Re: Removing a stuck piston using grease gun technique
I believe the greasegun adapters are available from several sources. A machinist
friend made the 14mm one I use as well as an 18mm one I have yet to use.
I think same guy that reproduces Mercury Service Tools may be a place to
start looking. Local auto parts store may have or be able to order. They come in pretty handy so I expect they are around. The captions confuse intake and
exhaust ports...don't let that bother you...go by the pictures. Port covers
especially the flat plate over exhaust ports really are needed...easy to
make the flat plate...the curved cut out cover for the intake ports is
not as important as piston usually not stuck far down bore. There is a series
of comments and pictures on JohnsOldMercSite.com of taking a single apart using a press to force piston down bore ...piston was scrap so no harm by use of press and rod thru spark plug hole. As the saying goes "there is more than one way to skin a cat"...learn to think outside the box and use what comes
to hand. On a later project I made up a set of 4 threaded rods to get a stubborn piston out after using greasegun...never hurts to lube the cylinder below the piston prior to using greasegun and/or threaded rod setup.
Given the modular nature of the early Kiekhaefer K Model outboards and provided a donor motor is available it is possible and practical to rebuild
even pretty rough looking old outboards. Worst case you get to add parts to
inventory.
To answer your question can the technique be used on later Mercury (or any
brand) outboards. Good question...depends upon construction of powerhead as
to whether ports can be sealed. If both pistons are stuck or crankshaft is
not free to turn thing may not end well. The greasegun solution works very
well with early K Models with only one stuck cylinder...it may/may not be
the right method for some brands and models. Bear in mind the grease gun
is the big hammer for otherwise mixed metal junk outboards...it often works
well but sometimes another approach is wise.
Louis
