Author Topic: Mercruiser 140 rebuild  (Read 47481 times)

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Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #40 on: April 01, 2014, 10:13:59 PM »
Assembly has started! Crank shaft is installed and I got the piston ring gaps checked, so the pistons will get installed tomorrow night! Sorry no pics, I will post some tomorrow after the work is done.
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Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #41 on: April 02, 2014, 09:27:40 PM »
Buckets are installed, forgot to read my book for the first two and discovered I had one installed backwards so had to remove and reinstall. and there was a couple other hiccups along the way that I'm not going to mention. All I can say is it was nice to have a second set of eyes tonight, Travis came over to help and he was a lifesaver.

I do have a couple questions though for those of you who have done builds before. On the oil pump is it recommended to prime the pump before installation. Also on the lifters would it be wise to use the pre assembly lube or to soak them in the oil I'm going to use for break in.
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Offline Plugcheck

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #42 on: April 02, 2014, 11:26:40 PM »
     Buckets?   Can I assume your talking seats?  Cant think of anything on an engine that I refer to as a bucket but I'm always open to learn something new.   As for the oil pump, I would assemble with a bit of assembly lube or light grease.   I'm assuming that when you have the engine ready, you will prime the oil system with a drill(distrib out).   The lube protects the close tolerance gears and plate from initial wear and helps to develop a bit of suction to pull up oil.  Lifters, insure that you use a good cam lube on the faces, but as for oiling, I generally soak them overnight and give a quick purge with an old pushrod before installation.  A cutoff antifreeze container bottom is the perfect size.  Helps them pump up quickly when the engine is first started.   I always set the lash again after first heat soak just to be sure, so initially my valve covers are installed finger tight only.   Sounds like your rolling,  it will be good to see Phoenix at Rathbun again.
Michael
1979 CVZ-18 388 CI Vortec Mouse
1980 CVX-16SS 140 Mercruiser
1979 CVX-16 Johnson 175
2002 Bennington 2275CC 90 Mercury
1985 Intimidator project
1989 Lowe 200 Redneck fishin Toon
2001 Godfrey Sweetwater pontoon 115 Rude

Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #43 on: April 02, 2014, 11:30:02 PM »
Buckets = Pistons sorry, saw it on another forum when I was doing research. :-D
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Offline Jerry

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #44 on: April 03, 2014, 01:03:16 AM »
Always called them Buckets. I always use 50-50 oil and STP for assembly.  Fill the pump and filter with oil, or spin the pump with a 1/2"drill until you have pressure.
'72 Glastron GT160 Sport - Okie-Dokie
'63 Winner - Grandpa's Fisn-Bote
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Offline kert0307

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #45 on: April 03, 2014, 09:02:50 AM »
Good to see it's coming together! I remember from a thread somewhere you were talking about different valve covers for it, but I don't remember what style you were looking for. I was looking through my pile o parts and found this. If you want it you can have it for free at Rathbun.


Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #46 on: April 03, 2014, 12:33:35 PM »
Good to see it's coming together! I remember from a thread somewhere you were talking about different valve covers for it, but I don't remember what style you were looking for. I was looking through my pile o parts and found this. If you want it you can have it for free at Rathbun.



It was actually a different push rod cover, which I got from Jason. I would take it, it is always good to have spare parts especially when its free!
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Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #47 on: April 03, 2014, 09:44:20 PM »
Finished up the bottom end of the build tonight, my father came over to help. Had to make a couple trips out to work to get the correct length of bolts but it all came together great!

E





Oh yeah it is a good thing to be building the engine this week the weather has been crappy and it is snowing now.


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Offline Plugcheck

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #48 on: April 04, 2014, 12:31:49 AM »
     Buckets = Pistons, that's a new one on me.   Hoping that when you stated you had to find correct length bolts, you were considering bolts for other than main caps.  Were/are your pistons marked with an arrow pointing towards the flywheel?  Looks like your making good progress although with the weather it might be some time before installation takes place.   Call me if you get stuck on something.
Michael
1979 CVZ-18 388 CI Vortec Mouse
1980 CVX-16SS 140 Mercruiser
1979 CVX-16 Johnson 175
2002 Bennington 2275CC 90 Mercury
1985 Intimidator project
1989 Lowe 200 Redneck fishin Toon
2001 Godfrey Sweetwater pontoon 115 Rude

Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #49 on: April 04, 2014, 08:07:48 AM »
     Buckets = Pistons, that's a new one on me.   Hoping that when you stated you had to find correct length bolts, you were considering bolts for other than main caps.  Were/are your pistons marked with an arrow pointing towards the flywheel?  Looks like your making good progress although with the weather it might be some time before installation takes place.   Call me if you get stuck on something.

The bolts were for the oil pan, and the Pistons were marked with a circle and that needed to be installed towards the front of the engine per my manual. Saturday and Sunday will be head installation and putting together the top end. But i wont be able compete the engine, I forgot to order a gasket set to put the manifold back together. 
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Offline Jason

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #50 on: April 04, 2014, 09:45:56 AM »
looking good. I never hard piston's being called buckets either.....

Didn't realize these engines didn't use a timing chain and just had gears. Interesting.
Jason S.
1974 Glastron Carlson CV16SS 140 I/O
1986 Glastron Carlson CV23 260 I/O

Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #51 on: April 04, 2014, 09:56:54 AM »

Didn't realize these engines didn't use a timing chain and just had gears. Interesting.

neither did I until I tore this one down. Just a thought for you Jason or anyone else that has a 120 or 140, you might want to check the timing gears. The original cam gear is made of fiber teeth that can strip with a steal center. I had found several postings on iboats where people had to be towed in because of this issue, and then had to have head work done on top of it when it was taken in for repair.
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Offline Jerry

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #52 on: April 04, 2014, 03:31:40 PM »
I think "Buckets" might be an old racers slang, I know it goes back to the 50s and 60s, You kids don't remember the good old days.
'72 Glastron GT160 Sport - Okie-Dokie
'63 Winner - Grandpa's Fisn-Bote
'63 Glasspar SeaFair Sunliner - Mischief Maker

Offline Plugcheck

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #53 on: April 05, 2014, 11:46:40 AM »
    Piston orientation is definitely important so its very good you caught it before buttoning it all up.   The pin is offset from the thrust side of the piston.   We purposely did this on a formula V engine years ago, and it did make a small increase in power, but it knocked badly enough that the sound alone prompted us to not do it again.   2 Stroke engines really do not tolerate this at all, at least 250cc-400cc engines that I've worked with, maybe marine outboards are similar.    You could always do a quick leak down test without the intake attached to obtain a baseline leakdown.   It should not be above 10-15% on any cylinder even with new, not broken in, rings.   After break-in, this value should be 5% or less dependent upon the rings and pistons used.   Hope to see her humming in a video soon, nice weather is quickly upon us, and I feel so far behind now.
Michael
1979 CVZ-18 388 CI Vortec Mouse
1980 CVX-16SS 140 Mercruiser
1979 CVX-16 Johnson 175
2002 Bennington 2275CC 90 Mercury
1985 Intimidator project
1989 Lowe 200 Redneck fishin Toon
2001 Godfrey Sweetwater pontoon 115 Rude

Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #54 on: April 05, 2014, 11:55:57 AM »
Same here Mike, I feel like I am running in circles at the moment with every thing I have going on. I am just ready for a break!
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Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #55 on: April 05, 2014, 07:39:02 PM »
Top side almost finished, want to paint the block before I put the harmonic balancer on.  right now the plan is to paint the valve cover and push rod cover separately from the rest so I can do the detail work I want to on them. Discovered i am missing another gasket so had to order that today, so now the little things are just dragging things out.




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Offline MarkS

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #56 on: April 06, 2014, 04:15:26 AM »
Coming down the home stretch now Brandon, looking good buddy! 
Mark
1978 SSV-176

Offline Plugcheck

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #57 on: April 06, 2014, 08:53:13 AM »
     Looks great Brandon.  Remember to put the valve cover on finger tight for break in, since you will need to set the rockers again once the lifters pump up.   I'm assuming hydraulic lifters, correct?  At your rate of progress, you should be able to water test within the  month.  Looks like you also going electric fuel pump?

PS.   Those pushrods have got to be the longest ones I've seen on an engine, add fletching and sharpen a tip and ya got a crossbow bolt.  He He.
Michael
1979 CVZ-18 388 CI Vortec Mouse
1980 CVX-16SS 140 Mercruiser
1979 CVX-16 Johnson 175
2002 Bennington 2275CC 90 Mercury
1985 Intimidator project
1989 Lowe 200 Redneck fishin Toon
2001 Godfrey Sweetwater pontoon 115 Rude

Offline Retro Performance

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #58 on: April 06, 2014, 09:03:29 AM »
Great progress......I think we used to call pistons  cans......and when we finished a motor we said "lets light the mill"  then again could just be my old memory again???  At any rate the project looks great

Offline 75starflight

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Re: Mercruiser 140 rebuild
« Reply #59 on: April 06, 2014, 10:42:44 AM »
Thanks Don and Mike.

 Lifters are hydraulic, I gave them an oil bath for a couple days and pumped them up with an old pushrod like you suggested Mike. I am actually shooting for a water test either the last weekend in April or the first week of May. I hope we can get a couple decent days with out wind soon so I feel like getting the 120 out of Phoenix, put in the new gimbal bearing, and install the transom plate with the power steering.
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