metal shavings under flywheel.. i found it

[lquested]

well i took the flywheel off my 88 force 125 hp motor this morning to see why there were metal shavings comming out from under it and the last person did not tighten all the screws that hold down the stator.. one backed out and was digging into the bottom of the flywheel.. i tightened them all. now i need to get a fly wheel key because it is grooved on both sides. ( better safe than sorry.. right?) do you think the fly wheel is ok with the groove in the underside of it.? and should i put lock tight on the stator hold down screws? just wanted to let everyone know what i found out ..

 

[maxum247]

Re: metal shavings under flywheel.. i found it

A new flywheel key is a good idea. The original key if grooved will probably shear when you least need it to and leave you in a scrape.

Use the blue lock tight that way you can get the screws out in the future if you need to.

Is the flywheel safe or unsafe? Depends on the depth of the groove in the flywheel.

If your not sure, while you have it off take it to an outboard repair shop and have someone look at it that works on outboards and get there opinion. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: metal shavings under flywheel.. i found it

The original screws were fillister head 10-24 X 6 ea. But even though they were fillister head, they still can not be adequately tightened by hand. Replace them with Allen head cap screws, with lock washers underneath.

Not to be the prophet of doom, BUT---The flywheel is spinning at around 5000 rpm and although the groove is circular--which does not concentrate stress and will probably never give you trouble-- better to be safe and replace it (unless it is strictly a shallow surface groove), rather than running the risk of having shrapnel come through the engine cover--it is thin plastic and will not stop pieces of an exploding flywheel. See if you can find a good one for a reasonable price on the auction site. Any flywheel from any 75-125 Chrysler or Force from 1980 to 1990 will fit. Only difference is the color.