Flywheel Position

[apd855]

I have a 1977 Merc 175 that appears to have had the flywheel taken off at some point with by the ring of bolts holding it to the hub,(wasn't me honestly. Does it matter how it goes back on. There is no flywheel cover so I could place a new pointer where ever need be. Thank you. Daylon

 

[jhodge]

Re: Flywheel Position

Does your flywheel have advance and retard degree markings on the edge, kinda where a rope would go if used to start the engine? If so, remove spark plug from #1 cylinder and find Top Dead Center as close as you can tell. At this point the pointer should be pointing at about 0 degrees on the markings. My engine has a movable pointer and I have to use a dial indicator to locate the exact point for timing to be accurate, but this will be close enuf to determine which holes to line up for flywheel placement. Any others with more info are encourge to chime in. JH

 

[apd855]

Re: Flywheel Position

I guess my next question would be where is the factory pointer located as I have nothing that resembles one. As it sits right now TDC per the flywheel mark is on the port side about halfway between the throttle linkage and the carbs. The flywheel is not marked with degrees per se but has a vertical dash and what appears to be punch marks.

 

[jhodge]

Re: Flywheel Position

Again, don't know about your engine but the movable pointer on my engine (86 3 cyl 60hp) is held in place by one of the upper mounting bolts for the starter. So it would be close to being towards the bow and a bit on the starboard side of the flywheel. A manual would do you some good on this one. What is your ignition source? Stator and trigger or something else? The flywheel position is critical for the triggers to give spark signal at correct time from the magnet positon in the flywheel, but maybe you have another application. Sorry can't be more definitive. JH

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Flywheel Position

There is supposed to be a plastic flywheel cover with the timing pointer. The procedure is to set the timing pointer to TDC and then adjust the timing.

You need to make sure the flywheel is set properly. Remove the spark plugs, and turn the flywheel until number 1 cylinder is at TDC. Now if the flywheel is wrong, remove the eight bolts around the center and turn the outer flywheel until the timing decal is near the center of the front of the motor.

You will need to get a flywheel cover, or rig up a timing pointer. Both will work. I recommend a manual as well.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Flywheel Position

Ignition timing trigger magnets are on the center hub of the flywheel and not affected by re-indexing the flywheel to the hub.

Those dots and line on the flywheel are used for timing and thus indexing to a standard setting helps ensure that the timing proceedure follows the directions spelled out in the service manual.