Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Got the tool to go in just like Frisco. However when I turn the engine over 90 deg. the tool does not go in easy.Is it necessary to pivot the bearing each and every time you check or only at the start.Here is how it sits: start-just like frisco,turn 90-hard to push in but it does bottom,turn 90-hard to push in but it does bottom,turn 90- goes in all the way with just a little drag.I have raised the engine 10 nut flats at this point which kinda makes sense that the mounts would have squished over the years,but not why the drive came off easy.Has anybody else had to make such drastic adjustments as well? Done for the day,gotta make dinner and have a beer.Will pick up with any suggestions tomorrow.Man I would love to get this off my plate!Thanks again-Blair

 

[84EdH]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

no, you should not have to try to fine tune the gimble bearing. at this point it is set. make small adjustments to the mount nuts (even 1/8th turns to try and get even insert/remove as best you can. for instance if you have super easy movement of bar with a mark at 12o, then rotate mark to 6:00 and find more resistance, adjust the mount so the 6:00 position is a little better, then rotate back to 12:00 and see if you have maybe a little less ease of movement, but not too much. think of it as balancing the alignment by spreading out the error the best you can. then..........

once you have done this, you want to make sure both bottom nuts are carrying the same weight. tighten the top mount nut on the front mounts. if the alignment changes (evidenced by the bar showing more or less resistance), loosen the top nut and adjust just one of the bottom nuts a slight bit. re-tighten the top nuts, check again and see if alignment bar movement improves. trial and error. grease marks don't really count at this point. I had the issue of 90 degree turns and differing align. bar movement and it straightened out to near perfect when I did procedure to test equal weight being spread between two front mounts.

the reason this works is that if one side mount is lower than the other, the engine will sit slight cocked. when you tighten the top nuts, it will pull the engine mount down on the mount side that is too low. its possible the coupler is warped a bit and do this, but that is found to be pretty rare. needles to say, if you have a buddy to stick the alignment bar in, while you adjust nuts, it makes the job wayyyyyyyyy easier. I climbed in and out of my boat at least 40 times doing my boat working alone! good luck

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

that's exactly what I decided to do,im back at it.once I get it in between I will torque down tomorrow,this ish is killing me.-B

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

So here are the results: 12 oclock goes in like butter with a little more splines showing on the bottom. 3 oclock goes in almost like butter with a pretty even spline pattern. 6 oclock goes just a touch snug but I can pull it out with one hand and more splines showing at the top. 9 oclock goes in a little snug with more splines showing at the bottom. I balanced it out the best I could but only 12 and 3 goes in like Friscos.What do yall think on this one?Ive only got about 12 hours in it.:facepalm:

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Sounds like a starter.... :thumb:

 

[84EdH]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I would tighten top nuts now and then see if the alignment bar moves the same. Again, if both BOTTOM nuts are lifting same weight alignment WONT change when top nuts tightened. If it changes, adjust bottom nuts until tightening top nuts does not change alignment. Then make fine tune adjustments to get all 4 quads as equal as you can, with careful turns of lower nuts EQUALLY to insure they stay at equal lift positions. Once you have got it as close as you can, your done. Frisco thought he was done, messed with it some more and got it perfect. So did I. Ihave read on this forum by experienced moderators that a tad of resistance in one or two quads is acceptable. Like Chris said ONLY twelve hours?

Final perfect alingment is ease of movement of bar not grease marks. When you are really close how you pull the bar out can effect grease patterns and I believe less reliable.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

Just need to tighten the top nuts.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

got it as close s I can.6 oclock goes in a little tougher than any other position,but I can push it n without beating it in.I appreciate all of the advice,moving on.-B

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

got it as close s I can.6 oclock goes in a little tougher than any other position,but I can push it n without beating it in.I appreciate all of the advice,moving on.-B

Just curious, have you watched the video in the stickies of engine alignment?

Checking alignment

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I did watch the vid,but to start with I started making adjustments before my gimbal bearing was square to the coupler.I did not think I could get that much play from it.When I did jar it enough to get my bar in all the way the light went on.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

messed with it more(with a buddy in the boat) although it is not 100% butter,I am 100% confident that the alignment will not damage the coupler.Thanks again,I am at piece with the procedure.When the light goes on,the light goes on.Also replaced the water pickup hose and exhaust bellows.Good day in the boat.Thanks again everyone!-B
where should I post my pic of my homemade bellows expansion tool?

 

[84EdH]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I know you meant "at peace" with the procedure, its just the other spelling brings to mind whatever is going to break next ! Kidding aside, good job !

start a thread in this forum titled "home made expansion tool" and post it there. if its a good one, people can search under that title and find your idea, instead of it being buried in a thread under another title.

 

[achris]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

I know you meant "at peace" with the procedure, its just the other spelling brings to mind whatever is going to break next ! Kidding aside, good job !

Yeah, I saw that too... Thought it was just a Freudian slip....

start a thread in this forum titled "home made expansion tool" and post it there. if its a good one, people can search under that title and find your idea, instead of it being buried in a thread under another title.

I made one a while back, used this post...

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser.../bellows-install-tool-538527.html#post3687321

Works perfectly, cost about $3 and a couple of hours... (I guess it helps having welding machines and a plasm cutter at home... )

Chris........

 

[bspeth]

Re: Alignment bar does not go into engine splines

The wifes not home yet. The beer is however.Thanks for all of the encouragement.