No spline marks on alignment tool

[JackBronson]

Hello,
I've replaced the gimbal bearing on my 2008 Mercruiser 4.3 with Alpha 1 gen 2 drive. Bought an alignment tool off Amazon.
I did the whack the tool top bottom and sides in the bearing to seat it. Greased the end of the tool but get no spline marks. Quite frankly it feels like the tool isn't even going in all the way, feels like it's hitting the coupler edge. Is this possible? I've given it some sideways love taps.
The tool is going in about an inch and a half into the bearing on the fattest part of the tool shaft.
The boat didn't have any obvious evidence of being out of alignment, at least not so far out of alignment that the tool shouldn't go in after replacing the bearing.

Thanks.

 

[achris]

.... Quite frankly it feels like the tool isn't even going in all the way, feels like it's hitting the coupler edge. Is this possible?....

That was my first thought. Tool not going all the way in and hitting the edge of the coupler. You are going to need to put the tool in and move it around a bit until it engages with the coupler...

Chris.........

 

[JackBronson]

OK, here goes...

 

[GA_Boater]

It sounds like the gimbal bearing needs a harder thump to line it up with the coupler. Can you see any marks that look like splines or a ring in the grease on the tip of the tool? That can give you direction to whack the tool.

 

[JackBronson]

Nope. Hitting something solid.

When it slides into the splines, is it a solid clunk or is it sliding into a cavity that is getting progressively smaller (albeit not by a lot)?

 

[H20Rat]

Nope. Hitting something solid.

When it slides into the splines, is it a solid clunk or is it sliding into a cavity that is getting progressively smaller (albeit not by a lot)?

Solid thunk... If you have a well aligned coupler, you may not even notice it engage until it bottoms out.

Have you tried rotating slightly? Although unlikely, maybe you are just really lucky and lining up the splines on each.

 

[achris]

If it's hitting up hard, sounds like it's still not going into the coupler. When it does go in, you should feel some drag. If the drag is high, or the tool starts to binds up, the alignment is 'out' and needs to be adjusted. When the alignment is correct, the tool will slide in with an even amount of drag. (and it won't be a lot)...

Have you looked at my video on alignment?

Chris...

 

[GA_Boater]

The Adults Only stickie on top of the Mercruiser section has some good info - http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...-no-exceptions

The Checking Engine Alignment video Chris mentioned is linked in the Adults Only stickie under Engine Alignment How-To's. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...nment-how-to-s

 

[JackBronson]

OK so maybe it really is going all the way into the coupler. If so, I should have spline marks, correct? I have no marks on the end of the tool - the grease is untouched.

Chris - yes I looked at your video and several others and read a couple dozen posts on this topic. It would be good to know the measurement from the coupler end of the tool to the aft end of the bearing. Then I would know if I was getting a deep enough insertion.

I may have to do a video and put it online so you all can see what I'm talking about.

 

[andrewterri]

I feel your pain as I have been through the same thing with my boat and even had to post a question or two. I will try to give you some tips that I have learned and hopefully it will help. My boat is an 89 3.0 with alpha one gen one drive. You need to look into your coupler with a light and make sure you still have splines left, ie... your coupler is not shot. If I missed you saying you did this I am sorry as I am trying to get the kids into bed and having a tough time because momma gave them sugar, anyways, back on topic. If your coupler is good then on to the gimbal bearing. What I did was take a 12 inch piece of 2x4 and put it against the bearing and tapped with a hammer until a clear thud was head on all sides. When my tool was still not going in I took a broom handle that happened to be a similar size and that gave me an idea of which way I needed to go because the engine was really out of alignment. I then adjusted the engine motor mount a half turn at a time while checking with the bar. on my boat turning the nut counterclockwise lowered the front of the motor. After the constant in and out of the boat checking my adjustment my bar would finally go in and I would have an inch of spline marks showing on bar. Then I just used the spline marks to adjust the engine. heavy marks on top, front of motor needs to come down. This might not be the correct way but it is what worked for me and hopeful that it can help you. The widest part of my bar goes into the gimbal bearing about 7 inches.

 

[andrewterri]

Just thought of something, how hard was your drive to pull out. that will tall you if you were really off to began with. you could disconnect the coil and turn the engine over slightly and check the alignment and if the bar goes in you could have a warp coupler. I personally used a bypass button where one side connects to the positive battery post and the other to solenoid. This will allow you to turn the engine over without the key being on so there is no chance of starting the engine; also makes it easy to check alignment of the coupler in several orientation's without having to climb in and out of the boat.

 

[tpenfield]

I'm with Chris on the thought that the tool is not actually going into the coupler. You have to use the alignment tool as a lever to manipulate the gimbal bearing to the point where the tool wants to go into the coupler.

 

[JackBronson]

OK, I've got splines. Tool was going in far enough.

Good suggestion on the broom handle. Started with that and it seemed I was hitting bottom of coupler. Also broom stick showed me how deep the coupler is and that I still around 4 inches shy.
Gave the bearing a few whacks to make sure it was seated. Got a good solid thud sound.
Put the tool in and tried again, seemed it was still hitting. Gave it a good yank up and right and the bearing definitely moved that time!
Now it slides in all the way. Pretty good looking marks. However the mosquito squadron began bombing runs so I'll work on it tomorrow when they are refueling.
Thanks for the suggestions and advice to all

 

[JackBronson]

Sorry let me qualify: tool was not going in far enough.

 

[JackBronson]

Marks heavy on one side but they rotate around as I rotate the motor. I'm guessing my bearing still needs some adjustment as opposed to the motor needing adjustment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yocE3grKOE

 

[JackBronson]

Can someone knowledgeable confirm my suspicion that the bearing may need to move if the spline patter on the alignment tool follow the rotation of the motor when I turn it over? I've read the posts and watched the videos and can't recall seeing a comment about my particular situation.

Thanks very much.

 

[tpenfield]

Usually that is indicative of an issue with the coupler. The rubber within the coupler may have taken a set with a prior mis-alignment. My advise is to get it as good as you can and run the boat, then check it at a convenient maintenance time

 

[JackBronson]

I like that advice Ted and will do that. Especially since the boat is new to me, I've been on it twice, its been sitting for 3 weeks, and the 4th of July is next week!

thanks to all for the advice and info.