CableGuy1978
Seaman
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2010
- Messages
- 66
G'day Folks,
Just a quick question regarding engine alignment.
I recently had my motor pulled to do some work on the rear of the engine. Prior to this, the rear engine mount bolts were just a standard bolt with a nylon lock nut and a single steel washer under the head of the bolts. There was nothing between the bell housing and the transom plate.
After pulling the motor, I picked up the proper rear mount kit complete with double wound lock washers and fiber washers. I have installed the mounts as seen in a file from a Mercruiser manual, with the fiber washers and the lock washers on the transom plate. The alignment was perfect before I pulled the engine and I careful to not change the front mount to preserve the alignment. Before removing the engine I checked it with my alignment bar and marked on it how far it was in when it bottomed out in the coupler
So when I put it back together, the alignment is completely out of whack. I have the front of the motor raised almost as high as it will go, and I am able to bottom out the alignment tool, and it doesn't seem to take much force to insert it either. There are more prominent spline marks showing on the top of the bar in the grease which tells me the alignment isn't entirely correct.
It makes sense that adding the extra thickness at the rear would have an effect on the front exponentially, but the front engine mount has been adjusted up by around 2 inches higher than it was before. The adjustment will not allow me to have the spacer, lock washer and the nut to be placed under the front mount as there is no thread left there. for that, I can build up the stringer in the boat itself to allow the bracket to sit higher.
I am leaning towards removing the double wound lock washers from the rear mounts to bring the rear down more. I have been advised though that the fiber washers should be used for shock absorbing.
So my question is, is it a good idea to remove those double washers? Is it actually ok to remove the fiber ones as well? I read in a text somewhere that Merc actually omitted both washers to allow for better rear alignment, but did replace the fiber ones. But I'm pretty sure it was only for a newer style Mercruiser.
Just thought I would drop a line here first before I start turning wrenches again.
Thank you!
Jason
Just a quick question regarding engine alignment.
I recently had my motor pulled to do some work on the rear of the engine. Prior to this, the rear engine mount bolts were just a standard bolt with a nylon lock nut and a single steel washer under the head of the bolts. There was nothing between the bell housing and the transom plate.
After pulling the motor, I picked up the proper rear mount kit complete with double wound lock washers and fiber washers. I have installed the mounts as seen in a file from a Mercruiser manual, with the fiber washers and the lock washers on the transom plate. The alignment was perfect before I pulled the engine and I careful to not change the front mount to preserve the alignment. Before removing the engine I checked it with my alignment bar and marked on it how far it was in when it bottomed out in the coupler
So when I put it back together, the alignment is completely out of whack. I have the front of the motor raised almost as high as it will go, and I am able to bottom out the alignment tool, and it doesn't seem to take much force to insert it either. There are more prominent spline marks showing on the top of the bar in the grease which tells me the alignment isn't entirely correct.
It makes sense that adding the extra thickness at the rear would have an effect on the front exponentially, but the front engine mount has been adjusted up by around 2 inches higher than it was before. The adjustment will not allow me to have the spacer, lock washer and the nut to be placed under the front mount as there is no thread left there. for that, I can build up the stringer in the boat itself to allow the bracket to sit higher.
I am leaning towards removing the double wound lock washers from the rear mounts to bring the rear down more. I have been advised though that the fiber washers should be used for shock absorbing.
So my question is, is it a good idea to remove those double washers? Is it actually ok to remove the fiber ones as well? I read in a text somewhere that Merc actually omitted both washers to allow for better rear alignment, but did replace the fiber ones. But I'm pretty sure it was only for a newer style Mercruiser.
Just thought I would drop a line here first before I start turning wrenches again.
Thank you!
Jason
