I have a 1997 7.4L (454) Mercruiser Bravo carbureted engine with a sea water pump. The shaft inside the sea water pump has an offset cam which activates the mechanical fuel pump lever. There is a steel Slip Ring over the offset cam, which apparently acts as a "bearing" on which the fuel pump lever to ride. I'm trying to troubleshoot this offset cam/ Slip Ring. How much "play"/ "slop" is acceptable for this Slip Ring? I trying to determine if the offset cam on the shaft is worn too badly and needs replacing? I used a magnet and can move the Slip Ring approximately 1/16" to 1/8" perpendicular to the shaft/cam surface. Is this too much "play"/ "slop"? I have a factory service manual but it only shows disassembly/ reassembly. It doesn't have any measurement specifications or troubleshooting details.
I purchased a new fuel pump because I lost fuel delivery to the carburetor, and the fuel lines and water separator are not clogged. However, the I'm thinking that the culprit could be a worn sea water pump shaft offset cam which isn't properly activating the mechanical fuel pump lever, or a combination of the two factors - bad fuel pump and worn shaft. Before I reassemble the fuel pump/ sea water pump I'm trying to determine if I need go go ahead and rebuild the sea water pump with a new shaft?
I purchased a new fuel pump because I lost fuel delivery to the carburetor, and the fuel lines and water separator are not clogged. However, the I'm thinking that the culprit could be a worn sea water pump shaft offset cam which isn't properly activating the mechanical fuel pump lever, or a combination of the two factors - bad fuel pump and worn shaft. Before I reassemble the fuel pump/ sea water pump I'm trying to determine if I need go go ahead and rebuild the sea water pump with a new shaft?
