Connecting Rods - Mercury 40 Service Manual

Thoroughly clean (with solvent) and dry crank-
shaft and crankshaft ball bearings. Recheck sur-
faces of crankshaft. Replace crankshaft if sur-
faces cannot be properly "cleaned up". If
crankshaft will be reused, lubricate surfaces of
crankshaft with light oil to prevent rust. DO NOT
lubricate crankshaft ball bearings at this time.
WARNING
DO NOT spin-dry crankshaft ball bearing with
compressed air.
4-26 - POWERHEAD

Connecting Rods

If necessary, clean connecting rod surfaces as fol-
lows:
Attach end caps to connecting rods. Following
these directions, tighten rod cap attaching bolts to
specifications. Recheck alignment.
Crocus cloth MUST BE USED to clean bearing
surface at crankshaft end of connecting rod. DO
NOT use any other type of abrasive cloth.
Clean crankshaft end of connecting rod by using
crocus cloth placed in a slotted 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) di-
ameter shaft, as shown. Insert shaft in a drill press
and operate press at full speed while keeping con-
necting rod at a 90 angle to slotted shaft.
IMPORTANT: Clean connecting rod just enough
to clean bearing surfaces. DO NOT continue to
clean after marks are removed from bearing sur-
faces.
Clean piston pin end of connecting rod, using
same method as above. Use 320 grit carborun-
PE-51089
dum cloth instead of crocus cloth.
Thoroughly wash connecting rods to remove
abrasive grit. Recheck bearing surfaces of con-
necting rods. Replace any connecting rod that
cannot be properly polished. Lubricate bearing
surfaces of connecting rods which will be reused
with 2 cycle engine oil to prevent rust.
CAUTION
PE-51083
90-852572R1 JANUARY 1998