Another alignment problem

[carcraze]

Hi all

Well had a very frustrating day to say the least. I have done some searching and while I find similiar syptoms I do not see a return post to determine the soution.

I have my new boat to me 1988, twin 350, Alpha 1 drives. I have been going through it getting it back into shape. Pulled the drives and started doing the maintenance thing. I pulled the left bell, replaced bellows and shift cable, bearing seemed fine, I was also told it was replaced. Borrowed an alignment tool and can not line up the left drive for nothing. Been all the way up, been all the way down in 1/2 turns. The tool will go in about an inch and that's it. Checked the right drive, tool slid in needed a tweak up and it is all good. Felt inside the coupler and it feels not bad maybe a slight burr on the top of the spline, the drive came off no issue.

The only thing I can come down to is rear mounts, I can not seem to download the manual so I need some advice.

I assume the mounts are rubber in the housing or is it just the washer that collapses or am I missing something else here?

Can they be changed without an engine pull, anyone come up with a creative way to tip the engine forward as I do not have the provisions for an engne pull?

HELP!

Thanks
Mat

 

[180shabah]

Re: Another alignment problem

With twins, can you even get to both sides without pulling the engine?

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Another alignment problem

I had to slide my engine (Mercruiser 5.0) forward on my previous boat to replace a broken bell housing. Procedure is as follows. Remove the front lag bolts. Lay a couple of pieces of 2" x 4" lumber in front of the engine bocks so the engine mounts can slide on them. Slip some pieces of wood under the oil pan to support the rear of the engine. Remove the two rear bolts. Lay a 4" x 4" or a 6" x 6" board across the gunwells (sides of the boat) above the rear of the engine. Using a chain attached to the engine and a come-along, raise the engine slightly. Then use a length of 2" x 4" or a 6' pry bar to lever the engine forward. Replace the washers and then use the pry bar to pry the engine back in place. Line up everything and bolt it down. But before you do that, make sure the gimbal bearing alignment isn't holding you back. Slide the alignment bar in and use it as a lever to move the bearing around - it floats. That should do it, Good luck and let us know how it all works out. Hy

 

[carcraze]

Re: Another alignment problem

This is a 27' Mirage and has surprising room around both motors, so I think I can get to both mounts I have my hands down around both mount sides and can see them fairly well. I have had my head down there but can not really tell if the mount is collapsed. I rotated the gimbal bearing round a few times to try and make sure it was not causing the problem.

The strange part is it always seemed to have heavier marks on the bottom of the tool but I just cannot seem to change anything.

I do not have much height from the gunwells to the engine to get a come-along in there. I will check to see if I can get anthing under the front mounts to get it to slide on. Can the engine just be jacked up at the rear to change these? Not sure if I get under the rear bell though.

What is back there in the housing and the transom mount, is it just the fibre washer and the wound lock washer or is there a set of rubber inserts of some kind that needs to be replaced?

Thanks

 

[carcraze]

Re: Another alignment problem

Well at this point I have an update and will post if this is the problem but I suspect the couper is the issue. The amount the tool goes in is about the same amount the drive would when installed. I could get a very nice alignment for the forst couple inches. After feeling around in there I feel slivers on the coupler spline so my guess is the spline is galled up right at the end where the drive spline would be causing the tool to bind up. The input shaft on the drive looks good so I guess the time is now to change it, hopefully I can find place to pull the motor if not the marina is going to have to take care of it.

If anyone has any input on this theroy or have seen it before chime in please.

Mat