Engine Alignment?

[Knot Waiting]

I pulled my drive to replace the impeller and decided I should check my engine alignment before reinstalling it. Then I realized I dont know how to use the alignment tool I bought, lol. I can slide it into the drive coupler about 1/2 inch before it stops/binds. I put grease on the end to see where the splines were hitting and every one of them left a mark evenly around the tool. No one spot seems off. What am I to make of this? How far should that tool slide in? I have not tried mounting the drive yet. Thanks for any advice

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Engine Alignment?

1) Once you have the engine height close enough to fully insert the tool without force, then you can start working on setting the proper alignment.

Take your time, getting it close enough to insert the tool the first time can sometimes be the hardest (most frustrating) part.

2) Coat the end section of the tool (the smallest diameter area) with a light coat of grease and then insert it fully into the coupler.

3) Without turning the tool, pull it straight out and look at the depth of the teeth marks in the grease.

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

If the marks in the grease are deeper on the bottom than on the top then your motor is too low.

4) Adjust the engine height accordingly.

5) Keep checking the depth of the marks in the grease until they are equal in depth on top and bottom.

Sometimes as little as 1/8th of a turn on the adjusting nut can be the
difference between being properly aligned, and just having it "close"

Lightly Grease the splines on the shaft with Spline grease prior to assembly.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Engine Alignment?

Yeah, I suppose the drive and engine info would have been helpfull, lol. Forgot to add that. Its an 89 Alpha 1 off a Mercruiser 350.

I got it "close" I think. No matter how I adjusted the engine the depth I could insert the tool didnt change. I set it at a point where the marks on the grease were even in depth and length, then installed the drive.. It slid on with almost no resistance and snuged up well when I torqued the six bolts. Cant test it untill it warms up a little though so Im kinda stuck waiting.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Engine Alignment?

Bubba, I never thought those engines were that popular,Got a pair in my boat .300mph@ 2000rpm. You think I could get 500 with Allison tubo chargers?

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Engine Alignment?

No, but with superchargers and nitromethane fuel you would get close

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine Alignment?

One note here guys. The alignment process is exactly the same on an OMC, Mercruiser, Or Volvo Penta that has a Gimbal bearing and a coupler that you can use an alignment bar on.

KW. If it's been a long time since the drive was off, a lot of hard crusty "Guck" can build up in a coupler.
Many times I have not been able to put the alignment bar in the first time. But had to force it (NO HAMMER) by hand and twist as the "Guck" is cleared out repeat till it goes all the way ino the coupler. This will not happen if it's actually out of alignment, only from old/dried grease build up.
Once the bar is all the way in, then use some grease on the alignment bar. Push it all the way in and pull/twist back out.
NOW, check the alignment as posted by bruce