Gimbal Bearing Alignment

[boatingedge]

Hey guys. I just replaced my gimbal bearing and am having a hard time getting it aligned to the coupler. I can only get the alignment tool into the engine coupler about a half inch before it binds. Looking at the tool from a few feet away, the tool looks like it is slanted slightly to the port side. I have read in these forums that you need to move the gimbal bearing to line it up. My question is, how hard should you hit the alignment tool to straighten out the gimbal bearing. I have tapped it lightly with a rubber mallet using the up, down, left, right techinque without success.

As a side note, I have also adjusted the front engine mounts, but I don't think that is what is causing the binding. I think it has to do with gimbal not being lined up straight. Also, the splines on the outdrive seem to be in good shape and the outdrive came off easily so I don't think the coupler is bad.

Boat is 1994 5.0L Mercruiser v-8 with an Alpha Gen II.
Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

Put a coating of grease on the alignment tool. When you pull it out the grease will be scraped off the tool on the side that is binding.

If the teeth marks in the grease are deep on the top side and shallow on the bottom side of the tool, the front of your motor is too high.


Don't hit the alignment tool with anything. it will slide right in when the alignment is right.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

It's always necessary to realign the gimbal bearing center when you first install it.
Put the alignment bar into the gimbal bearing and as far into the coupler as possible. Then tap the alignment bar side to side and up and down with a rubber mallet (NOTE: I said tap, not whale the begeebees out of it)
Twist the bar and push it in some and tap again.
Do all this BEFORE moving the engine when possible. If not, you just have to move the engine and adjust the bearing till it all works right.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

If you have the aligment shaft 1/2" into the coupler, the bearing center is aligned well enough. You now have to align the engine.

 

[rad1026]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

I am also reinstalling my outdrive Alpha 1 gen 1, and using an alignment tool for the first time. When I place a thin layer of grease on the tool and insert it, it goes in fairly easily. When I remove the tool there is just a small displacement of the grease on the bottom of the tool. No teeth marks at all. I am sure the tool is going in all the way, I can feel it inserting and hitting the next flange of the tool. I am wondering if I am doing this right. How come there are no teeth marks? Thanks!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

Could be that is aligned pretty well already.

 

[boatingedge]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Alignment

Thanks for the help!