Front engine mount. 1970 140Hp 4cyl

K Hultgre

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
306
The front engine mount is in three pieces one piece bolts to the engine, another bolts to a stringer with the large bolt going between the two. What is puzzling me is why the motor appears to float, i.e. the top and bottom nut do not contact the mount bolted to the engine. Doesn't this place undue strain on the transom and if it needs to be adjusted what is the proper method?
 

Buttanic

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 25, 2003
Messages
711
Re: Front engine mount. 1970 140Hp 4cyl

If you are talking about a Mercruiser the bottom nut is to jack the front of the engine up or down to get it in alignment with the outdrive drive shaft. The top nut locks the mount in place. If both nuts are loose it sounds like you need to pull the out drive and use the alignment tool that goes through the gimble bearing and into the engine coupler to align the engine then tighten down the top nut. If the alignment is out it may be difficult to pull the outdrive. You may need to use the lower nut to jack up the engine until alignment is close enough to allow the drive shaft to slide out of the engine coupling. <br /><br />Buttanic
 

K Hultgre

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
306
Re: Front engine mount. 1970 140Hp 4cyl

Thanks, thats what I thought. It has been this way ever since I bought the boat 10+ yrs. I had pulled the outdrive a couple year back and had no difficulties pulling and reinstalling. Could these have loosened themselves in the 20 years prior to my purchase?
 

tylerin

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,368
Re: Front engine mount. 1970 140Hp 4cyl

Kevin, Like Buttanic said you need to remove the drive, and w/ an alignment tool realign the motor. If its loose you don't know where its at. You may have compromised the gimbal bearing if the motors bouncing around, so check it. It could have losened over the years or someone realigned it and didn't tighten it good.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Front engine mount. 1970 140Hp 4cyl

hello<br /> the gimbal bearing wont suffer from the strain. if lubed properly it will tolerate some misalighnment. however the shaft coupler has aluminium splines and wont tolerate much misalignment. pull the drive and recheck alignment.<br /> good luck and keep posting.<br /> PS the couplers are getting very expensive
 
Top