Trying to align motor, have a questions

[Mkos1980]

were installing an Alpha 1 Gen 1 to a SBC (1990) I have the marks lined up perfectly on the bar but in order to insert the bar I have to lift up the back of the bar a tad in to slide it in. If I just slide it in the gimbal with the weight of the bar in the back it wont go in but it lift up the back of the bar a hair it slides in with ease. Normal? Or do I have bad gimbal? Bearing is super smooth when moved by hand and there is a only a little movement. Thoughts?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

Ayuh,... Sounds like you need to adjust the gimbel bearing in it's Gimbel a tad....

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

How do I do that? lol. Its origional from 1990 . Boat and engine have under 200 hours on it. It was barely used.

 

[danond]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

You can get the bearing to move by tapping the alignment tool with a dead blow hammer while it's inserted in the bearing. Whack, test, whack, test.

I had to do this with mine after a transom/stringer overhaul. Once it was in the right place, adjustment went fine.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

How would tapping the alignment tool move the bearing when the whole bar slides though the center?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

Ayuh,... The Bearing itself is Gimbeled....

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

Well I think I got everything in order. But with the gimbal being 20 years old, I'm going to replace it anyways for good measure. My fathers friend is a certified MerCruiser Tech at one of the reputable Cleveland Marina so hes going to do it Wednesday on his spare time and also align it. I cant afford to shred my coupler. I usually do everything myself but when I dont trust my work its time to let a pro do it lol.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Trying to align motor, have a questions

Well I got the new Quicksilver bearing installed yesterday. Mechanic said my old gimbal still looked good. We had to raise the motor one turn to get the bar in now. It seems to go in further. Tighter but not too tight. Sound normal when having a new gimbal?