Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

[Knot Waiting]

Ive been putzing with my engine alignment for a while now but no matter what I do the alignment tool wont go into the splines more than an inch (visible on the grease). So I tried to put the drive back on. Well it went on but I had to give er' a few good whacks with a rubber mallet to seat it tight. Is that ok? I know i bumped the gimball a few times so that may not have been straight. Just wondering how "easy" the drive should re-install. Thanks.

1988 Mercury Alpha 1 MR - 350

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

It should slide on with ease if the alignment is dead on...unless you used too much grease on the splines.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

All of mine will push on to within a 1/8 inch

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

should slide on to about the thickness of oiring so about1/8m inch
did you have it in forward gear.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

The splines are greased fairly heavy.... it slid on ok up until the last two inches or so.
- yep shes is in full foward - held the prop shaft to keep the shift lever straight too.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Ok, So I went and pulled it back off and tried to install it a second time. It came off pretty easy and slid back on fairly easy with a little gentle wiggling up and down.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

The splines are greased fairly heavy.... it slid on ok up until the last two inches or so.
- yep shes is in full foward - held the prop shaft to keep the shift lever straight too.

Too much grease will fill the voids are create a pocket that will not allow full insertion..Or so I have heard..

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

The bar should slide in all the way with the same amount of pressure, and pull back out easily.
Here are a couple of videos that SHOW how it should be.

EDIT:
Damn, forgot the link:redface:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=382029

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Thanks for all the quick responses guys.

For some reason I cant see the links to the videos you suggested Don.
The bar stops dead and pulls out with about one inch of spline marks on the end. Is that too shallow? The drive seems to go on better (despite my knees getting weaker every time) since the first install.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

The bar stops dead and pulls out with about one inch of spline marks on the end. Is that too shallow?

You aren't even in the ball park for alignment. The step in the alignment bar should be up against the gimbal bearing.

I forgot the link http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=382029

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Sorry to keep bothering ya'll with this but I dont think I understand how to do this....
Although the bar only goes in a little bit it the splines are all evenly placed. Im not sure how to adjust the engine given their length. Also the bar Im using has 3 'steps' before the middle (highest point), is the bar wrong? Why does the drive go on yet the bar stops? Not tryin to sound amatureish but this has got me all turned around. Thank you.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

You can measure the bar drawing is here. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=329915

The marks on the bar are proably heavier on the top or bottom, that is what tells you which way to go. Or, you could still be so far off you need to feel if the bar is going up or down as you push it in.

Also, turn the engine half a revolution and see if the alignment changes.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Ok, so... as usual Don, your right, lol. The marks are (slightly) heavier on the bottom than the top. Also I can feel a little bump as it hit the coupler, hard to tell what way its getting pushed though.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Make sure to grease the 2 orings on the drive shaft pretty well to make them slippery so they slide into the gimble bearing. The first time I did it the alignment bar went in easy and the drive would not go on completely just an inch or so short. Then I pulled the orings off and the drive went completely on like butter. Pulled it back off and greased the ring and it went on easier but needed a little slap of the hand to got it on completely.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

The marks are (slightly) heavier on the bottom than the top

Start raising the front of the motor. Keep equal pressure on both front motor mounts as much as possible.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

mine has 3 diameters the handle ,bearing , coupler .yours sounds different . forgot when puuting drive on the orings on drive shaft might stick a little i just put grease on them, that might be 2" away
but not sure. insert bar into coupler just so it starts then stand behind it like you are taking a leak and grab the bar handle and try to move the bar in a small circle you will feel the bearing move and center itself,then try adjusting engine ,this is not a quick thing so it will take time till you know what you are doing. small adjustments will work best. grease marks heavy on top engine down etc..

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

How about somebody doing a video on this showing the bearing being set. the second video on dons link is preety nice but skips this.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

I agree that a video would be nice. The last one is good but a cross section or better view of the splines would be raucous. I'd make one but... ahh.... Im sweaty, greasy and frustrated right now, not exactly the ideal "how to" host, lol.

Will update after I raise the engine a bit.

Thanks all.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

Well, I raised the front engine mounts by nearly an inch each and am running out of thread. However I have almost no change on the alignment tool. It still goes in the same distance. Ugh, what am I missing?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Drive install.... how tight is too tight?

As I understand how it works, you have three different diameter shafts on the alignment tool: The smallest is sized to fit precisely the diameter of the coupler, the next largest is sized to pass easily through the bearing with room to spare, and is long enough so that the smaller diameter shaft can engage the coupler and slide part way in, the larger diameter shaft is sized to precisely fit in the bearing. If you are going part way into the coupler it means that the shoulder of the largest diameter shaft is hitting the edge of the gimbal bearing and is not slipping through. Two possible reasons this is happening: The gimbal bearing is free to move inside of the bearing holder, if the gimbal bearing is cocked to one side and is not "looking" directly at the coupler, the shoulder will hit, and the bearing must be aligned correctly with the coupler or. The engine is angled so that the coupler is not exactly aligned with the center of the bearing. As I said I think that is how it works, someone correct me if I am wrong. Good luck.