Re: Changing fan belt?
My boat is a 1989 Glastron Sierra 165s with a 3.0l mercruiser. I need to change the fan belt as I am getting a black deposit on my flame arrester. The belt itself is starting to show a black powder on it. My problem is that to change the belt, I have to remove or loosen four mounting bolts up front on the engine block. I am concerned I may knock something out of line doing so. Is this possible or will everything fall back into place when I am finished. Looks like I have to remove two of the four bolts and loosen up the other two on the opposite side of the alternator. Thanks for the help....
Howdy,
You have a "Fan" on that thing? This is a boat, right?
It
MAY fall back into place. BUT if it doesn't, or isn't back in place, you
could knock engine/drive out of alignment......AND coupler failure would eventually be the result, requiring engine removal to replace it. If it's IN alignment it should stay in alignment using the above Mercruiser procedure........
In general, you should check the alignment anytime you disturb the engine mounts..... AND Mercruiser recommends checking the alignment every year anyway since engine mounts, stringers, etc get rotten and they "move"........... you should also remove the drive yearly to inspect the gimbal bearing, bellows (and the alignment) etc.
For your boat, if you don't have one, I would buy a $40-60 "ebay" alignment tool and learn how to check/adjust the alignment.
ymmv.......
Rick
