Am I weak or stupid?

[Liberator 6]

All,
I believe that the cap and rotor on my 87 Four Winns is the factory original. I can not for the life of me get the rotor off. I have tried prying, pulling, and cussing but nothing seems to work. Attached is a picture. Any ideas?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

It's attached or secured with lock-tite. You may destroy it while attempting to remove it. Pry on Dude...

 

[Don S]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

For future reference, when you have an engine problem, post the year, make and model number of the engine. It doesn't matter that you have an 87 Four Winns, they used everything from a 3.0L to 8,1MPI engines and who knows what else. Just keep that in mind.
But, I can look at your distributor and tell it's a Mercruiser Thunderbolt IV for a V8 of some unknown year.
Basically, just put two screwdrives in thru the slots (opposite sides) toward the plastic part of the rotor and pry up. Be careful to miss the sensor under rotor.
Heat on the rotor couldn't hurt. Merc says to use red locktite on the rotor ....... DON'T.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

This is cool!


Another Liberator!

I was beginning to think I had the only one!

 

[mudweiser]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

I just had the same issue. 89 Bayliner with a 5.0LX. Picked up a new cap and rotor but i couldn't pull off the rotor. Atleast i know i'm not the only one. I ended up cutting the rotor straight down along the shaft to remove it.

 

[QC]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Heat on the rotor couldn't hurt.

Yeah Merc says use a torch. I did and it definitely helped, but not before I had the rotor smokin' pretty good. It was awfully close to fuel lines on mine . . .

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Yep, they sometimes seem welding on..ya can also try a big set of Channel Locks, and squeeze that puppy 'till it breaks into little pieces

 

[mike456]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

I had the same issue on my 1992 5.7L that (as far as I know) had not been tuned in many years. With advice from Don S I finally had to brake it off in pieces. There was no evidence of locktite (although maybe it was not visiable) but the shaft was a bit rusted. I was careful to put a light coat of grease on the shaft before installing the new one. Its pretty amazing how many people have this problem.

 

[Liberator 6]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

I got the rotor off, it was pretty rusted on. Lots of time and patience. Now, I have this (see picture) and the brass piece piece looks pretty worn. A) What is it and B) when it looks like this should I replace it?

87 Four Winns Liberator, 350 Magnum, Alpha One outdrive

Thanks!

 

[Coors]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

This is cool!


Another Liberator!

I was beginning to think I had the only one!

No drooling allowed in the rooms.
This is not xxx.

 

[Liberator 6]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

I got the rotor off, it was pretty rusted on. Lots of time and patience. Now, I have this (see picture) and the brass piece piece looks pretty worn. A) What is it and B) when it looks like this should I replace it?

87 Four Winns Liberator, 350 Magnum, Alpha One outdrive

Thanks!

The other thing I just noticed, obviously the rotor only goes on one way due to the indent/pressure fitting. The new rotor will end up facing about 10-15 degrees to the rear of the boat than the one I just fought off. Will this make a difference?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

It should point in exactly the same direction. If it doesn't (and i have never seen one that didn't) the ignition timing will be off.

 

[Liberator 6]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

That's what I was afraid of. I made a mark on the distributor where the old rotor was pointing before I even started trying to get it off. There's no way the new one will line up correctly... I guess it's time to break out the timing light. Should I be concerned with valve/piston clearance with the timing being this far off?

 

[Don S]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Should I be concerned with valve/piston clearance with the timing being this far off?

Nope, you won't be affecting the valve timing, that is done with the timing chain and gears on the front of the engine, you are only working with the ignition timing.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Maybe you have the wrong rotor?

Make sure it's for a V8 and not a V6.........should have 8 slots in it.

Just a thought............

 

[Firestar]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Maybe you have the wrong rotor?

Make sure it's for a V8 and not a V6.........should have 8 slots in it.

Just a thought............

Really double check that rotor. It should be lining up the same way as the one you replaced. I think you may have the wrong rotor too.

 

[Liberator 6]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

The outer silver "dish" has 8 slots in it, the main black piece inside has 6 openings. I looked here at the parts section and the 6 cylinder rotors have 6 slots in the silver piece, and the 8 cylinder models have 8 slots in the silver piece. I am guessing I have the right rotor but now, for some odd reason will have to reset timing....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Did the old one come off in 1 pc?

If it did.................compare the 2...........s/b the same!

 

[Liberator 6]

Re: Am I weak or stupid?

Did the old one come off in 1 pc?

If it did.................compare the 2...........s/b the same!

Yeah, right The old one didn't come off in less than dozens of pieces, it was the original and rusted on like nobody's business...