Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

[jaxsez]

This is my first attempt at redoing the seal and normal maintainece on my 1975 Mercrusier 888 (2bbl). I have been buying all the special tools over the past 2 weeks and I bought a Hinge Pin Bolt Remover.

When I went to look at my boat the other night I noticed that the hinge pins look like the have openings to screw bolts in them.
Has anyone ever seen this or did someone put the wrong ones inside?
I have been looking online and cannot find any info on this.

I added a photo of it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

That's the way the old 1 drives are made. What special tools (that you probably have no use for) have you been buying? Sounds like you may be buying tools for Alpha's, not One drives.
If you go up to the adults only stick (second thread in this forum) you can download the OEM service manual for your engine and drive. Manual #2 is the one you want.

 

[jaxsez]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Thanks for the quick reply Don. As I mentioned I am new to this.
So my drive is a Type One (I) drive? Is there a magic trick to get them out?
I have not found a manual that tells me how to work on this type of drive.
Drat

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

What special tools did you buy? Things like an alignment bar, gimbal bearing installation tools and such will always be needed.

If you go up to the adults only stick (second thread in this forum) you can download the OEM service manual for your engine and drive. Manual #2 is the one you want.

 

[presley2]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Yes this is an old style MerCruiser set up.

Straight across from the hinge pin on the front of the gimbal ring is a nail and if memory service me correctly that is the technical name ?Nail?. The hail head can be seen on the front of the gimbal ring by the grease zerk, this should help you find it. To remove this style of hinge pin you will first need to pull out the nail then thread something into the threads of the hinge pin so you can pull it out. I worked on an older MerCruiser with this set up about 15 years ago at that time I made an adapter that connected to my slide hammer puller so I could pull out this style of hinge pin. I do think you can buy a proper adapter though instead of making one.

My guess is you purchased the hinge pin tool that looks like this picture. This tool fits MerCruiser hinge pins used on #1 drives starting in the mid to latter 70?s, fits all Alphas, and Bravos. If you flip it the other way it will work with OMC Cobras. So keep the tool it works with lots of boats.
Hopefully this is helpful.

 

[jaxsez]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Thanks again. I got that manual already, but I was reading the Seloc one also. Too many drives and I was confused. Nope did nope buy those tools yet..
Just the Hinge Pin tool, shift shaft tool, prop nut wrench.
Still need those tools you listed... This is gonna take me a few days to do anyway.

 

[presley2]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Defiantly do what Don S. said get the manual before proceeding.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

but I was reading the Seloc one also.

Shame on you, now see how much extra that cost you in buying worthless stuff.

Which shift shaft tool did you get.

 

[presley2]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

If you are replacing all the bellows consider the following.

There are three bellows the U-Joint Bellow, Shift Cable Bellow, and Exhaust Bellow. There is also a rubber water hose that goes between the bell of the transom assembly and a fitting that goes through the hull of the boat. If you are in there doing the work and can afford it I would consider replacing everything at one time. You may also want to replace the shift cable that goes between the drive and the engine (lower or intermediate shift cable) while you are in there too.

Instead of replacing the exhaust bellow with another bellow purchase what is called an Exhaust Tube it is easier to install and does not require any special tools.

The MerCruiser Manual #2 Don S. suggested might list the special tools. To do just the bellows you will want the items for R&R of the hinge pins and an alignment tool. Also get a small 5/16 swivel socket that you can use on a ? inch ratchet and extension. You can get the socket at Sears or from Snap-On.
The shift cable will require the shift cable removal tool and a pipe tap to chase the threads in the bell the shift cable threads into.

Good luck.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Post what jobs you plan on doing, then we can suggest the tools you need and don't need. You do not need a shift cable removal tool (whatever that is).

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Here's a shot of the pins removed and the nail that holds them in place:

This shows where the nail goes and then gets bent over:

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

By the way, you can either screw the tool into the pins and pull them out, or simply drive them in to the middle after removing the nail. Also, when reinstalling, you will note there is a small hole or mark indicating "up" - that helps you orient the pins the right way to get the nail back in. The pic below shows that, along with the nail head.

 

[presley2]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

The MerCruiser Shift Cable Tool is used on the transom assembly of all IR, MR, or Alpha 1 drives. It is used in the bell so you can remove the shift cable. If his cable comes in from the forward side of the bell which is done on older #1 drives the tool may not be needed, but if it comes in from the aft side of the bell like on the alpha it will be required to replace the shift cable. The picture below is of the tool. Mercury Part Number: 91-12037

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

One other note, those nails are aluminum, not your off the shelf steel nail from Home Depot.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

The MerCruiser Shift Cable Tool is used on the transom assembly of all IR, MR, or Alpha 1 drives. It is used in the bell so you can remove the shift cable. If his cable comes in from the forward side of the bell which is done on older #1 drives the tool may not be needed, but if it comes in from the aft side of the bell like on the alpha it will be required to replace the shift cable. The picture below is of the tool. Mercury Part Number: 91-12037

Most people around here just weld a short socket on a 9/16" deepwell socket and get the job done. If using an OEM cable, you just unscrew the white guide tube, install the cable with a regular socket and screw the guide back in. No "Special" tools at all. Just a regular socket. With the cheap aftermarket cables, you need the welded up socket because the guide does not come out of the cable.

 

[presley2]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Yea, you won!!

I was just adding my input to help this gentleman didn?t know this was a contest. You?re the best mechanic ever Don S. I don?t own a welder so I bought the tool for under $10 a number of years ago instead of fabricating one.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

It's not a case of winning, that tool is now around 35 bucks + shipping.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Yea, you won!!

I was just adding my input to help this gentleman didn?t know this was a contest. You?re the best mechanic ever Don S. I don?t own a welder so I bought the tool for under $10 a number of years ago instead of fabricating one.

hehehe,... Did you expect any Different,..??..??

 

[jaxsez]

Re: Mercrusier 888 Bellow Replacment Bell Housing No Hinge Pin Key Screws

Guys
Thanks for all the ideas and photos especially.
I already purchased the whole upper and lower seal kits from Ebasicpower.com and the Bellows repairs kits which included all of the rubber.
I really appreciate the help and tricks.
Chris