Mercruiser Hinge pin nail

[lamphega]

I have a Mercruiser 165hp inline 6 and I am in the process of changin gimbal bearing and bellows. I have the older style hinge pins with the nail through them. I can not seem to get the nails out. Is there a trick I am missing? I can not get to the bent end as there is not room enough to pivot to grab it. The boat is a 1974 model

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Hinge pin nail

are you turning the drive full starboard or full port depending on which nail your going after?

the nail end sits in a recess on the fore side of the gimble ring. when the drive is turned fully one way ya should be able to see it. also get a flat blade or the likes in there to start straightening out the end of the nail. once it's straightened ya gotta use something like a punch and start drifting the nail aft. once the nail head starts separating from the gimble ring ya should be able to help the nail out by working on the head of the nail.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Mercruiser Hinge pin nail

Turn the drive all the way to one side, get a long small punch and you should be able to bend the nail back up.
I could never find replacement nails for my outdrive. I looked and ordered some but they where the wrong size.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Hinge pin nail

i think there's small nails and large nails. small ones are nla. lamp. i think you got small nails (my '75 has small nails). try not to break them if at all possible..

 

[lamphega]

Re: Mercruiser Hinge pin nail

Thanks for the help. I got the drive all the way to starboard and still don't have alot of room but I will keep working on it. I just needed to know I wasn't missing anything.