Another Alignment Question

[BobMaio]

On my 4.3 Mercruiser, I adjusted the alignment but I am not quite there. I never could get the tool to slip in with no effort like I saw in Dons video. It goes in relatively easily but I need to push it in with my palm. Dons video shows it going in with a push of his pinky. When I tested the alignment at 90, 180 and 270, the tool goes in but with a little more force at the 180 mark. Its not bad, but I could feel the difference. The big concern I have is that I am riding pretty low on the mounting bolt. Almost bottomed out. Can someone explain if that is a problem or why the adjustment is so low. The motor is a 2008 dealer installed and the transom is from 2000. Could that make a difference? Do you think the installer screwed up the install?


As I said in my earlier post, this unit had the outdive installed. In my alignment I lowered the front almost a full inch. I am confused as to how the drive was installed if the alignment was that far off. Is there that much give in the coupler?

 

[telstar1]

Re: Another Alignment Question

My suspicion would be that the back mounts are low, maybe because a washer didnt get put in on engine install. An inch is a lot,but if it lines up(try to get all quadrants the same,ie go a tad lower?)I guess you should try it out. How did it run before?How hard did drive come off? What do coupler splines look like.?Many hours in misaligned condition?Is transom in good shape ie no signs of rot?
Myself Id shove a 1 inch bar into splines,see if it really is centred on gimbal bearing ie aligned.Maybe just maybe youve got it out of whack and the coupler spline wear is allowng the alignment bar to go in anyway.Wiggling the 1 inch bar around while inserted will also tell you how much slop the coupler splines have. Compare to a known good one if possible.

 

[BobMaio]

Re: Another Alignment Question

How did it run before?How hard did drive come off? What do coupler splines look like.?Many hours in misaligned condition?Is transom in good shape ie no signs of rot?

I only had it in the water for 1 hour test run. Ran fine. Original owner said there was only 10 hours on the motor since installed. Not sure how accurate that is since there is no hour meter on boat. Also, transom is solid. When I took the drive off it seemed like it was very tight. Since this was the first time I took a drive off, I didn't suspect anything. Now thinking back, I figure the drive was forced on by the clown that installed the motor. I will inspect the rear mounts to see if they were installed per the manual.

 

[telstar1]

Re: Another Alignment Question

A bit of a chore to check rear mounts. Id start by using a mirror and feeler gauge, measure gap between bell housing and transom plate then compare it to anopther similar unit.If both sides are not the same or are tight together youve likely found the issue imho. I have a 2002 5.0 /alpha 1 I could measure the gap if it helps I think theyd be the same.
Good chance youll be fine the way you are.

 

[jdmac]

Re: Another Alignment Question

There is a spring & washer set up & i beleve a fiberous washer as well between the bell housing & the transom assemblie. These must all be in place & the springs in good shape not broken & the correct length. If this is all good , are you sure your aligment tool did not get dropped?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Another Alignment Question

Are you using grease on your alignment tool? If so where is the spline marks most prominent?

Are you sure you have the gimbal bearing centered?

 

[BobMaio]

Re: Another Alignment Question

Are you using grease on your alignment tool? If so where is the spline marks most prominent?

Are you sure you have the gimbal bearing centered?

The grease reading is: tight from 1 to 5 oclock and tapers off from 6 to 10. The tool is new and never mis-treated. I did the tapping thing a few times with no change. The bearing is the original from the engine install (or maybe before). Its in good shape but I thought about changing it. I need to check the suggestions about the rear mounts when I can get back to the boat. Thanks evryone for trying to help.

 

[telstar1]

Re: Another Alignment Question

Changing gimbal bearing will not change alignment. What I suppose Alpheus may have been referring to is the potential for the gimbal bearing to be skewed in its spherical retainer which points alignment bar off in the wrong direction.If youve read the aligmnment instr. you already know how to deal with this.Tap tap etc.

 

[BobMaio]

Re: Another Alignment Question

A bit of a chore to check rear mounts. Id start by using a mirror and feeler gauge, measure gap between bell housing and transom plate then compare it to anopther similar unit.If both sides are not the same or are tight together youve likely found the issue imho.

Not exactly sure what the measurement is you are suggesting. I did look over the rear mounts and all the parts are there and in the correct order. It could be the fiber washer is worn and thinner throwing the height off. The parts manual shows a shim kit for the rear mounts which be a telling story. Truth is, there is no way I can attack the rear mounts now. I also tried the tap tap suggested with no changes. I am going to attempt to lower the front just a hair more and see if that brings me closer.

 

[telstar1]

Re: Another Alignment Question

I was referring to the gap made by the spring washer and fiber washer, which you have found. Curious how did you tell the spring washer was in place inside the fiber washer? or did you?If the spring washer is missing, or if the rubber bushing in the bell housing is shot, common sense would suggest that the motor would drop a bit-- squash the fiber washer etc. Havent dealt with that situation exactly so cant advise further. Motor wouldnt have to drop by too much at rear for front motor mount to be out an inch-probably around 1/8 inch I d guess which of course is at least the thickness of those fiber washers.
Youre on the right track I think, try and achieve alignment then go boating.

 

[BobMaio]

Re: Another Alignment Question

Curious how did you tell the spring washer was in place inside the fiber washer? or did you?If the spring washer is missing, or if the rubber bushing in the bell housing is shot, common sense would suggest that the motor would drop a bit-- squash the fiber washer etc. Havent dealt with that situation exactly so cant advise further.

By spring washer I assume you mean the double wound lockwasher. And yes you are right I cannot see that but I can see the fiber washer and it looks intack and faily thick. I can also see the spacer, large washer and bolt and they all look like the pictures in the service manual. I am going to lower the front mounts another 1/2 to 1 turn tomorrow and see what that gives me. The gap you mentoned. Is that the distance between the rear engine mount and the inner transom plate mount? That looks like it equates to the thickness of the fiber washer. I think.

 

[telstar1]

Re: Another Alignment Question

Yes that is what I meant. sounds ok I think.

 

[BobMaio]

Re: Another Alignment Question

So I attempted to try the alignment again. Lowered the front a 1/2 then a full turn which made it worse. Brought it back to where I had it. What I don't understand is that the tight marks show up at the 3 oclock position. Not top or bottom like all the posts indicate. So I am not sure what that means. To me it sounds like the engine is off on the right/left plane. Why I don't know. Perhaps the transom mount is bad. As I mentioned in the earlier post, this was a new install. For now I am going with it and see how it runs (when summer returns that is). Next year I will pull the motor and check things out more closly. At that time I will install a new coupler. Thanks again for your help.