[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spareparts

first off, on a merc, you don't screw the crankshaft nut off before fitting the lifting eye, it goes on with out removing the crank nut. You might get a surprise. On OMC's , they use the three bolts in the flywheel to lift the engine, I have a lifting plate that bolts up using the three threaded bolt holes. You can make a lifting plat by using the plate of a three bolt puller and a bolt thru the center to attach a chain. I've lifted some OMC's with two bolts and some chain, I didn't like doing it that way, but we got it lifted with out incident. I was always worried about the bolts breaking off because of the uneven force of just two bolts. We picked a Honda 90 up the other day using a strap wrapped around the underside of the steering bracket, probably not the safest way to do it, but we got it done

Whups... Spare is 100% correct... It's been years since I used it and I should have looked at my device closer. The Mercury lifting device is a two function item with inside and outside threads. You use it to either lift the entire engine or, with the crankshaft nut removed it becomes a jacking tool to remove the flywheel. In all cases, I see by the replies that the proper(?) way to lift the Johnson is to use the threaded holes in the flywheel. I'm thinking that if/when I have to take mine off I'll make up a lifting plate on the lathe, then use transfer screws in the flywheel holes to locate the holes.