How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

[The Boat]

I am trying to align my outdrive and I am having a heck of a time. Just when I think I have it its wrong. When I move the gimbal bearing just a little it throws the whole thing off again. I can move the gimbal bearing up and down and side to side but it takes allot of force to move it with the alignment bar. Is this normal?

Thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

That would be a Yes. Very tight fit.Your not aligning the gimbal bearing itself. You making sure the engine to shaft alignment is correct.Once your sure it centered, the alignment bar will show in what direction the front of the motor must move.

 

[The Boat]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

But I can get the alignment spot on, then move the gimbal a little and it makes it hard for the shaft to slide in and out again. How do I know that its the engine that needs to move or just align the gimbal?

With a good smack of the alignment bar I can get the spline marks to show up on any side I want.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

You do not turn the gimbal bearing to align the shaft. You center the bearing using the shaft to get the max depth on the bar. If it wont seat fully with simple hand pressure you need to adjust the motor.

 

[The Boat]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

OK, one more question.

The floor in my boat it sagging a little on one side more than the other. Should I keep the engine level with the floor or the gap between the mount and the base the same?

I took my initial measurements from the gap between the mounts, but when I measured from the floor to the top of the mounts they were off approximately 1/8 of an inch.

I then have been measuring from the floor to keep engine level.

Is this procedure correct?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

Not really sure what your asking.Sagging floor/motor mounts????????????
There is no measurement . the motor is adjusted up or down.
Any rotted engine bed stringers will need replacement BEFORE and alignment can be done.
When I have do do mounts and glass I first remove everything thats rotted down to the hull level.Install the motor and rough alignment using a hoist.The engine mounts are adjusted mid-level.I measure from the bottom of the mount to the hull and that is the material that must be added.Remove the engine and glass everything, reinstall the motor and do the final alignment.

 

[The Boat]

Re: How Hard Should The Gimbal Bearing Be To Gimbal?

I just lifted the back of the engine to confirm my rear mounts were installed correctly and they weren't. Well one wasn't.

I glued the fiber washers in before I set the motor down but apparently one of them moved. Half of the spring washer was sitting on top of the fiber washer.

That is what was causing the one side of the motor to sit a little higher and it was also making the alignment darn near impossible. I just set it in the right way and a couple of turns on the mounts and ta-da , its perfect. I can push the alignment bar in with my little finger.

Thanks for all the help.