How to slide engine forward to replace flex plate or exhaust pipe. TEST

[Royal Hook]

Start by un-bolting motor mounts, raw water pump, air filter, and bell housing and anything else that will make your job easier, but most things can stay connected. Remove anything under the motor or they will break at some time during this process. Cut 1/2 plywood sheets for rolling base and place on deck. Get your lifting gear in place and lift until mtr. mounts are clear, and roll motor forward. This should give you about four inches between engine and center support which is just enough to remove flex plate or exhaust pipe. Re-install by making 4 guide pins from ground down bolts.Remember to put lock tight on all bolts as there is alot of vibration here.

[grey goose]

Interesting, How old is that boat? Looks like the deck is missing. Why not just set up a lift over the boat and pull the motor up to address all the other things that you may want to look at? whatever works.uh.

[DOGHOUSE26]

The 23's didn't come with a Flush Deck.

[Royal Hook]

Just another way to due the job when NO lift is available. As far as the deck goes, 23's dont have the free board that the 26 has so the motor is not entirely below deck.
Motor was just installed a month earlier after a re-build but developed a bad rattle @ idle and I thought that it may be a loose spring on the flywheel flex plate. Job took me 4.5 hrs to install the new OEM flex plate and this cured my rattles. Flex plate on the right is OEM. I believe the plate on the left is for a gas engine and my boats been re-powered with diesel.
6 months later servicing the out drive bellows I discovered that the exhaust pipe had a rotten hose barb when I removed the S shaped raw water pick up hose. I was able to replace the exhaust pipe using the same method. This job requires that you remove the outdrive to access the 6 center support bolts. Job time 5.5 hrs.