Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

[keelhauled]

Hi All,

I realized after the holiday weekend that the big nuts securing my engine to the mounts worked loose. I suspect they were never properly torqued when the engine was rebuilt. Anywho, now what? Just retighten them? It seems they are adjustable heightwise and I cannot tell if the engine has moved, but the paint on the threads was disturbed when the engine was R&R'd. One side looks lower than the other, but that could be the was it is supposed to be.

I'm in over my head on this one.

Suggestions?

OH YEAH... boat is a 68 Chris Craft Lancer with a Chris-Craft 350FLV engine and Volvo-Penta 280 sterndrive.

Please help!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

You need to get an alignment tool, pull the out drive, and realign the engine.

Yes.....all of the above and you also will need to carefully inspect the wood mounting points underneath.

You may have rotten stringers. If that's the case, you'll never get the engine aligned......and you have much bigger problems.

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

Thanks guys. The stringers are new, replaced as part of the restoration, so I know they are in good shape as is the transom. The nuts that worked loose are the height adjustment for the engine.

I'm not sure how to set the height/alignment properly. Bear in mind the AQ280 has no gimbal bearing or rubber engine coupler. The drive shaft sits in an intermediate housing that is bolted to the bell housing.

What I am concerned about is if the drive shaft is not straight out of the transom sheild, I could be putting lateral pressure on the u-joints.

Any ideas on how to align it?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

Ahh. I should have read your sig a little closer!

Your Volvo service manual should outline the procedure.

If you do not have one, now would a good time to get one!


Cheers,

Rick

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

LOL that's the frustrating part... it's not in the service manual!

Maybe I don't need to worry about it... but I have to imagine the adjusters are there for a reason.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

I have never touched a Volvo (and I almost bought a NEW VP engine/DPdrive for my Four Winns Liberator )

I would be willing to bet that It's either in there or it's not required.

1968 Chris Craft Lancer 23
Fully Restored

How about a couple of pictures?

It's always nice to see someones handywork!!

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

How about a couple of pictures?

It's always nice to see someones handywork!!

I have some on the computer at home. I'll try to get some posted up this evening.

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

Here's some from last weekend:

 

[Robj]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

Alignment of the Volvo 280 drive is easy. I have a 290 and I think they are the same. There are 3 tabs on the bell housing and 3 on the transom shield. I believe the spec says that the variance in the gap must be no more than 2 mm for all three. Easy. Check alignment and re-tighten and you are good to go. Check out the 1992 Excel restoration in the boat restoration section, I know alignment is mentioned there also.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Don S]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

You do not have to remove the drive, and you need a tool like this. Even a tapered screw driver works.

You want equal gap on the 3 alignment tabs on the flywheel cover and the transom shield.

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Motor Mounts Worked Loose... Now what??

Thanks guys. I'll work on this later this week.