Mercury Outboard Head Bolt Torque?

[Air Dog]

Going to change my head gasket today.

Can anybody tell me the correct torque for the bolts?

I don't have a manual.

It is a stock 1989 200hp Mercury.

I am using Factory Mercury gaskets.

Serial number is OC212833

Thanks for the help.

[transomstand]

30 lbs, retorque after about an hour run time. My one piece heads have the torque numbers and sequence cast right in the head.

Pete

[Air Dog]

Thanks Pete,

I figured 30lbs and will definately check them after an hour.

Do you know your sequence as well?

Proably the same.

I will check to see if I have anything stamped on them.

--Chris

[transomstand]

I don't have a manual here I can scan, but basically start in the middle and work your way out while crossing from side to side.

Pete

[hsbob]

that it.

[pyro]

Round and round from the center out:

9 10
5 6
1 2
4 3
8 7
12 11

[Air Dog]

Gotta love screamandfly and guys who know what the hell they are talking about.

Thanks for the info and appreciate the quick response.

Off to the hangar to do my first head gasket change.

[Steven]

for me. did the 30 deal and leaked. finally ran it on the hose till it quit, using the correct sequince. maybe close to 40.almost new jsre heads and new gaskets

[mach351]

heads call for 30lbs then 90 degrees in pyro's pattern - Some manuals call for 42lbs - thats how I do mine - in 3 increments (15#, 30#, 42#)

[pyro]

You MUST do them in increments. Like he said. The blue gasket sealer stripe on the gasket will slowly "squish", a little sometimes squishes out of the gap as you torque it, so pull the torque wrench a little slower when you torque them each time to ensure they're fully seated.

[Air Dog]

Well I changed both last night.

Went easier than I thought.

Old gaskets didn't look that bad.

I torqued them to 30 ft/lbs using the sequence outlined by pyro.

Going to run it in a few hours.

Mach 351, What is the 90? Does that mean turn the bolt 90 degrees after reaching 30 lbs?

[transomstand]

Mach 351, What is the 90? Does that mean turn the bolt 90 degrees after reaching 30 lbs?

Yes, seems I ommited that part in my first post

Pete

[mach351]

yeah, 90 degrees after reaching torque of 30lbs. its a common practice in newer autos, i think they call it "torque to yeild"?

[Air Dog]

Just wanted to say thank you to all who had posted.

Put the boat in the water.

Drove it up the river a bit.

Engine sounded very strong until an oil line broke for the injection.

Next thing I knew it shut down and my boating season is over.

Too bad as the engine is in sweet condition.

Do you think I cooked the power head?

[transomstand]

Not real familiar with oil injection. The only place I see it in my shop is in my garbage can. It's supposed to shut the motor off when the oil runs out. Is the motor locked up?

Pete