Mercury F8AZ-6108-AA Piston And Pin Assembly

Prior to removing the piston/connecting rod assemblies, remove the cylinder head(s), the oil pan, and the oil pump (on 5.0L engines), remove steps depending on which engine is being overhauled.

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.

Employ a piston ring groove cleaning tool or a section of a broken ring to clear carbon deposits from the ring grooves without damaging the metal.

Clean the connecting rod cap bearing face, remove the protective hoses from the connecting rod bolts, and install the rod cap, ensuring the mating mark on the cap is on the same side as the mark on the connecting rod.