Pulled out one plug and it turned over quick enough to fire right up and was even pumping water.
Starter needs to have brushes cleaned etc so I start the process of removing and can't for the life of me figure out how
to get the damn thing out. I can't drop it enough to clear the bendix from the upper bracket that appears to be cast into the block.

Anybody have any experience or ideas to avoid pulling the whole head off?

I was so excited about getting it to run and then so disappointed when I couldn't get the starter out. What a stupid design.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[oldman570]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

No you do noy have to pull the power head to get the starter off. The top cowling might have to come off to get the starter out and should be mounted to the front and rear support brackets with bolts or lock nuts. Look up under the front and rear brackets for the nuts /bolts that hold it on the motor. JMO
Oldman570

 

[timmeraw]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Thanks for your response Oldman570 but I have the top cowl off and that is not the issue whatsoever. The problem is that unlike the newer generation Mercs, there is not the convenience of splitting the top bracket holding the starter but is all molded into the block. I have read in an old post that maybe you can remove the bendix sprocket but I still doubt it will still allow enough room to do so and I have also read a post just an hour ago from the expert Chinewalker Scott that indeed the powerhead needs to be pulled.

I do have a good starter btw to install but pulling the power head is so much more and rediculous.

Tim

 

[oldman570]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

If Chinewalker says the powerhead has to come off , then that is will probly need to be done. He should know for sure about the older motor as the manual I have only goes back to 1966 for that motor.
Best of Luck,
Oldman570

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Yes, the powerhead has to come off. That's exactly why Mercury added the 2-piece bracket on later models...

 

[timmeraw]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Well that is very poor engineering. Now my next question....where do I find a new gasket for under the powerhead?

 

[carholme]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

If you are talking about item 15 in this link:

Mercury & Mercruiser Parts, DRIVE SHAFT HOUSING ASSEMBLY, MERC 350

I just make my own but you can see that it is still available if you want to purchase it.

Gerry

 

[timmeraw]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Ok... so I am trying to pull the power head. I have removed the 6 nuts underneath, disconnected the tell tale hose, disconnected the wires coming from the harness to the terminal blocks and the starter solenoid, removed cotter pins from various shift and throttle arms but now I am stuck. How do I disconnect the throttle arm that basically connects thru slit in the side of the lower pan to an upright pivot arm running through holes in the cast block then back to the mag plate. I have located and removed a square set screw under the throttle arm that I assumed would just let it pivot arm come up and out of the throttle arm to allow me to lift out the power head but it doesn't seem to be doing so.
Thoughts?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Should be 8 nuts holding the powerhead in place...

As for the throttle arm - I can't recall exactly how it came out, but it wasn't complicated. Maybe disconnect the linkage so it swings free and then fully inside the belly pan? I sold my '65, which would have had the same set-up...

 

[timmeraw]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

Yep I figured it out....remove the set screw on the top of the linkage and pop it up and off which allows the throttle arm to swing inside the pan(after removing the nut and bolt. Thanks Scott.
Merry Xmas

 

[Antonino]

Re: '64 Merc 350- Do I REALLY Need to Pull Powerhead to Remove Starter?

You probably have it off by now. I just pulled mine and didn't have to pull the powerhead
or dismantle the mounting bracket. First disconnect the wiring and dismount the solenoid.
Remove both attaching bolts between the starter and starter mounting. Drop the starter down
and move the bottom of the starter rearward as far as it will go (It will be touching the
carburetor). With the bottom as far rearward as it will go, pull the front of the starter forward
and down out of the bracket as far as it will go. Next, rotate the starter slowly in a clock-wise
direction while applying some pressure downward and forward from the top until the starter
clears the mounting bracket and drops out.

To install the starter, reverse the procedure. Insert the bottom of the starter rearward as far
as it will go (touching the carburetor) then raise the top up into the opening of the mounting
bracket until it touches. Then rotate the starter counterclockwise until it clears the mounting
bracket and pops into the open ring on the mounting bracket.

Dismounting the solenoid from the starter case may not be necessary.

From all outward appearances, it looks impossible to remove with raising the powerhead off
the lower unit or removing the carburetor. But rotating the starter works - it will come out of
there. Good luck.

Antonino