I'm a little puzzled about new gimbal bearing "adjustment"

[poconojoe]

We are doing two boats. The first one had excellent alignment before changing the gimbal bearing. After installing the new bearing, the alignment was off. Then I read here somewhere that we needed to put the alignment tool in and pull up, down etc. to adjust the bearing. We did that and something moved and all was well. At first movement, we were a little surprised and concerned. How could the bearing move if it's fitted tightly in it's bore?
The second boat had a slightly tight alignment fit from the beginning and after the new gimbal bearing it seems even tighter. I can see from the grease test that it's tight on the bottom. We tried to "adjust" this one with the alignment tool as with the first, but this one doesn't seem move. I guess this one needs the engine mounts adjusted?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Alignment is CRITICAL so get it right
first boat: the gimbal bearing "gimbals" like your eye socket. it will move in all directions. simply installing one does not guarantee correct alignment with the coupler.
insert the tool and tap it to make the bearing move slightly into alignment.
second boat: sounds like the alignment is off and you might have to support the engine, remove the front mounts and either clean them or replace them to do an alignment.

 

[poconojoe]

For the second boat, don't we just have to adjust the front engine mounts up a bit? Why remove them?

 

[Bt Doctur]

If there not rusted then you can try to adjust them .I mostly get the saltwater boats from around the mid to late 80`s and there rusted solid.If the blue tipped iron dosent worlk I replace them