timing gears

[IVAZ]

Hello everyone, does anyone know how to remove the timing gears off of Mercruiser 165? I have a timing gear puller but it uses bolts to grab the gears and there is no threads on the holes for the cam gear. The crank gear has no holes at all. Neither gear has much clearance behind them due to them being so close to the engine block. Thanks for any info you may have.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: timing gears

Is there not enough clearance for the lip on a gear puller? They both need to be pulled off. I recently did this myself, but I had both the cam and crank out of the engine. Here is a pic for reference for others to see:

 

[Don S]

Re: timing gears

You have to remove the cam and gear as an assembly, then press the gear off the cam. Might want to go to the Adults Only sticky and download the manual for your engine. You are going to need it.

Here's a picture from the manual.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: timing gears

I guess I should have asked which 165 you have. The one I refer to is the inline six - and mine had holes on the crank gear for a puller.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

Sorry I was not specific enough. Yes I am talking about not being able to grab the gear with a puller. I will get the manual for the engine for sure. It seemed easy at first but taking the crank and cam sounds like a big job. It is the GM straight six.Thanks for the help.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: timing gears

Taking the cam out is not difficult and doesn't require much more disassembly. The crank? Yep, that requires a bit more work. Is the engine still in the boat? Why are you changing the gears?

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

Yes the engine is still in the boat.
While getting in a good fishing session yesterday I started to hear a clicking noise I thought was a lifter. I stopped checked the oil to see if it was maybe low but it was fine. I restarted the engine and it quit before it was in gear. It did start one more time so I headed to the ramp only to have the engine quit again. Once I paddled to the ramp and got it home I checked the points but noticed the distributor would not spin. The timing gear cover was removed and I found lots of missing teeth off of the cam gear.

 

[Bondo]

Re: timing gears

Ayuh,...

Your life will be Much Easier if you just bite the bullet,+ Pull the motor...

Those gears should be swapped as a Set...

 

[Don S]

Re: timing gears

I agree with Bond-o, pull the engine. All those missing teeth went into the oil pan and you might as well get them out and check the oil pump for any damage.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

Sounds like I will be waiting until this weekend so I can use the overhead crane at our shop to remove the engine(welders and pipe fitters in the way right now). I have pulled out car engines before with not too much of a problem but never messed with any boats. Do they have a similar way of bolting up in the back of the engine as cars? Any special tools needed?

 

[Don S]

Re: timing gears

Did you download the manual I mentioned in my first reply? It has a whole section on engine removal.
Actually, engines are usually easier to get out of boats than cars. Pull the drive, front mount lag bolts, 2 rear mounts disconnect the exhaust hose at the riser, throttle cable, unplug electical cable, remove battery cables, remove fuel line and lift it out.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

I have not downloaded the manual yet but I will later on today. I also have another 250ci with only 3800 miles since it was rebuilt. It came off a 1972 chevy truck that a drunk demolished while it was parked in the street. I know the cam, head gasket and plugs are different but is there any external casting variations? It would be nice to put a fresher engine in since I got to take it out and open it up anyway.Thanks for the advice.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: timing gears

Yep use the truck motor, but put brass casting plugs in and use the marine starter, alternator, fuel pump, carb and move over the manifold.

Might want to use a marine gasket for the head. If your using it in saltwater that is. Watch the torque when doing the head and manifold.

Good luck !

 

[Bondo]

Re: timing gears

but is there any external casting variations?

Ayuh,...

Some of the car or truck Block castings, Don't have the "Ear" on them where the front motor mounts bolts too...

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

Its going to take me longer to get back in the water since I am going to send the truck motor to have the brass plugs put in. Thanks.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: timing gears

Installing the plugs is one of the easier things to do. You simply knock the old ones out, put a little sealer on the new ones and tap them in. Obviously only you know what you are comfortable doing, but on the scale of difficult things, it's pretty low.

The ears Bondo refer to can be seen in the photo I posted above - the two holes left of the cam gear is the "ear" that may be missing on a truck engine. It would be good to check.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

I will check the block to see if it has the ears where the engine mount goes when I get home. The plugs sound easy enough. I have never tinkered with an engine inside the block so I was going to send it to get a new cam if it is needed and change the plugs while it was there. If the cam in it works for this application Ill do the plugs myself. Thanks.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

So I need to transfer all the external marine components.
Great advice from everyone, thanks for the help.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: timing gears

Got the boat running again. I went ahead and reused my original engine since another project is going to need the truck engine. Everyone was right about taking out the engine.
Just an update for everyone that led me in the right direction. Thanks guys.