Mercury 2L2Z-6108-MA Piston And Pin Assembly

Remove the bearing insert and push the connecting rod/piston assembly out through the top of the engine. Use a wooden or plastic hammer handle to push on the upper bearing surface in the connecting rod. If resistance is felt, double-check to make sure that all of the ridge was removed from the cylinder.

Use your fingernail to feel if a ridge has formed at the upper limit of ring travel, which is about 1/4-inch down from the top of each cylinder. If ridges are present due to carbon deposits or cylinder wear, they must be completely removed with a special tool called a ridge reamer before removing the pistons. Do not let it cut into the ring travel area more than 1/32-inch.

Lay a piece of Plastigage on the number one connecting rod journal, install the rod cap, and then remove it to compare the width of the crushed Plastigage to the scale printed on the Plastigage envelope.

Clean the back side of the new upper bearing insert, lay it in place in the connecting rod, and make sure the tab on the bearing fits into the recess in the rod. Do not hammer the bearing insert into place and do not lubricate the bearing at this time.