Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

[bart98stang]

Greetings all!! I'm having a heck of a time trying to align my motor and outdrive. I'm using the Mercruiser manual and other resources from iboats and other websites for assistance. I'm unable to insert the alignment tool all of the way into the gimbal bearing due to the head of the tool coming in contact with the coupler so I'm unable to verify the bearing is straight by tapping the tool on top, bottom, and both sides. I'm not sure if it's my vision messing with me but it seems that the tool is cockeyed when inserted into the drive as far as I can get it. Also, there is no room for a inspection mirror to see where the tool is making contact with the coupler. I've moved the motor up and down with a helper and maybe 3/4 turn increments of the alignment nuts and this tool will not go into the coupler. Is there any other tricks I can try? I'm really starting to lose my patience over this and I really don't want to take my boat to a Mercruiser dealer and have them charge me $95.00/hr. Thanks!!!!!

 

[rpaldrich]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

Bart--I'm having the same issue. I haven't tried moving my motor yet, but I sure don't know how the outdrive shaft made it into coupler with it being so out of alignment. Here is how I think I've found out where the alignment bar is making contact:

Clean off the end of bar very well, than carefully insert bar into back of boat. Be careful not to rub the bar at all on the sides of bellows or back of gimbal bearing. When the bar stops moving, tap it lightly, than pull it straight out being just as careful. Look at the end of the alignment bar for a line that hopefully will show you where it is contacting. If your coupler was greasy enough it should transfer onto the bar where it was hitting.

But how about some other opinions/ideas? Does an engine this far out of alignment need to moved at the rear motor mounts or just have the gimbal bearing set again?

 

[Don S]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

Move the alignment bar around along with the inner portion of the gimbal bearing until the alignment bar goes in.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

It sounds like you are trying to move the engine to align with the bearing, if so you are going about it incorrectly. The gimbal bearing has a rounded outer shell that allows it to move freely inside of its housing, so you can change the angle of the bearing to align it with the opening in the coupler (hence the gimbal part of the name). If you are hitting the edges of the coupler, you need to use the tool to change the angle of the bearing so that it aligns precisely with the coupler opening. The reason that it did not line up correctly is that you probably put some pressure on the bearing (with the driveshaft) when you pulled the outdrive and the bearing position (angle with respect to the coupler) changed and you just need to realign it with the tool, as Don says. BTW adjusting the motor mount 3/4 turn at a time is probably way too much.
Here is what the bearing looks like in a great photo from 300sflyer.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

Does an engine this far out of alignment need to moved at the rear motor mounts or just have the gimbal bearing set again?

NO! YES, that is why you have a GIMBAL bearing. The gimbal allows the bearing to move so that the drivrshaft (or tool) can be precisely alined with the exact center of the coupler without changing the rear mounts.

 

[rpaldrich]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

NO! YES, that is you have a GIMBAL bearing. The gimbal allows the bearing to move so that the drivrshaft (or tool) can be precisely alined with the exact center of the coupler without changing the rear mounts.

Ahhh. I never thought about why it was called a gimbal bearing. I got my Bearing moved so I can get my alignment bar into the coupler...it's real tight though. How precise does the gimbal bearing need to be before I start adjusting front motor mounts?

Bart, this is what I did: put alignment bar in as far as it would go. Get inside boat and feel in space between alignment bar and coupler with finger. This lets you feel if alignment bar is off to side top or bottom. I.e if there is more space between left than the right, the bar needs to come left, so slightly pull bar out so it's not touching coupler and hit it to rig to move bearing. Took about 30 mins and 10 or so trips into boat to feel bar until it finally goes in roughly

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

Here is some good info from the Adults Only sticky at the top of this forum:
engine alignment how to's
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2971085

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

How precise does the gimbal bearing need to be before I start adjusting front motor mounts?

How high is up LOL? Only you can answer that. You have to work with it to get it to go in as best you can. If you can get it to go with little resistance and even grease marks all around, you will not have to fool with the mounts. Remember the only motor adjustment you will have is up and down. You should be able to align precisely side to side by moving the bearing. Once side to side is correct work on up and down. Remember too that it is not often that any motor mount adjustments are needed. My boat is 25 years old, alignment is checked every year, and never have had to touch the mounts. If you do need to adjust mounts, small adjustments. Good luck.

 

[rpaldrich]

Re: Having trouble aligning Merc 470 and MC-1 Drive

Greetings all!! I'm having a heck of a time trying to align my motor and outdrive. I'm using the Mercruiser manual and other resources from iboats and other websites for assistance. I'm unable to insert the alignment tool all of the way into the gimbal bearing due to the head of the tool coming in contact with the coupler so I'm unable to verify the bearing is straight by tapping the tool on top, bottom, and both sides. I'm not sure if it's my vision messing with me but it seems that the tool is cockeyed when inserted into the drive as far as I can get it. Also, there is no room for a inspection mirror to see where the tool is making contact with the coupler. I've moved the motor up and down with a helper and maybe 3/4 turn increments of the alignment nuts and this tool will not go into the coupler. Is there any other tricks I can try? I'm really starting to lose my patience over this and I really don't want to take my boat to a Mercruiser dealer and have them charge me $95.00/hr. Thanks!!!!!

Just found this thread..pretty informative as well. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=375521&highlight=spline+lube