Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

[bspeth]

I can only get myalignment bar in as far as the splines in the enine,and he slightest bit of grease is present on he top of the bar. Does that mean I ned to lower the front of the engine some>-Blair

 

[Walt T]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

yep

 

[alldodge]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I can only get myalignment bar in as far as the splines in the enine,and he slightest bit of grease is present on he top of the bar. Does that mean I ned to lower the front of the engine some>-Blair

Agree with Walt so long as your gimble bearing is not causing alignment offset. If you can move the gimble around and get no more then what you found I agree.

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Blair, Have you given the alignment bar a good tap on the top, bottom and both sides to help 'centre' the gimbal bearing?

Chris....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Maybe tell us a bit more about what you are doing . . . new gimbal bearing? You gotta use the alignment too to pivot the gimbal a bit to it meets the coupler properly.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Gimbal bearing is good, just checking alignment.I have given it a good tap with my palm only and still the same result. The drive came off very easily.Are all mercruiser bars the same?Maybe I have the wrong one? It just seems odd that it would be that far off. I will try to rap on one more.-B

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Gimbal bearing is good, just checking alignment.I have given it a good tap with my palm only and still the same result. The drive came off very easily.Are all mercruiser bars the same?Maybe I have the wrong one? It just seems odd that it would be that far off. I will try to rap on one more.-B

Ayuh,.... It's a 1 size fits All application,...

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

OK so a good rap with my palm up,down,left,and right.Still same results.It just reaches the splines. The top of the bar goes in only 1/8 inch and the bottom not at all.Also what size nuts adjust the engine alignment,and id there a certain style of wrench you guys prefer such as a short one or something?Can the engine be off left to right/right to left?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

OK so a good rap with my palm up,down,left,and right.Still same results.It just reaches the splines. The top of the bar goes in only 1/8 inch and the bottom not at all.Also what size nuts adjust the engine alignment,and id there a certain style of wrench you guys prefer such as a short one or something?Can the engine be off left to right/right to left?

Ayuh,.... I think it's 1, 1/16",... maybe 1, 1/8",.....
just loosen the top nut, 'n use the bottom nuts as jacks, count the wrench flats to stay even,...
Straighten the lockin' tabs 1st, if so equipped,...

port/ starboard is very Rarely the issue, but Hey, anythings possible,...

dependin' on Access,... an end-wrench might work, or ya may need a crow's foot, 'n extensions, 'n wobblies,...

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Ayuh,.... I think it's 1, 1/16",... maybe 1, 1/8",.....
just loosen the top nut, 'n use the bottom nuts as jacks, count the wrench flats to stay even,...
Straighten the lockin' tabs 1st, if so equipped,...

port/ starboard is very Rarely the issue, but Hey, anythings possible,...

dependin' on Access,... an end-wrench might work, or ya may need a crow's foot, 'n extensions, 'n wobblies,...

Here's the spanner I use...

 

[Dshow]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

If you look in there, does it visually look off? You say the outdrive came off easy, does it go back on now?

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Back to the basics, guys (and gals)....

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...utdrives/engine-alignment-how-tos-443992.html

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I have not tried to put it back on.I wanted to align the engine first so I only have to do it once.Still need to pressure test and probably change the input seal.

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I have not tried to put it back on.I wanted to align the engine first so I only have to do it once.Still need to pressure test and probably change the input seal.

Excellent choice.... Get the alignment right, then put the drive on...

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Here is how I did mine, which it sound like was as far off as yours. I put a couple of 2 x 4 screwed together across the gunnels of my boat then placed my car's scissor jack on them and a piece of chain over the jack and connected to the lifting eye on the Thermostat housing. Then I loosened the mount top bolt the front of the engine could be lifted by the scissor jack. This allowed me to get the alignment close, so the bar would at least go in. It helps to have a helper. Then I fine tuned it with the mount bolt a 1/4 turn at a time. Hope my trick helps. As mentioned above sometimes the mounts can be tough to get to. Mine were not great but I was able to get in with my adjustable wrench. The bolt are 1 1/8th. Good luck.

Mike

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Another bit of info I forgot. The splines on the driveshaft look virginous.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Ok heres an update,Im hoping someone will throw me a bone here.I started lowering the front nuts one flat at a time and checked the alignment with my bar each time.I didnt bother with the grease until the 4th or 5th time because the bar just wasn't going in far enough to need it.I could however see the contact marks from the grease already in place at the coupler. I saw a little improvement as the bar would go farther in after each adjustment. I stopped adjusting when the marks showed more on the bottom of the bar.It still only goes into the coupler about 7/8". I turned the engine over in 90 deg. increments to check alignment and the results were this: More marks on bottom(stopped adjustments),turn 90:more marks on top,turn 90:more marks on top,turn 90:same marks top and bottom with only 7/8 sticking into coupler and it is very tight each time and hard to pull out if I stick it in with any force.I turned the nuts 8 flats each.I am at a loss here.Thanks for reading along-Blair

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Wow.... Your drive came out "easy", it is the existing gimbal brng, and you've now adjusted your front mounts (nuts) down 1 and 1/3 turn (8 flats) and cant get the alignment tool to go in.... Something really amiss here.

We may need to just go back to the very very basics and check the rear mounts for proper assembly, then use the rigging point on the front of the motor to adjust up/down until you start homing in on the ability to insert the tool all the way. Just 2 cents here.... Just doesnt make sense if your drive came out as easy as you say it did.... Alignment should have been pretty close at that point, so long as you did not do anything to change it, or to change your gimbal bearing.

Are you sure your tool mic's out to proper specs

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Ok didn't realize that the gimbal had that much play. I returned the mounts to where I started . I put a man size grunt into pivoting the bearing and Ive got my tool bottoming out(uh hu hu).Once the tool is bottomed I assume there is no more adjusting with the bearing,is that correct?Im just going to keep at it until I get it.Let you know how it goes.

 

[84EdH]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

That sounds right. Go back to engine mount adjustment and read grease marks