Alignment Tool

[bigskiohio]

Re: Alignment Tool

Not to screw with you but it is possible for motor to be in the right position and the gimble gets moved and then shaft wont go in then you are confused for awhile,dont ask how i know that. Once you get it you will understand but i am afraid this is one of those light bulb moments. remember it is like a eyeball and you want it to look straight to start then you tilt engine to line up. Once you get close it is small turns to get it right.

 

[PigPen4x4]

Re: Alignment Tool

It actually sounds similar to when I started working on my Pachanga.
When I pulled the drive, I was SHOCKED to find it had no gimble bearing!
I finished the engine O/H, replaced the boots, hose Etc. installed a bearing and when I inserted the alignment tool, WHAP! It stopped sharply without trying to enter the spline. Long story short, I had to work on getting the rear of the engine aligned, then I could align the front. The grease on the end of the tool told me which way to go.
PP4x4

 

[lighthousealarms]

Re: Alignment Tool

OK, lots of information. I will go out and give the visual inspection a look to see how close it looks. Then I will try the grease on the end of the tool trick and see where on the coupler the grease appears to see how far it is off and try moving the bearing in the direction needed. I really do appreciate all the help.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alignment Tool

see how far it is off and try moving the bearing in the direction needed.

I'm sure all this talk of adjusting the gimbal bearing, etc has gotten you frustrated and confused. Unfortunately, this is one of those "you can't understand it till you do it" things.

Basically, with the gimbal bearing - you are wanting to "set" it, not "adjust" it. There is no adjustment of the gimbel bearing - it simply needs to be set correctly. Then you adjust the alignment of the engine.

As described above, you want to get things relatively close - which you can do by eyeball. Then once you can get it close enough that the bar will at least begin to enter the coupler, you will want to smack the end of the alignment bar sideways - left and right, up and down -- 90 degree increments. This "sets" the gimbal bearing. Then it is simply a matter of adjusting the front of the engine either up or down to get the bar to go into the coupler smoothly and easily.


Piece of cake!

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Alignment Tool

If it's so far out of adjustment that you can't get the tool in, then you need to get it closer (to adjustment).

Just get a small torch (flashlight for you yanks ) and look in and see the coupler... Adjust the engine up or down so it looks close to alignment... That is your starting point... You can get it pretty close visually...


Chris........

You've done a lot of alignments, my friend. I have told people about eyeballing it first and they look at me like I'm nuts.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Alignment Tool

Was it difficult to get the outdrive off, or did it slide out easily? The first time I pulled my drive, it was very difficult to get it off. The tool did the same thing as yours, and with the tool slid in as far as it could go, I had to tap the sides of the bar at the end to "bump" the gimbal bearing enough to even get it close (the bearing does not need to move much). Then, after adjusting the front engine mounts, it eventually got so the tool could slide in and out easily (still snug, but not binding).

What it troublesome is that you measured and determined that the diameter of the receiving splines too small. Maybe check again, or just start fiddling with it as described by the others. I thick they are all the same size.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Alignment Tool

when the engine is aligned the bar should go in with little force,push in with finger tips,if not you aren't done.

 

[hoot]

Re: Alignment Tool

"I had assumed that the bearing was rigid and centered in the bell housing to keep the drive shaft aligned with the outdrive, since they bolt together"

lha, the gimbal bearing isn't like a typical bearing with outer and inner races that are stationary. the inner ring of the gimbal bearing pivots inside the outer ring. it takes some force to make it move, don't think you can do it by hand, need a bar for leverage. and it pivots or gimbals in all directions.

 

[series60]

Alignment Tool

Can someone tell me how far into the engine coupling splines the alignment tool extends inside the splines themselves? I can only get mine in about 1/2 - 5/8 " into the splines before the tool bottoms out on something. 1984 Mercruiser 305 with Alpha 1.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alignment Tool

Ayuh,... The Shoulder, closest your hand, will Bottom out on the gimbel bearing...
The smallest end of the bar will be about 2" into the coupler...