MERCURY MARK 55 TIMING BELT INSTALLATION

[jrm80]

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK IF ANYONE KNOWS OF AN EASY WAY TO INSTALL THE TIMING BELT ON A MARK 55. I’VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES NOW AND EACH TIME IS A STRUGGLE. THE STATOR MUST BE ON BEFORE THE FLYWHEEL CAN BE INSTALLED AND OF COURSE, THE TIMING BELT MUST GO ON BEFORE THE STATOR. IT’S A FAIRLY CLOSE FIT TO GET THE BELT AROUND THE FLYWHEEL PULLEY MADE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE FLYWHEEL MAGNETS WANT TO PULL THE FLYWHEEL INTO THE STATOR. IT CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE AND I JUST WONDER IF ANYONE HAS COME UP WITH A WORK AROUND FOR THIS PROBLEM.

[John Schubert]

just install the pulley around the pulley cogs on the flywheel & then drop the flywheel down over the crankshaft making sure the belt clears through the slots in the upper bearing carrier. Then with the arrow on the distributor aligned with the correct marking on the flywheel, align the belt over the appropriate grove in the distributor pulley & turn the flywheel until the belt is in place on the distributor pulley.

[jrm80]

THANK YOU FOR THE REPLY. I HAVE AVOIDED INSTALLING IT THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE BELTS SHOULD NOT BE CRIMPED OR TWISTED EXCESSIVELY. IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE BELT AS YOU INDICATE, IT REQUIRES A VERY SHARP BEND AND TWISTING MANEUVER THAT I FEAR COULD TEAR THE CORDS OF THE BELT. IT HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE BEFORE THE STATOR IS INSTALLED (MINE IS AN ELECTRIC START) AND THAT REALLY LIMITS HOW MUCH THE BELT CAN BE FLEXED. IF THE STATOR WERE NOT IN PLACE, IT WOULD BE AN EASY JOB, BUT WITH IT TO CONTEND WITH, THE JOB BECOMES MUCH HARDER. MAYBE THE BETTER QUESTION IS: AM I CORRECT IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRIMPING AND TWISTING ISSUE WITH THESE BELTS? IF THEY CAN TAKE THE ABUSE, I CAN DO IT AS YOU DESCRIBE AND SAVE MYSELF THE GRIEF. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS.

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