Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

[Greg68S]

Hey guys my boat is off to get two new stringers and a new transom. I pulled my engine to cut my cost in half. Before I put it back in is there anything I should do before hand? I planned on teaching all my sensors and checking for oil leaks. She ran beautiful before I pulled her. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Replace or rebuild the starter and install a new solenoid. Check ring gear for wear or chipped teeth and replace if necessary. Since we have no idea how old this boat is, we can't tell you what to check. Mechanical fuel pump or electric??? If mechanical, replace it since you will never have a better chance. Oil pan and front cover gasket replacement if there is any sign of leakage.

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

The boat is a 1989 Thompson Carrera.i believe it's a mechanical fuel pump. Is there a difference between a marine starter/solenoid and a standard GM auto?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

The boat is a 1989 Thompson Carrera.i believe it's a mechanical fuel pump. Is there a difference between a marine starter/solenoid and a standard GM auto?

Does the word "bang" mean anything to you regarding that question? Marine sarters, alternators, and ignition components are marine for a purpose. They are ignition protected meaning "shielded" against sparking and thus setting off an explosion of gas fumes that may settle in the bilge.

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

And that bluntly answers that question. So far I have a list of.....
sensors
bilge pumps
starter / selanoid (marine specific only)
Ring gear if necessary
water hoses
Power steering lines
check for leaks

Anything I'm missing anything?

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Ok the motor is out. I need to remove the transom assembly and off she goes to get repaired. Is there anything I need to watch for?

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Ok everyone. Great news! My lady is back and better than new. I have set the motor back in place. I did not touch the mounts. They are still the original position. I took my alignment tool, greased it up and inserted it in to the stern drive. It will go in with a little persuasion. Not by means of a mallet or other tool but strictly with a tap from the palm of my hand. I've been told that I should be able to turn it with only my fingers. However this is not the case. I need to use one hand to turn it. It's tough but not strenuous. I've played with it all day and seem to have only made it worse. I started in the original position of the mounts. My mounts are the older style with the nut on the bottom that can only be turned with engine lifted off the mounts just about 2 inches. In there original position the adjustment nuts are in there original position (all of the way down). I'm frustrated. Can any one help me figure this out?

 

[Don S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

After replacing the stringers and the transom, where the mounts were adjusted to begin with means nothing. Everything is now different, and you will be basically starting over with the alignment. Have you visited this thread from the stickies at the top of the forum?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2971085

 

[achris]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Ok everyone. Great news! My lady is back and better than new. I have set the motor back in place. I did not touch the mounts. They are still the original position. I took my alignment tool, greased it up and inserted it in to the stern drive. It will go in with a little persuasion. Not by means of a mallet or other tool but strictly with a tap from the palm of my hand. I've been told that I should be able to turn it with only my fingers. However this is not the case. I need to use one hand to turn it. It's tough but not strenuous. I've played with it all day and seem to have only made it worse. I started in the original position of the mounts. My mounts are the older style with the nut on the bottom that can only be turned with engine lifted off the mounts just about 2 inches. In there original position the adjustment nuts are in there original position (all of the way down). I'm frustrated. Can any one help me figure this out?

Watch this video -> http://youtu.be/w118LGsYgY4

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

The motor mounts were never replaced. Those two stringers were not damaged.
I know how to check it. But I'm more concerned with the best way to perform the alignment.
There has to be some science to it.

 

[achris]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Did you watch the video?, there is no 'science', it's just mechanical logic and common sense... :facepalm:

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

I watched it and in 8 eights hours I'm not there

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

I did read The link that Don S had posted. I'm going to try that method tipping the engine with the eyelet attached to the thermostat housing. If I oil the threads of the mounts really well that should protect them getting boogered up. Any other insight? Using that method do I loosen the 2 drive plate mount bolts before tipping?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

but you said the transom was replaced?I suspect you need to post a pic of those front mounts, something dosent sound right. should have 2 nuts, 1 top and 1 bottom. how do you lock the alignment in place?
you dont seem to understand "alignment".

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Unfortunately I can't post from my iPhone. If I can I'm not sure how. But I have 2 nuts. One lower and one upper. Then there is a funny shaped washer that almost looks like a prop lock washer. There is also a regular lock washer for the the top nut. When I pulled the motor the it was unnecessary to remove the mounts because the engine mount stringers were 100% intact. The lower adjustment nuts were in there lowest position when I removed the engine. I set the motor back on them as they were when I took them out. Alightndnt is the up and down movement (tilt) of the engine to match the transom assembly.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

when the motor was out, those lower nuts should have been freed up to make adjusting/turning them easier.rebuilding the transom may/did change the transom height slightly. the alignment bar will tell you in what direction you need to move the engine.
Follow the grease marks.up ,down, left, right.If the transom height was altered and the front of the motor must go down, support motor with hoist, remove front mounts from engine, lower engine untill you have good alignment. test fit mounts, may have to make a slot in the stringer to compensate.
If the transon was shifted slightly during rebuild, not 90 degrees to the stringers, you will need to align and shift engine to where it needs to be for alignment and redrill the fronf mounting lags.

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

Is it possible the transom may be mounted too low? And my mounts will not go low enough?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Install/gas/86016900.pdf

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

On a side note.. I love this forum. But it needs an APP for iPhone and droid. Lol

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc 5.7L thunderbolt pulled to fix transom. Now what?

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